American towboat?

[mjt60a]

I found the article and you're all correct, Indiana was not a towboat.... I was confusing it with another article I'd read, the subject was a sternwheeler though, I think it was 'Sprague'... 

[towboatjoe]

Ah yes, the Sprague. She was a big one. Her wake would actually put boats up on the banks. Too bad some vandals burned her along with historic relics in Vicksburg back in the 70's.

[Dinosaursoupman]

Hello Eddy,

Go to http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/LaCrosseSteamboat/ and do a search on the Annie Girdon, the second picture has at least 4 sidewheel towboats (which are also referred to as "rafters") in it. These vessels are true towboats in that the "tow" was tied to the back of the vessel or alongside the towboat, they were not pushers.

Randy

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks Randy,

I've only had about 15 minutes browsing, and already there are three or four potential future projects - My never-ending list has just grown again!!

Regards
Eddy

[Dinosaursoupman]

I know what you mean Eddy. I'm already looking at the walls of my office and thinking, "If I move that there, and this here I may have room..."

One other thing on that website; Keep track of what page you are on if you are browsing. The website will clock you out if there has been no activity after a few minutes and then you have to try and figure out where you left off.

Randy

[towboatjoe]

I found the article and you're all correct, Indiana was not a towboat.... I was confusing it with another article I'd read, the subject was a sternwheeler though, I think it was 'Sprague'... 

There is a towboat named indiana owned by Madison Coal and Supply. It's one of the old St. Louis Ship boats 164' x 40'. Used to be Named Robert P. Tibolt

[RStewart]

For the record concerning American sidewheel towboats. Yes, they were in vogue -starting in the 1830s. Many were in service in the Northeast Corridor of the United States, especially in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. New York carried the most significant ones that traveled up and down the Hudson River from Albany-Troy to New York City.

They could be seen docked at most ports of call, re: Troy, Albany, Kingston, Newburgh, etc., etc. And no, these vessels did not push  but rather towed its freight from the rear knight head bitts.

I've been researching and building models of these famous boats since 1985, starting with my first model of the sidewheel towboat AMERICA of 1852. I am currently working on a model of the sidewheel towboat NORWICH of 1836 in her 1900 appearance shown in my profile drawing. This is a waterline model for a diorama depicting a Hudson River waterfront in Kingston, New York.

You can see more images of the American towboat by visiting https://www.facebook.com/rex.stewart3/posts/10206043698352164 .

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Rex,

very fine made models! I am a German and in Europe the walking beam- and steeple engines were nearly never common, but I always was fascinated of pictures and photos of this majestic engines.

I wrote - nearly never used - one exception I know: The Danube sidewheel towboat "Johann Baptist" of 1854 with American walking beam engine, see pictures. I don`t  know about one furter exemple, may be one of our members knows more?

Thomas

[RStewart]

Good to see these images, Hank. I'm impressed that the walking beam types were operating in Europe. Thanks for sharing.

I needed to fill a void here in the States regarding the walking beam towboats. Alot of data was around relative to paintings and photos, but nothing by way of accurate models. All the more reason I started my line in 1985.

It is my hope to build ten more towboats before ceasing in that particular genre. They are interesting vessels.

Regards,

Rex

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Rex,

here a sideview of the "Johann Baptist", drawn by Mr. Erwin Hauke, Austria.

[greateastern]

Rex,
are you familiar with Erik Heyl's work Early American steamers? It is text and a picture but no plans but it is very good as a ref. here is a typical page. This can be found at
www.hathitrust.org
some of the 5 vols are available, others are not.