Coal barge runs aground in southwestern Pa. PITTSBURGH (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says a coal barge was intentionally run aground in the Monongahela River in southwestern Pennsylvania to keep it from sinking. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/YiHIaU ) that a towboat operated by Towline River Service in Elizabeth was pushing three loaded barges early Friday when the lead barge hit bottom and began taking on water.