A crew of six pilots a 2100 horsepower tow boat pushing coal barges from Tuscaloosa to Mobile, Ala. This 1985 documentary shows what life is like for the crew as they navigate the Black Warrior, Tombigbee, and Mobile Rivers.
"We'll cross that trail when we get there." Personifies the mindset of a southern, or hell even a yank who works hard, and is skilled in his profession. We don't fret over what if's or what a bout whens. When it's time to handle business. You handle business. Great video.
I grew up in Hueytown AL and spent a lot of time on the Black Warrior at various camps and cabins and fishing trips. I still get excited when I see and hear one of the Tow Boats!
Was a petroleum surveyor on the Mississippi River, worked on tug boats through my years. Much respect for these men. Skilled professionals. Funny, the rest of the country call these men simple rednecks, they wouldn’t exist as they know it without real men like these, and could NEVER work like they do. AND, the so called well off, don’t make half the money these REAL men do.
I know this was an old video but people don’t talk like this in Tuscaloosa anymore! They all sound like northerners even the kids that are born here! I talk like these guys do!
Really cool to see this! Good old days for sure. I was the last Port Captain at Warrior & Gulf Navigation (a few of their vessels seen in this video) Parker’s biggest rival on the Black Warrior for many years. It is sad to see the level of commercial barge traffic dwindle to what it has become now versus how things were in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. W&GN and Parker had tows in constant motion filling the Black Warrior river from Birmingport on the Locust Fork, Gorgas (and Port Walker) on the Mulberry fork, to Mobile. I first started as a deckhand on that river, became a pilot/captain and then went to work shoreside for many years. The time portrayed in this film is certainly a snapshot of the good old days!
Hello there mr rishel, i was wondering if you meet Willie odom the pilot of the mauvilla when it hit the bridge in the big bayou canot. Anyway what a beatiful job going up and down the river. Wish my country's politicians will mske the magdalena river navegable again God bless
This is what true Americans used be like. God fearing, hard working and friendly. We’ve lost a good bit of those traits. Nowadays, you wonder if you are still in America! The way they are flooding in at the border. It’s awful!