Working River (a documentary about the Ohio River)

I’ve already watched this half a dozen times. This is my favorite type of documentary - well directed, well paced, narrated, great personalities on the river. Makes me wonder where they all are now.

My middle school tech ed teacher used to have the sub wheel this video out on VHS when he was absent. This was back in 2016 and I just found it in my recommended now, crazy lol

I'm amazed by the elderly couple living good simple lives off the land. So healthy and happy. You hardly find people that age that are that healthy and happy. In modern times with all the amenities and luxuries we have and people are sicker than ever.

I grew up on the Volga. watched the video and read the comments to it with great interest.

Terrific film! After having worked upon our inland river system for the past 35 years, seeing a film like this or reading a book like Mark Twains “Life on the Mississippi”, I realize how timeless our occupation is. While the lifestyle does have its costs, mainly with relationships, being gone so much; it also has provided a great income for my family. It has literally been recession proof. I have never been without work. It seems like there is always a shortage of pilots/captains, always. And even in the very few times I have seen a brief surplus, good captains are always still in demand. I think this kind of work is like a bit of a secret… a lot of young people don’t even consider it… which is a real shame. A motivated, moderately intelligent young person can put in their time on deck (two-three years) and then go after their pilots license and be earning a six figure income before most people finish their undergraduate degrees.

Excellent documentary for The Ohio River! My son Jacob (12) and I launched our 14' boat/6hp Evinrude into the Monongahela (South side of Pittsburgh) June 2nd 2017. On our journey down river, we had one week to travel. Campgrounds, Small Towns, 12 Locks & Dams, Restaurants, Gas stops, Genuine People the whole way. We made it 440 miles to Neville Ohio, just short of Cincinnati. Mom met us with the boat trailer. What a Great Adventure! Thanks go to Jerry M. Hay/Ohio river Guidebook.

south point ,OH checking in.. i love the low rumble of a barge at night helps me sleep ,i guess you just get used to it after 30 years

I like the cook. What a Pittsburgh personality on her! Oh, she's a photographer & painter, too!

I worked on the river after getting out of the Navy in 1981. Best job I ever had, 9 years of building tow, making locks and meeting some of the most interesting people of my life. Great video and memories! Thank you

Thanks so much for this video. As a Green deck hand, I rode one of the sister boats.... the steel forwarder. And yes the river becomes apart of you. Still working on towboats as a captain

The Emsworth locks were my hang-out as a kid growing up in the sixties. I spent many a long summer afternoon watching the tow boats going through, always amazed at how they would have to split the barges apart sometimes. Cool to see Captain Fred Way too, he was John Hartford’s mentor. John would drop by to see him when he played in Pittsburgh.

Did 38 years working for Ashland Oil/ Chemical, this video came out right about when I started. Thanks

Thanks for this - - - - I started on the river in 1964 and have done ALL of this and worked the Monongahela, Allegheny, all of the Ohio - - - - and most of the other Western Rivers. Finally retired. I love the CRAFT - - - and - - - miss it all.

I had the blessing of working on a coupe of Rivers, the Hudson, and the Saint Lawrence.Cargo and people. Cargo never complained about anything. Great job.The Canadian Pop Group 'Great Big Sea" had a song called "River driver". Great song.

I became a teacher in 2016, I still remember getting into my workbook and seeing the movies I could show. I went down to the library and got some old tapes on the Mississippi and they had an interview with one of the last living slaves and I couldn’t help but think, man there are so many people in these videos, just like background people. A scene at the park in Manhattan 20 years before 9/11, I think we’re any of these people in the towers? Who from these videos is still alive today?

My husband is a tug boat captain for Vane Brothers. He started aboard boats in the army. Went on to be a captain and still is. He's has been for over 40 years. We figured out we have only been married for 20 years because 2 weeks on and 2 we ks off. He's gone 6 months out of a year. He told me once takes a strong man to be out there but a much stronger woman to be at home. You always know there are dangers around every corner but it's not at the forefront of your thoughts. He pushes fuel barges up and the Chesapeake Bay. New York harbors. Gulf of Mexico. So many hours of training. It's just a different world being married to someone working on the water. I had to learn how not to cry on the day he was leaving. The missing him the not knowing accidents happen. I have gone out with him. It amazes me how he can do this. Takes special people. People on pleasure boats need to give respect to these tug boats. The can't stop on a dime many times they have crossed in front of his bow trying to out run him. One time a sail boat did it he couldn't see it and he thought he had sank it. When he saw it again it was alongside the rug when it had crossed the bow of the barge. He could see the name of the cigarettes he smoked in his shirt pocket. He called me told me what happened and then silence just so he knew I was on the other end could hear me breathing brought him comfort. Just knowing those people could of drowned. So if you're reading this own a pleasure boat don't cut in front of them.

The Delta Queen is still on the river, surprisingly enough.

So, Randy Strothman was a major creative force in the production of this documentary. very well done.

Used to run from Convent, Louisiana to Calvert City, Kentucky running EDC barges on the old M/V Daytona for Scott Chotin The site we used to load out at in Calvert City is now a Superfund site

Thanks for posting, Randy. It's a style of filmmaking you don't see anymore.