Four steam, sternwheel towboats were built by Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company for the Upper Mississippi Barge Line, and in turn leased to the Inland Waterways Corporation (IWC). 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.
Birthdays are celebrated by some, avoided and even hidden by others. Throughout this year, the 250th “birthday” of the United States has been observed by countless festivities across the… Read More
A recent discussion regarding interactions between pleasure craft and inland towing vessels prompted this column. The majority of those who enjoy the navigable waters of the country in their… Read More
In a recent column we detailed the innovative tunnel hull, screw wheel steam towboat James Rumsey, built by Charles Ward Engineering Works, Charleston, W.Va., in 1903. Against all odds,… Read More
October brings thoughts of fall, including brightly colored leaves, pumpkins, fodder shocks and other signs of comfort. Of course, there are other fall thoughts that are somewhat scary,… Read More
From the beginning of World War II, the inland shipyards of the United States had been almost totally committed to building vessels for the war effort. Few commercial towboats… Read More
A book titled “The Little Engine That Could” came out in 1930 “as retold by Watty Piper,” a pen name for Arnold Munk. This beloved tale for children tells… Read More
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
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
