Today marks the end of overnight passenger service for the legendary Delta Queen. Her Congressional exemption for the SOLAS expires at midnight. The boat will deadhead to New Orleans for layup.

One of many recent news stories, this one from ABC News:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6110442

And the great steam whistle aboard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6WwA3KZrck

History of the boat and the current efforts to renew the exemption can be found here:

http://www.steamboats.org

Wesley

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yes it does!

I still have some hope. I have seen this ship come by my house ever since I was young. Never got to see it this year.

This is one place where we need less regulation.

The maritime law for wood vessels was intended for ocean going craft only. The wording of the law was in error by not exempting all wooden river craft.

No one has ever had the ability to change the law to exempt river craft completely. That is way an annual exemption has to be made.

This does not have to be a permanent shut down. Interested parties need to get together and get Congress to change the original law. to exempt all river craft or to add wording such as "for all ocean going ships".

Doug vV

You may find considerable discussion on this topic at steamboat and steam whistle forums. Allegedly one lone congresscritter, Richard Oberstar of Minnesota, is personally playing various ego and power trips regarding blocking the Delta Queens' exemption renewal.

I'm not too interested in steam boats. However, I have had past experience in the political system (never public office, just letter writing, campaign worker, poll worker, etc).

Instead of trying to get the band-aid added for this year (the exemption for the Delta Queen), why not fix the law once and for all.

To bring this back to railroad preservation, the problems with Dan Markoff's Eureka getting a waver point out the problems with getting wavers. They are a periodic clash of individuals against government.

I think the Law should be changed such that if someone like Dan can have a reasonable documentation scheme to show boiler hours and climate controlled storage between occasional steam-ups should fall under a special clause in the law allowing the periodic 5-year flue removal to be either lengthened or eliminated.

I have direct experience as to how the general public can make government work for them. However I am not sure it belongs in this forum.

If you are interested in information, feel free to PM me.

Doug vV

You may find considerable discussion on this topic at steamboat and steam whistle forums. Allegedly one lone congresscritter, Richard Oberstar of Minnesota, is personally playing various ego and power trips regarding blocking the Delta Queens' exemption renewal.[/quote]

Also Richard oberstar represents the union and the Delta Queen has a non union crew so there is the sticking point. Isn't politics grand.

Take the Delta Queen back to california a the Sacramento and see if is servive the trip to the West Coast. To probable is the wood is the cabinet for the people and the exit to water.

Smile

Stan