All tied off

Thanks Mary for being the go-between. It's sad that it has to be that way.

And to the crew in engineering, thanks for all you have done to keep Deb's and my dream alive despite having both your hands and your budgets tied this year. We'll see you in 2009, we pray...

" Finished With Engines " Are You Sure ??

Mary ,
Thanks for the news concerning the Delta Queen . I personally feel that life is full of choices and different views and perspectives and I for one CHOOSE to believe that what has happened to all three of these boats , The Str. Delta Queen , The Mississippi Queen and last but certainly not least the Str. American Queen just very well may turn out to be a GOOD thing . Look at it from this standpoint , if the MAL does go under , I believe that either someone or some corporation will soon purchase either all three or al least one or two of the boats and this time manage them CORRECTLY and once again turn them into a very viable and profitable endeavor and PROPERLY care for all three of these NATIONAL TREASURES in such a manner as they so rightfull deserve . So I believe , that instead of this being the END of the Saga of The Delta Queen , I for one believe that this is just the end of a chapter and that there will be many more just waiting to be written and I am sure with a more HAPPY ending !!
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Dvisson

Mary Sward Charlton;13667 wrote: From the engineering staff aboard the DQ:
Delta Queen tied alongside the Mississippi Queen; FWE 09:28 CST.
Guys, thanks for your work at keeping her alive. We know you will put her to bed as best you can, with the love and care you have always shown her.

Captain Ted, thanks for the pictures. I tried to watch the webcam, but it was just the wrong angle--though I swear, I could see her wake.
I, too, have some hope for the future. But it does cause me to tear up, thinking what my dear friends on board must be feeling as they answer that "Finished with engine" bell, hoping that it will not be for the last time. Many of the finest friends I've made have taught me so much about that engine and the rest of the equipment aboard the boat, and it is there that my heart is right now. All of you who have answered my questions over the years with such patience, my sincerest thanks. The same for my wonderful mentors in navigation.
There are no goodbyes in steamboating.

Mary I dont know you but I've read alot of your posts and I am living proof of that last sentence "there are no goodbyes in steamboating". After 24 years I've re-surfaced and re-connected with a lot of old friends and made some new ones. I worked under Ted 30 years ago as a deckhand when he ran Master and as a mate when he was Pilot. Thats just one of many re-aquaintances. Fred Carmicheal and I attended the Memphis Mate, Master and Pilot school together in January 1979. I applaud all you have done and are doing.

"there are no goodbyes in steamboating"...

A good friend, a dear friend of ours just called me to let me know that the American Queen calliope did a profoundly to the point tribute concert to the Delta Queen as she traversed from the west side to the east side of the Mississippi river to tie up to the MQ. I suspect that nobody asked him to do it, he felt it was a necessary, good, respectful thing to do. Tunes played, the two I remember mentioned were Tennesee Waltz (for Capt Dugger), and the Delta Queen Waltz but there were a slew of others...And nobody asked him to call me, he called simply cause he thought that gesture would mean something to me, that I would be pleased. Me, a mere passenger? Obviously the crews, and you notice I don't say specifically which crew, get it. Too bad the company is clueless.

My point is, is there anything better than a friend met through steamboatin'?

Louie, Louie!! my friend. We'll see you in 2009...

Mel, I have been amazed at the connections in steamboating and life on the river. Although my heart has been on the river since I was a teenager, the reality is that it took me over 30 years to realize a life-long dream to work on the DQ. But when I did, I was immediately at home. Your pictures have inspired me to look through all the slides I have from my father, taken in the 70s and 80s, mostly--to see how many more faces I can recognize now!
And Bruno, you've never been "just a passenger."
I must admit, it has been so hard to read this forum these past two weeks while I have not been on. How hard it must be now, for those aboard her, to slowly watch as they shut her down--little by little, the sounds that mean she is alive will quiet. But it is not over--she only sleeps.
We'll be back to dance the Delta Queen Waltz again.

Yer makin' me lose it, Mary.
We Miss you all.
Linda & David

I worked between those 2 boats for 7 years Mary and lived more in those 7 years than I have in the 24 years on the bank. I feel the river calling me again as I have been in denial about my regrets for leaving for all those years. I have not given up.....we'll see what happens. And Mary right Bruno, your never just a passenger. Once you ride your a Steamboater, whether your Pax or Crew, you are a Steamboater.

Another little YouTube this one showing a too short blip, a brief part of the DQ making the "final" trip. That is the AQ playing the calliope tribute, the final send off, in the background, appropriately for this very small clip, the Delta Queen Waltz. And I feel the man playing deserves some credit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6jALmU9ekc

The man is a prince. Nobody asked him to do this calliope tribute (see post #6 above, this thread), nobody suggested any of the very appropriate tunes be played, nobody remembered that he has been working without a break since before dirt... he just simply felt it was the right thing to do, something he had to do. The man is the epitome of steamboatin'...and Deb and I miss him very much.

Play on Pianoman!

who was playing it? Very appropriate by the way