Photos by David Whitten

Towboat ROGER L. KNIGHT, upbound on the Ohio River, just after passing under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge on Friday, October 4, 2019. Built by Dravo in 1973, originally named SUNFLOWER.

ROGER L. KNIGHT, upbound on the Ohio River, about to pass under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge on October 4, 2019. Originally named SUNFLOWER, this boat was built by Dravo Corporation in 1973.

Towboat WEST VIRGINIA, downbound and about to pass underneath the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge at Louisville on Friday, September 20, 2019. Built by Dravo Corporation in 1967, this boat was originally named SARAH JANE, later CITY OF MEMPHIS.

The WEST VIRGINIA, downbound on the Ohio River, just after passing under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge on Friday, September 20, 2019.

The MARY M. MILLER, right after passing underneath the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, Ohio River at Louisville, KY on Friday, September 20, 2019.

Towboat W. SCOTT NOBLE downbound on the Ohio River, just after passing under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge on September 6, 2019. Originally named HARLLEE BRANCH, JR, built in 1966 by Dravo Corp.

W. SCOTT NOBLE downbound on the Ohio River at approx. mile 602.8, about to pass under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge on September 6, 2019. This was originally named the HARLLEE BRANCH, JR, built by Dravo in 1966.

Towboat WILLIAM HANK, upbound on the Ohio River. The boat had just passed under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge at Louisville on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2019.

Towboat WILLIAM HANK, upbound and about to pass under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge at Louisville on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2019.

TENNESSEE upbound on the Ohio River, just after passing under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge at Louisville, KY on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2019.

TENNESSEE upbound, passing underneath the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge at Louisville, KY on September 2, 2019.

Towboat Mary Ellen Jones, leaving McAlpine Lock upbound on August 30, 2019. This boat was built by Dravo in 1965.

Mary Ellen Jones, upbound out of McAlpine Lock on August 30, 2019.

Randy Anderson (built by Dravo in 1976, originally Harold Turner, renamed Richard A. Baker in 1991) upbound out of McAlpine Lock on Sunday, July 21, 2019.

Linda Little (Crounse Corporation) - upbound out of McAlpine Lock on Sunday, July 21, 2019.

Linda Little, upbound out of McAlpine Lock on Sunday, July 21, 2019.

Randy Anderson (built by Dravo in 1976, originally the Harold Turner, renamed Richard A. Baker in 1991) upbound out of McAlpine Lock on Sunday, July 21, 2019.

Towboat TUSCALOOSA - here at the Clarksville, Indiana riverfront on January 22, 2019 - opposite Louisville, KY. The Tuscaloosa had been at the McAlpine Upper dam area, helping with barge recovery work after a recent barge tow accident.

Towboat KEVIN MICHAEL about to pass underneath the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge on January 8, 2019.

Towboat GLENN A. HENDON after passing underneath the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge southbound on January 8, 2019. The former CONTI AFTON, AFTON, and TENNESSEE HUNTER, she was built by Jeffboat in 1980.

Towboat GLENN A. HENDON - downbound - about to pass under Big Four Pedestrian Bridge on January 8, 2019. This boat was built by Jeffboat in 1980, and was originally named the CONTI AFTON, later AFTON, and then TENNESSEE HUNTER.

Towboat JACOB MICHAEL ECKSTEIN downbound, just after passing under the Big Four Bridge at Louisville, KY on January 8, 2019. This boat was built by Jeffboat in 1984, originally named SEMINOLE PRINCESS.

JACOB MICHAEL ECKSTEIN - downbound on the Ohio River, passing underneath the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge on January 8, 2019. This boat was built by Jeffboat, Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1984.

LEXINGTON, downbound, just after passing under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge on Ohio River, January 8, 2019. This towboat was built by Jeffboat in 1967.

Towboat LEXINGTON, heading downbound, about to pass under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge at Louisville on January 8, 2019. This boat was built by Jeffboat, Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1967.

MARI LAMPTON, about to enter McAlpine Lock downbound on Saturday October 13, 2018.

Upbound out of McAlpine Lock on Saturday, October 13, 2018.

Upbound, just out of McAlpine Lock on Saturday, October 13, 2018.

BREES - Downbound, about to enter McAlpine Lock on Saturday, October 13, 2018.

CATLETTSBURG - Upbound in McAlpine Lock on Sunday, August 12, 2018

CATLETTSBURG - upbound in McAlpine Lock on August 12, 2018

VIRGINIA INGRAM, after passing downbound under the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, Ohio River Louisville, KY on Monday, March 5, 2018. This boat was built by Jeffboat in 1983.

VIRGINIA INGRAM downbound at Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, Louisville, KY, Ohio River, on March 5, 2018. This boat was built by Jeffboat in 1983.

TWIN CITIES, later SUSANNAH GRIFFIN, now SEKCO upbound in the Louisville & Portland Canal, September 1991.

SEKCO upbound on Ohio River, after passing underneath Big Four Bridge at Louisville, KY on March 2, 2018. Jeffboat, Jeffersonville, IN is in the background.

SEKCO upbound on Ohio River at Louisville, KY, March 2, 2018, passing underneath the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge.

PAULA RUBLE upbound on the Ohio River, Louisville, KY on March 2, 2018, getting a little help from the Rebecca M. There was high water and strong current at the time. Taken from the Big Four Bridge spiral walkway.

Upbound on the Ohio River, Monday, February 12, 2018

Downbound on the Ohio River, about to pass underneath the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge at Louisville, KY on July 31, 2017.

Robert C. Loedding, departing McAlpine Lock upbound on Sunday, July 16, 2017.

Towboat ROBERT C LOEDDING leaving McAlpine Lock upbound on July 16, 2017.

Towboat ROBERT C LOEDDING heading upbound on the Ohio River, just after leaving McAlpine Lock on Sunday, July 16, 2017. This boat is the former STEEL PIONEER.

Towboat CHUCK ZEBULA about to enter McAlpine Lock downbound on Sunday, July 16, 2017.

KATHLEEN MARGARET -- On the Ohio River, just below the new Lewis Clark East End I-265 Bridge.

Southbound on January 24, 2017.

Northbound on January 24, 2017.

Southbound on the Ohio River, New Albany, Indiana, January 3, 2017. This towboat was built by Jeffboat in 1981.

NORTHERN (later renamed PAUL STRIEGEL, renamed GABE GATTLE in 2016) here shown downbound in the Louisville & Portland Canal, heading toward McAlpine Lock on March 30, 1993.

STEEL FORWARDER (now the CHIP LACY) northbound out of McAlpine Lock on August 15, 1991. This boat was built in 1971 and renamed in 1992.

CHIP LACY upbound in the Louisville & Portland Canal on December 8, 2016.