I'd like to have seen it work that way, too. Hard to believe they loaded full train cars onto a barge for transport across the river. It is only about 200 feet wide where they crossed. McDowell doesn't exist today except for a name for the area. There was a ferry used until approx. 1970s that used a location close to where the railroad ended. It was a nightmare to ride across that ferry. Cars ( Automobiles)would be loaded onto it and it would tilt as it went across the river. Scared me. Never heard of any accidents though. I'll go to the library at the University here and see what I can find and post.