Monday, November 16, 2009

Favorite towboats, part 4: the J.S. Lewis



I haven't seen this boat working on the river for a while, but it makes an appearance every year at the local National Maritime Days celebrations. The J.S. Lewis started life in 1931 as a coal burner. On the first deck, there's a framed newspaper clipping of the boat receiving a ticket from the city of Cincinnati for violating air pollution regulations because of the amount of smoke it created by burning coal.

The J.S. Lewis is one of the oldest boats on the river. I don't get to see it often, but it's always a pleasure when I do.

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Top: The J.S. Lewis entering the old Gallipolis locks a way long time ago.
Here, the J.S. Lewis leaves the old Gallipolis locks.

A boat that entered service in 1931 isn't likely to have a lot of high tech on it. Here are a control panel in the engine room and some of the controls in the pilothouse.