Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company News - The Waterways Journal

Sternwheel Steamer W.M. Rees Became A Prop Towboat Rees and Nolty, maybe on delivery trip in 1913. (U.S. Engineers photo, David Smith collection)

Sternwheel Steamer W.M. Rees Became A Prop Towboat

May 1, 2023

As indicated by several histories of the local area, the construction of boats and river equipment in or near the town of Dubuque, Iowa, dates to the 1850s. A firm… Read More

Steam Tug Mobile Became A Diesel River Towboat Tug Mobile under construction at Dubuque in 1938. (Dan Owen Boat Photo Museum collection)

Steam Tug Mobile Became A Diesel River Towboat

February 3, 2023

In 1938, the Inland Waterways Corporation (IWC), the government-owned barge line known among river interests as the Federal Barge Line, contracted with the Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company for a… Read More

The Herbert Hoover: Diesel Power In A Big Way The Herbert Hoover under construction at Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company. (Dan Owen/Boat Photo Museum collection)

The Herbert Hoover under construction at Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company. (Dan Owen/Boat Photo Museum collection)

The Herbert Hoover: Diesel Power In A Big Way

November 25, 2021

By the early part of the 20th century, railroads had all but decimated river transportation, in particular barge towing. Other than certain trades, such as the steel industry in the… Read More

The J.T. Hatfield The first towboat J.T. Hatfield. (Keith Norrington collection)

The J.T. Hatfield

November 16, 2020

Capt. J.T. Hatfield, who long was in charge of the Hickey Transportation Company at Covington, Ky., had the honor of having two towboats named for him. The first vessel was… Read More