Posted on 12/05/2018 6:21:48 PM PST by logician2u
Edited on 12/05/2018 7:37:19 PM PST by Jim Robinson. [history]
After a decade in dock, the historic 1920s-era Delta Queen riverboat will cruise again.
President Donald Trump signed legislation on Tuesday authorizing the 285-foot-long riverboat immortalized in poems and songs to cruise again along the Mississippi and several other rivers.
(Excerpt) Read more at kstp.com ...
I put heavy oil on the Queen when she came up to St. Paul years ago.
Our terminal had a riverside fuel capability for oil, with a “pig” to clear the line when the fueling was done.
Does it have a steam calliope?
That "crashed to the ground".
Even blinded by the light, I saw what you did there.
Nice. Thanks.
You two sure are revved up like a deuce.
ll Cincinnati its home port for many years and every May on the day before Derby Day, it would race the Belle of Louisville from Cincinnati to Louisville.
I’d love to see them start that up again. That would be a GREAT way to go to the Derby.
Now if they can get the SS United States refurbed we could have a real(fast) flagship.
7
Passed the Delta when it owned the biggest one, which we rode, American Queen. Great time for our honeymoon. Also got to cross the middle sister, Mississippi Queen, at one of our ports.
My Dad was telling me that Christmas night, they light bonfires all along the levy. That would be an awesome cruise...
The SS Sultana still lurks in my memory. I think the remains of its, well, the owner/captain’s, victims are still occasionally are uncovered, or thought to be from the Sultana.
The race wasn’t from Cincinnati to Louisville. At least none I remember. The Delta Queen would come to Louisville for the race. Then race from one of the bridges to up a ways (a distance) and turn around.
I grew up a stones throw from the Ohio River. Nothing like hearing that calliope when she was nearing our town. I still live close enough to hear it and am looking forward to her return. A cruise will be one item on my bucket list crossed off that I didn’t think would ever happen.
https://savingplaces.org/places/delta-queen
It took some persistence to finally get the Senate to act before adjournment.
Yes, it would be great to have the Belle of Louisville’s true opponent take her rightful place back in that event - the stand-ins are pretend steamboats.
The Ohio River is my back yard. When the Queen was coming up the river she stopped at our early historical settlement. I was a greeter in costume; went inside to greet the passengers as an early American woman. Then I also led a walking tour around our little town. I loved it and a picture of the Queen at our dock is my FB cover picture. I am thrilled that she will be back. I have lobbed for her and was really upset when they took her off the river.
I’ve been aboard the Delta Queen many times however the race was not from Louisville to Cincinnati but usually from the Clark (2nd St) bridge in Louisville to 18 Mile Island and back. The Delta Queen was Ported in Cincinnati for many years and the Bell of Louisville (formerly the Idlewilde) was ported in Louisville. Both boats were of similar age, the Belle a few years older. The race is noted for cheating such as hidden tug boats to turn the boats around and other quick turn around methods. It was always good fun and people would line the banks of the river to watch something that is rare now but was common a hundred or so years ago. Even up to the 1950’s there were a few steam boats plying the river.
The annual race started and ended at the George Rogers Clark bridge in Louisville. They raced upstream to 6 Mile Island, turned around, and then back to the bridge. About 14 miles total.
We all looked forward to the Queen’s return to Cincinnati every year. Can’t wait to see her again!
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