The steamboat Delta Queen left New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon bound for Chattanooga via the open water of the Mississippi Sound en route to Mobile, AL and the Tenn-Tom waterway. You can follow the Queen's progress at the message boards on steamboats.org. This could well be the last chance to see her underway for a long time, if ever. The boat is under lease as a bed and breakfast in Chattanooga.

The last (and only time) the Delta Queen was in the Sound, she was "paced" by dolphins. They appeared to be attracted by the "rollers" created by her wake.

Hopefully someone will be able to get photos when she is in the Tenn-Tom?

Wesley

I know this is way off topic, but it makes me wonder of the fate of a paddle wheeler I saw as a kid...
Back in the 70s, there was a original paddle-wheeled boat docked along a back water river in Florida. It was grounded on the Apalachicola River, just outside of Blountstown, Florida along state Highway 20. You could clearly see it for years from the highway bridge, with the stern pointing toward the road. We used to go to a muzzle loading shooting club for monthly shoots and we'd see the boat off the south side of the bridge. I assume they scrapped her sometime in the late 70s because one day it wasn't there anymore, but I couldn't find anything online about her one way or another. I never got closer than seeing her from the road, several hundred yards away, but I would also assume she was a basket case in those years.

.

She won't be stuck at the mooring IF we all, and I mean ALL of us, email our congressianal representatives that we are in favor of passing her exemption, AND email the president and remind him that one of his campaign promises was to help Save the Delta Queen!

It should be noted Congressman Oberstar who so openly lied for his reasons for mooring the DQ and had "supported" her in years past, is the same Congressman Oberstar who has been recently praised and pimped by a noted pundit in a national rail magazine.

Any industry, interest, or whatever should see the DQ experience for what it is; a study of the flow of money into this guy's and his party's war chest.

Bob

I do not think this is an off topic subject. If politics can remove an American icon like the Delta Queen then we should all understand all it takes is the stroke of a pen to remove all of our antique boilers and passenger cars from service. I think all of us here live with that sobering thought.

John Bohon

This moderator agrees.

This is a sad situation and like the current national, even
international financial difficulties, most Americans feel
somewhat helpless and perhaps even betrayed. Here is
an opportunity where our cries of disgust can replace
our feelings of despair. Small things like this can be
changed and about the only way is to send a email or
to call your reps and even the particular fellow who
felt the need to flex his poltical muscles and speak out!
Politicians HATE public scrutiny, give it to them.

No matter how many people write and complain about the fate of the D.Q., the end result would still remain in the hands of Rep. Jim Oberstar, the very same who refused to allow it to remain in service.
In that he is solidly in bed with trade unions, it is highly unlikely that he will change his mind because of letters from a bunch of what he likely thinks of as sentimentalists.
However, if the D.Q. were sold or transfered to a company with an all union crew, I wonder if the boat would suddenly become much safer? Nobody could afford to run it that way, but it might get Rep. Oberstar's blessing.
Just a thought.
Mark D.
Mark D.

Yes, Mr. Oberstar is a problem, that is why we must implore the President to follow his campaign pledge to Save the Delta Queen, and put pressure on Mr. Oberstar to allow the bill out of his committee. If you don't live in Mr. Oberstar's district, good luck in reaching him--he blocks any contacts other than those from within his district--this inspite of the fact that he makes national decisions with his chairmanship.
I'm afraid that some in congress consider the public to just be rubes, who do not know what is good for themselves.
As to profitablitliy under the unions, YES, the boats can be profitable--but the crews will not necessarily be paid any better--that is according to some former crewmates. Still, if it gets the boat running, so be it!
The time is now! WE MUST express our disgust to congress and the President NOW, even though they are currently distracted with "saving" the economy--the boat cannot wait forever!

As tragic as the saga of the Delta Queen has been, it is my understanding that Oberstar has been "surprised" by the amount of negative attention it has brought him. While not likely to stop him, at least it has slowed down his fantasies of massively re-regulating or even nationalizing the American rail system.

Here is a link to an interesting analysis on steamboats.org.

http://www.steamboats.org/forum/save-delta-queen/2831-different-optimistic-view.html

Wesley

Folks,

It is a sad thing also that the modern steel river boats but still steam powered American Queen and President Queen are also out of business because of the provisions of the International Safety of Life At Sea requirements.

The intentions of some well meaning people are all too often in conflict with history and technology.

Ted Miles

Ted,

The American Queen is out of service because Majestic America, owners of the boat, defaulted on the mortgage with the Maritime Administration at the end of the 2008 season. In order to return the American Queen to service any new owner must assume a $50 million loan.

I'm not sure what you refer to as the "President Queen". If you mean the Mississippi Queen, that boat was taken out of service by Majestic America for a major reconstruction that was halted after they stripped the interiors. The boat is infested with mold and sits at the Perry Street Wharf in New Orleans.

Wesley

True, the American Queen has been turned over to the Gov't. It is also true that she is only 30% steam, most of her propulsion is from Z drives in front of the wheel.
The Mississippi is sitting, after having much of her interior gutted. She IS all steam, but she does not meet the new SOLAS regulations coming in 2010, nor do many older boats, which why many are being retired, like the british liner that is in Dubia now--One reason, I suspect, that the major remodel was underway. Also, IMHO, the mold is not that big a problem (yes, it's a problem, but insurmountable).
The Delta Queen, however, is owned free and clear, and other than some bushings and other maintenance items that really should be addressed, is in great shape, good for many more decades of service.
So, I ask you, what makes being tied to the shore with 178 guests aboard WITHOUT a Coast Guard trained firefighting & evacaution management onboard plus a watchman making rounds, electronicly checking in with "eyes on" the boat safer than being run on the river, minutes from shore with 178 guests And the safety crew and watchman? The law is being mis-applied, and we are losing our history and heritage because of it, and a congressman who has litterally LIED to congress about the boat and the coast guard's evaluation of it.
The only thing the Delta Queen has is a small group of supporters who have a web site and the truth. We need everyone to spread the word--which is rather difficult out here in Northen California; I've had people walk away because (according to them) caring about an old steamboat on the Mississippi when we don't live near it is "wierd." But for every three that walk away, I sometimes get one who will respond. It's all about numbers, and we only have numbers of people, not numbers of dollars!
Please help!
Here's a pic of the engine room, thought y'all might enjoy it.