In the late 1940s and early 1950s, several towboats in the 3,000 hp. class were built with hulls that were relatively wide for their somewhat short length. This was… Read More
Old Boat Column
A look back into the rich history of the inland waterways transportation industry. From the earliest steam paddlewheelers to the grand sternwheel and sidewheel packets, and the eventual transition from steam to diesel, you’ll find fascinating stories and photos of a different steamboat every week.
The last column dealt with a towboat built in 1955 for Sioux City and New Orleans Barge Line that was named Kansas City and operated on the Missouri River… Read More
Sioux City and New Orleans Barge Lines, Inc. (SCNO) was formed in the early 1950s for the purpose of towing between those two cities, with an emphasis on the… Read More
In recent columns, we have looked at radical new designs for barges and then a towboat. This column will again detail a vessel that was designed with the idea… Read More
Dravo Corporation’s Neville Island, Pa., shipyard was a large producer of many types of vessels during World War II. After the Ernest T. Weir and Albert E. Heekin were… Read More
In the November 10, 2025, issue of The Waterways Journal, this column touched on the history of Hillman Barge & Construction Company. In 1903, Pittsburgh Steel established a repair… Read More
The stern line rumor mill was flying last week with talk that the Showboat Majestic may finally have a home to go to. Showboats were once a common… Read More
The last column examined a “radically different” style of barge from 1930. This column will look at a “radically different” towboat that was built in 1953. The December… Read More
This Old Boat column is not about a boat, but rather a particular style of barge. After all, what would a towboat be without barges to push? The… Read More
The Jones and Laughlin Steel Company, better known as simply J&L, had roots in the Pittsburgh area going back to 1852. The firm was founded by Benjamin Franklin Jones… Read More
