And we can't even keep the Delta Queen in service............FYI:

[b]Paddlesteamer Adelaide departs Port of Echuca Wharf

August 25, 2012

Paddlesteamer Adelaide departs Port of Echuca Wharf

At 9am this Saturday (25 August) the PS Adelaide will set off on her biggest journey in over 50 years. The Adelaide, the oldest wooden hulled paddlesteamer in the world, will depart the Port of Echuca Wharf for the first leg of her 886km trip down the mighty Murray River. Destination is Mildura and Wentworth to help celebrate fellow paddlesteamer the PS Melbourne’s 100th birthday.

Port of Echuca are inviting the local community to come and farewell the PS Adelaide as she departs the Echuca Wharf. The Wharf will be open from 8.30am for those who wish to wave her goodbye. Port of Echuca manager Mark Blunden said, ‘We have arranged for Rev Eric Smith to conduct a Blessing of Safe Travel and the Echuca Federal Band will also play as the PS Adelaide and the crew depart.’

It is estimated that the trip from Echuca to Mildura will take 12 days, including two rest days, however this is nearly doubled when bringing her back upstream. To make the trip the PS Adelaide will have to go through three lochs, over two wire punt crossings and four bridges will have to be lifted. It is also estimated that the PS Adelaide will require approx 3 tonnes of firewood per day.

Mr Blunden said ‘The PS Adelaide is being crewed by volunteers and without the support and sponsorship of local businesses this journey would not be possible. We would like to thank Telstra, Hip Pocket, Add Print, Mitre 10, Dulux and Hunter Wharf & Barge for their support, especially at such short notice.’

Telstra has come onboard and will equip the PS Adelaide with the most up to date telecommunications to ensure the vessel is contactable at all times and so the crew can keep the community up to date on the adventure through the Port of Echuca’s Facebook and a dedicated Blog. For links to these sites please visit http://www.portofechuca.org.au.

On Sunday 26 August the PS Adelaide will be steamed up by 7.30am, ready to go through the Torrumbarry Lock at 8am. Locals are encouraged to drive out to the Torrumbarry Weir Day Visitor Area to watch as the vessel moves through the Loch Chamber.

Itinerary:
Day 1- Saturday 25 August Echuca Wharf at 9am to Torrumbarry Weir (82km)
Day 2- Sunday 26 August Torrumbarry Lock to Barham Mill Bend (86km)
Day 3- Monday 27 August Barham Mill Bend to Barham-Koondrook (19km)
Day 4- Tuesday 28 August Barham-Koondrook to Swan Hill Pental Island (114km)
Day 5- Wednesday 29 August Rest day in Swan Hill- PB Iron Dry joins Flotilla
Day 6- Thursday 30 August Swan Hill to Tooleybuc (90km)
Day 7 Friday 31 August Tooleybuc to Boundary Bend (92km)
Day 8 Saturday 1 September Boundary Bend to Robinvale (104km)
Day 9- Sunday 2 September Wood loading and rest day.
Day 10- Monday 3 September Robinvale to Tapulin Cutting/Island (124km)
Day 11- Tuesday 4 September Tapalin Cutting/Island to Mildura (112km)
Day 12- Wednesday 5 September Mildura to Wentworth (56km)
Please Note: Itinerary is subject to varying river heights and may change at any time without notice.
When in Mildura, the PS Melbourne’s Centenary River Festival will be held on Sunday 9 September and is a celebration of the iconic Paddle Steamer Melbourne’s 100th Birthday. This milestone event will be held at the Mildura Wharf where the Melbourne will be joined by over 20 vessels, including heritage steamers from South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, not seen together for over 50 years.[/color]
Echuca is the inland railway terminal on the Murray. This is about comparable to having a very light wooden paddle wheel boat using an engine about the size of a steam tractor make the trip from Pittsburgh to Memphis.

dave

Much smaller vessel. Looks like it could fit inside the Cincinnati History Museum with room to spare.

It could fit in the Delta Queen's engine room.

Wouldn't you love to be along for the cruise?

dave

Dave -

YES!

On a somewhat related note, the wife and I were in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada last week where we had a lunch cruise aboard the R.M.S. Segwun. The previous day, the boat had a special all-day, 100 mile cruise, celebrating her 125th birthday! She was originally built as a side wheeler in 1877, and is the oldest wooden coal fired steam boat in North America and is still in regular service. She sure has a nice whistle, and you can't beat the smell of coal smoke!

Les

I should mention that most of these Murray River steamers were built on the river of native timber, and the engines were British made "portable" engines - much like steam tractors without the ability to haul themselves, being hauled by teams to locations where sawmills, etc were set up. An ingenius and practical way to open up a frontier........

dave

A friend from there sent me a link to a blog from a crewman:

http://psadelaidesteamstomildura.wordpress.com/

dave

I recently read a somewhat related news article topic regarding Australian Marine "Preservation", or at least a Historic Marine reproduction. An individual named Clive Palmer, an eccentric Tycoon who made his fortune in the Australian Mining industry, has reportedly signed a contact with a Chinese firm to build a full-size replica of the ill-fated "Titanic".
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-65899 ... anic-dream