DELTA QUEEN's Pilothouse 1955

Travis,
If you know what size the carbons are, we have a "stash" of them here, used in the old Strong Spotlight units (which we still have, but never use). I could probably "liberate" a box or two if they'll fit!
S'
David D.

Just a slight correction. The pilotwheel was delivered to Gallipolis on Sept. 10, 1980.
The DQ was on her first trip I believe with her new Krupp shaft and wheel. Capt. Jim Blum was Master, Tom Kenny and Harry Louden pilots. Capt. Fred Way with a loyal S & D crew supervised the transport on to Marietta.

Sorry...You are right, I just consulted the Reflector...I was a year off!

Carbon Arc Lights

Mel,
I currently work in the engine room on the Belle and we still have two carbon arcs. However, we recently converted one to a halogen fixture (saving the carbon assembly). We've been told by Carlisle & Finch that we are one of the few (if there are any others) who still maintain carbons, with which C& F people were pleasantly surprised. They are a bit of maintenance. Mechanically, they can last for many years. Some components, such as magnetic coils, would be tough to replace. Fortunately, we have more than one spare set that are either operable or can used for spare parts. As far as I know, though, we are still using original parts in these fixtures and have a large cache of carbons that we try to protect from the elements. A comparable xenon fixture, I've read, is much more powerful and much less maintenance, but is a considerable cost to upgrade. Anyway, that just my take on it in the few years I've fiddled with these lights.

So the pilotwheel was removed winter of '52-'53. That's what I was wondering about, thanks Travis!

The PRETTY PAIGE is tied up at Vicksburg in the Vicksburg Harbor Project. She is at Yazoo River Towing's dock, where boats seem to go to waste away....

I thought I heard somewhere that the PRETTY PAIGE was sold and bound for South America, but not sure..

I was Mate on that trip Bill, I remember because I thought it was so awesome to meet Capt. Fred Way. Also Tom Kinney got to talking to the Pilothouse Porter, Mickey Obrien, and it turned out Mickeys dad, Gene Obrien, and Capt. Kinney had grown up together as close friends in Pittsburg.

Hey thanks Dan, yeah I remember cleaning the C&F units and we too had a box of parts and 2 or 3 sets of guts. mop string and Brasso lol. deckhands loved to clean em cause it was a "sit down" job.

Thed Belle of Louisville uses two of them.

It is all-electric. Two little motors do the work