The 1930s saw great technological advancement in the river industry, and in towboat construction in particular. Steam was still predominant for large boats, but diesel power was becoming more prevalent. 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 Reconstruction Finance Corporation was established in 1932 by the Hoover administration to help fight the Great Depression. At the outbreak of World War II, it became a part of… Read More
As detailed in this column when writing about the 300 hp. Senator Combs in the October 10, 2022, issue of The Waterways Journal, Ashland Oil & Refining Company came into… Read More
There have been four towboats operating on the Great Kanawha River bearing the name Iron Duke. The first of these was built in 1875, and it was a wood-hull, steam-prop… Read More
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 and… Read More
In the last column we looked at the steamer J.C. Rawn (Way’s T1236), built by Howard in 1911 as the H.S. Chamberlain for the Roane Iron Company and operated on… Read More
This writer has never believed in “luck,” per se, but does believe that the subject vessel of this column was most unfortunate at times. It was the subject of feature… Read More
Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company, Dubuque, Iowa, had a history dating back to 1852 as Rouse, Dean & Company, a foundry and machine shop. A few years later the firm… Read More
In the Old Boat column that appeared in the September 18, 2023, issue of The Waterways Journal, the history of the first towboat built for the Socony Vacuum Oil Company,… Read More
The last column looked at the John W. Hubbard (Way’s T1444), a steam sternwheel towboat built by Dravo in 1936 for Campbell Transportation of Pittsburgh. It was the second of… Read More
