To barge is a verb that is usually followed by the prepositions in or into. It means to push one's way into something or forcefully enter a place. A barge is a boat having a flat bottom. It is usually used a cargo boat, and the main purpose of a barge is to carry heavy loads across inland waterways such as rivers and canals. To barge, without the preposition in or into, is to transport goods by barge on a body of inland water.
Most barges are not self-propelled. They are towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats. On the adjacent path to a canal or river, they are towed by a draft animal. Barges were competing to be the preferred mode of transport along with railways and carriages in the early days of the industrial revolution. The carriage, however, had the advantage of being able to carry items of high value, most of which were fragile and needed careful handling, to their destinations at a higher speed, lower cost and a more flexible route than the railways and the barge.
Most barges are not self-propelled. They are towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats. On the adjacent path to a canal or river, they are towed by a draft animal. Barges were competing to be the preferred mode of transport along with railways and carriages in the early days of the industrial revolution. The carriage, however, had the advantage of being able to carry items of high value, most of which were fragile and needed careful handling, to their destinations at a higher speed, lower cost and a more flexible route than the railways and the barge.