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| SS American Victory https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5284 |
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| Author: | Jim Herron [ Sat Mar 08, 2003 1:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | SS American Victory |
SS American Victory...In steam again! No, she's not a grande damme of the rivers but rather an old war horse and back in steam again, having passed her initial USCG review on Thursday, March 6th. At 455 ft and with a draft of 28 ft and beam of 62 ft, the SS American Victory steamed out of Tampa for sea trials under her own power for the first time since 1985. Her boilers were showing 450 psi and, man was it HOT in that engine room! She's turbine powered. For the volunteer crew and members of the SS American Victory & Mariners Museum, this was a day long wished for. As the more-or-less "official" videographer, I was pleased to be aboard as the old girl responded perfectly to all commands from the USCG inspectors and is now approved to steam Bays, Inlets, Rivers and Lakes. The next phase will bring her up to full ocean-going approval. In the meantime, she's set to start occasional public trips out of Tampa down Tampa Bay and into the Gulf of Mexico sometime this summer. Now, these trips will never compete with those fine cruises like the Delta Queen Steamboat Company fleet. Nor are they meant to. What these trips will celebrate is the successful efforts of America's Merchant Marine during WWII and later wars. Built in 1945, the SS American Victory missed the European part of WWII but did serve in the Pacific and later in the Marshall Plan to Europe plus the Korean War and Viet Nam Wars. Among the museum's volunteers are former sailors who served on this ship from all 3 wars. If you're ever in Tampa, you can tour the ship most any day. She's moored right behind the Tampa Aquarium ( a stop on Tampa's new trolley line). Here's their web site: www.americanvictory.org I just thought that this event deserved a little mention here. After all, it's pretty hard to find anything powered by steam these days. And, just like the a locomotive under steam, when I boarded this ship yesterday for the first time when steam was up, there is a "life" that you sense...a whisp of vapor now and then and, once under way, that gentle, ever so slight rumble that tells you she's glad to be back and doing what she was meant to do. You can visit all the static exhibits you want but until you experience the real thing, in motion, you don't fully understand. But once that experience is gained, there is no way to avoid it's calling and you will return, again and again. hrvideo@mindspring.com |
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| Author: | Bill Hayes [ Sat Mar 08, 2003 10:31 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS American Victory |
> I just thought that this event deserved a > little > mention here. After all, it's pretty hard to > find > anything powered by steam these days. And, > just > like the a locomotive under steam, when I > boarded this ship yesterday for > the first time when steam was up, there is a > "life" > that you sense...a whisp of vapor now and > then > and, once under way, that gentle, ever so > slight rumble that tells you she's glad to > be back > and doing what she was meant to do. Nice post Jim. I'm forced to lurk since I am severely detached from the railroad scene, but currently sitting on another steam powered vessel in the Persian Gulf. I guess I should feel lucky that I can walk down to the engine room at any time...just never thought of it that way. We're also lucky to have 2 ALCO 251 emergency diesel generators, which I do like to go listen to. I'll make sure to visit your Victory ship whenever I'm in Tampa. Bill Hayes CDR SC USN USS BATAAN (LHD-5) hayesw@bataan.navy.mil |
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| Author: | Jim Herron [ Sun Mar 09, 2003 2:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS American Victory |
Thanks Bill, We're with you in spirit and support in the coming months. The service of you and your shipmates and all the others called to duty is deeply appreciated by us in the land where freedom reigns. -Jim Herron hrvideo@mindspring.com |
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