190' River towboat

[Lee Anne]

I've been scratchbuilding models of Mississippi River towboats for many decades. Most recent ones have been in styrene, but here's a 190' Dravo Viking towboat that I recently drew up from old advertising. It's cardstock with foam board for strength. Also, here's the real boat, this one the Argonaut.

[SCEtoAUX]

Looks nice. Those towboats have a nice form to them.

[Gil]

Hi Lee Anne,

Nicely done model.

One point that seems an oxymoron. They're called "Tow Boats" but in reality are "Push Boats".

Wonder if they started out as "Tow Boats" but after a few very unfortunate accidents decided that "Push" was much easier on life insurance policy premiums than was "Pull"...,

-Gil

[Vermin_King]

I used to see these on the Missouri much more than we do now. It's nice that they are being remembered

[dhanners]

I live in St. Paul (for two more days) and we see them all the time on the Mississippi.

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Hi Lee Anne, nice to see you here on Paper Modelers. That's a nice boat you got there. Didn't know you were also designing ships.

[Lighter]

Originally Posted by Gil

One point that seems an oxymoron. They're called "Tow Boats" but in reality are "Push Boats".

"Tow" refers to the barge or group of barges that are, together, called a "Tow." (Interesting grammar in that sentence!) So the label is correct.

[Wyvern]

Awesome work!

Wyvern

[Lee Anne]

Thanks, all! The nomenclature for this type of boat has been the subject of debate since probably long before any of us were born. The first ones to be called "towboats" in the US were the steam-powered, sternwheel boats that pushed wooden barges. Now, everything is steel and almost everything is diesel-powered. I've probably easily built a hundred models of these in the last 48 years.

[Inky]

I love these old work horses, I might have to design me one now. Great job, would love to see more of your work.