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yes they were controlled from the barge.a group of pneumatic and electric connections gave you control in the barge wheelhouse.

When the W.L Twolan and McAllister 132 were active, could the tug be controlled from the elevated "pilot house" at the stern of the barge?

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Yeah, her & the Spencer kept the pilothouse even as barges because of the poor visibility of the forward mounted unloading rigs. There is a flexable wiring harness back to the tug to transmit engine & steering controls between the two vessels.

-B in B

This came up just a little while back right here in the information search (actually the discussion happened while she was grounded in the Detroit area recently), and to my surprize it was explained to me by the knowledgable folks that visit these boards that both the barge and tug are controlled from the pilot house on the [i]barge[/i]! Which I think is pretty cool! :-)

While watching McKee Sons / Invincible going through the locks on Sunday, it made me wonder do they use the pilot house that's in front of the barge or do they use the pilot house that's on the tug?

TIA.