Sternwheel

Sternwheel, Towboat Jason, 1940

The Jason was one of the last steam sternwheelers, built in 1940 and powered by two compound engines developing 1600 horsepower. The cranks are at right angles, so that one engine would always have power while the other was on dead centers. The paddles were stout wooden planks, easily replaceable in charge of breakage. The Jason’s first owner was the Union Barge Line, and it was retired from service in 1959. The welded construction of the wheel was fairly new at the time.