Pulley Barge

In the Mountainous region of Puurtan getting goods from one place to the next can often be quite an arduous task. Many of the roads have fallen victim to erosion, and they often have to take winding routes to navigate the steep inclines. In order to overcome this problem the people who live here have constructed a system of sky gondolas, which they call the pulley barge. It has made the transportation of essential goods around the few settlements that have established themselves in the region, much faster, easier and safer.
The barges operate via a sytem of ropes and pulleys rigged up between towers located in or near one of the main mountain settlements. There are four systems in operation with a fifth one currently under construction. Each system comprises three ropes for extra security and balance, and the barges are attached to the ropes via two rows of grooved wheels which are clamped down upon the ropes. The ropes run between a series of pulleys at the towers and are pulled between points using a winch
The barges themselves are quite simple in design, and are constructed of wood with metal supports and frame. The wooden base is fifteen feet long and eight feet wide and is flat bottomed. It tapers to a broad curve at either end. The sides are three feet high and slant outwards slightly. Several sturdy metal hoops are located at intervals around the rim and the metal frame is attached to those. The wheeled mechanism that attaches the barge to the ropes, is affixed to a thick metal plate which has been welded to the top of the frame.
The frame can be detached from the base to enable the cargo to be loaded easily. Once loaded the cargo is covered with a tick rope net, which is then secured to another series of metal rings which run along of the bottom of the barge. The cargo can also be further secured with a waterproof canvas if required.