Topic starter
20/03/2015 3:52 pm
Anybody know if the Delta Queen will still depart Chattanooga on Sunday? Last I heard is that they were having a hard time finding a towboat to tow the boat to New Orleans. Also, what shipyard will do the work in New Orleans? I know quite a few people would be interested in knowing what towboat will be towing the DQ and also where it is headed, so they can be able to photograph the move.
20/03/2015 4:10 pm
Dan,
The departure is still on schedule. A towing company has been contracted and the towing vessel is already on its way. I just spoke to the Lock Master at Wilson Lock, Mile 259 TN River, and the closure next week will delay the trip slightly. She wont be able to make it through Wilson until next weekend, but she will still depart Chattanooga on time as of this writing. As many of you know, once she lets her lines go, she'll be back on "river time" where "navigating conditions permitting" will apply and everything is tentative.
We hope to provide daily updates of her journey on the Delta Queen Steamboat Company facebook page as well.
Phillip
20/03/2015 5:32 pm
Phillip, will you be one of the lucky ones on board the DQ for the trip to New Orleans? I think you probably deserve it for all you have done.
20/03/2015 5:47 pm
Ted,
As much as I wanted to, I decided to ride the Southern Belle and see her off that way. I looked into accompanying the boat down to Paducah, but the Wilson Lock closure torpedoed that idea as I need to be back in the office before then. Looking forward to seeing you again on the Belle!
Phillip
Topic starter
21/03/2015 3:36 pm
What is the name of the towboat that will handle the move? That is what will show up on the lock reports and AIS, not the Delta Queen. I did not see any mention of this on the Facebook site. And, will the boat that is picking up the DQ at Chattanooga tow it all the way to Nola? Several people would like to photograph it going down the river but they need the towboat's name to follow it.
21/03/2015 6:07 pm
Delta Queen
Dan The name of the towboat is the Southern Belle. Hope someone posts pictures on the steamboats.org site for us who cannot be there would like very much to see. Carole Matthews sunny an warm Pompano Beach Florida 33064
21/03/2015 9:46 pm
No, the SOUTHERN BELLE is the name of the Chattanooga excursion boat that will accompany the DQ down to Williams Island. The SOUTHERN BELLE will have passengers aboard wishing the QUEEN well on her departure. It is not a towboat.
21/03/2015 10:25 pm
Re Facebook postings
PJ: I hope that those along for the journey will consider posting on here as well as on Facebook, as many of us DQers are anachronisms ourselves and don't 'do' social media. I also happen to think that this site has been a long term repository for DQ and steamboat history in general, and as such should have this segment duly recorded here. That said, those of us not along the way in person will grovel and gladly accept whatever we can get! Hopefully Capt. mike will be writing a sequel to his first tome which was so greatly appreciated. Hey Bob: ding dong! (Remember the Gong Show we did using the DQ's roof bell?) could use a rerun!;-)
Topic starter
22/03/2015 12:34 am
I have learned that the towboat J. W. HERRON will tow the DQ from Chattanooga to Nola. 2,400 hp. Owned by Graestone Logistics LLC, Murray, Ky.
22/03/2015 1:23 am
*FACEBOOK/'Offical' information on DQ*
Steamboating colleagues:
I have to agree 100% with the above posted by Judy. Having been away at sea over a month, it has been much time here catching up with all the breaking news about the DQ, answering E=Mails, opening U.S. Mail deliveries. DQ E=Mails did filter in to me on the ship some thousands of miles at sea. Yet, 'some' E=Mails have come in here giving information I wouldn't think of posting about the present DELTA QUEEN initiative, towing boats etc. Don't think for a moment I don't wish this all well with great hopes. Just because people here and other places ask certain questions doesn't mean they are against the present legion efforts.
I don't know diddle about FACEBOOK as I don't have an account with them. I did hear while away that somehow FACEBOOK has been "Declared the official site for DELTA QUEEN information." From whom did that originate? Franz has done a wonderful job these years providing this site on behalf--in part--to the DELTA QUEEN history and initiative. No question other sites are more than free to post/exchange information--as long as it's from the right people for the right reason at the right time for the right purpose. Beware of anything declared "Official" and never follow the 'leader.' No argument or debate here. Social media [i.e. FACEBOOK etc.] wonderful, but watch out what is posted. It can catch up with all of us in time from what I hear via lawyers dealing with Internet cases. Once out there in cyberspace it never goes away. Well, what do I know?
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati
22/03/2015 1:45 am
Over here on the Ohio we know that boat as the Mary Claire, no spring chicken for sure. Ran locally for twenty years. We all also know the Beeseckers.
23/03/2015 10:15 am
Graestone is the same bunch that also towed my wharfboat (former steam towboat Loretta Howard/DW Wisherd) to Mobile.