I'm very surprised, but the new Delta Queen Steamboat company really expects
to get her operational permission from Congress and is towing the Delta
Queen to New Orleans to be put in dry dock for boiler changes and major
repairs to be ready to run in 2016. Here's a story on it all;
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/loca ... ty-remembe
reddeltqueen-prepares-de/293835/
And now we need your help writing your congress person to support HR 1248, a
bill that will grant the Delta Queen permission to run again as an overnight
passenger vessel. If you could convince them to be a co-sponsor, that would
be fantastic! BTW, emails and phone calls would work too. This should be a
non-partisan bill, but so far it seems to mostly have Republicans behind
it--help us get some Democrats sponsoring it!
Let's Save the Delta Queen for the future generations!

The link appears to be dead. I have written my Representative and request that others do the same.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/loca ... de/293835/

works for me.

The change in legislature control in the Senate to the Republicans is the big help here. The previous Democratic Senate had some members opposed to re-certification. And I know, whether these objections were sincere or purely political is sometimes debated.

p.s. It appears she is leaving Chattanooga under steam. So she is very close to real service.

The Delta Queen will not be under steam for this trip. The boat needs new boilers.

Wesley

Both of these statements are partially correct. My understanding is that there will be minimal steam in a boiler. However, she will most definitely NOT be propelling herself as the paddle wheel is being dismantled as I type. (Portions will be sold as a fundraiser.) Upon departure from Chattanooga, local "Southern Belle" riverboat will shadow DQ to Williams Island where they will salute each other with calliope music and have a whistle/horn exchange. Tug(s) will continue DQ's journey to New Orleans while the Southern Belle will return to Ross' Landing.

Never thought I'd see the day! This is indeed good news.

I may add that the paddlewheel planking is a Grandpa's hammer part of steamboats, replaced regularly even during the glory days.

.

Now THAT'S a fine little film!

What a great film -- and a talkie no less!

The number of steamboats going up and down that stretch of river is simply incredible.

-Philip Marshall

And, oh my...what is that on the shoreline beginning at 16:53?

Edit: Also a quick clean-stacked passenger consist at :45 (with special thanks to the Troutville Trainmaster for pointing this out.)

Re: DQ and steam. This is an update from one of the parties involved with the tow.



Wesley

Well, not only is the whistle apparently stashed away, I noticed in the pic of them sawing the paddleboards off (to cut down on drag) that there are no whistles on the calliope manifold either. Rats, I was hoping she would be sent off with at least a calliope concert, Maybe the one remaining boiler that was serviceable is no longer serviceable?

I took a trip on the DQ in 07, and spent a lot of time in the engine room. I was there one time when a student engineer (recent maritime academy graduate) was at the controls while they were docking. I don't remember the exact numbers, but when the bridge rang down for "slow," that meant something like 30 or 40 seconds per revolution. She was kept busy with a new order ringing down every few seconds: slow ahead, stop, slow ahead, slow astern, etc. And all these people watching her: some older guys who I presume were the regular engineers, and several other young guys who were probably other recent academy graduates. I guess she did a good job, because when "done with engine" rang down, she got applause from all the guys.