Central Barge Company News - The Waterways Journal

The W.A. Shepard Helped Start Three Barge Lines

Old Boat Column

The W.A. Shepard Helped Start Three Barge Lines

November 14, 2025

As often mentioned in this column, the Charles Ward Engineering Works, Charleston, W.Va., was an early proponent of both tunnel stern prop-driven towboats as well as boats powered by diesel… Read More

The A.M. Thompson: Still Going Strong After 76 Years 250908 OBC 001

The A.M. Thompson: Still Going Strong After 76 Years

September 5, 2025

This is another column that was prompted by recent photos. These shots were of a towboat, resplendent in a coat of fresh summer paint, with closeups showing the vessel looking… Read More

A Tale of Two Boats—Or Maybe Just One The Laura H as built in 1927. (Photo courtesy Capt. Steve Huffman)

A Tale of Two Boats—Or Maybe Just One

April 14, 2024

In thinking about this special Fleeting & Harbor Services issue, a particular boat came to mind. This boat was the first vessel for a family that initiated a fleeting… Read More

One Of The Last Steam Sternwheel Towboats The Alexander Mackenzie soon after entering service in 1939. This photo was often used in MMC ads in the WJ. (David Smith collection)

The Alexander Mackenzie soon after entering service in 1939. This photo was often used in MMC ads in the WJ. (David Smith collection)

One Of The Last Steam Sternwheel Towboats

October 9, 2023

The August 6, 1938 issue of The Waterways Journal carried a small story on page 5 concerning A.C. Ingersoll accepting a position with a new company on the Illinois… Read More