Str. Julia Belle Swain out of service

JBS kaput

I would hope that those of you who were interested in the JBS trip I proposed and then changed to the SPIRIT OF PEORIA now understand why the change was made. I was aware of the attempted sale, which had been going on since last summer, and feared that this would happen.
Sad to say, but the JBS problems have been self-inflicted. Absentee ownership is just not a good thing, especially if you don't rely on your crew's knowledge and suggestions. The JBS was run on a shoestring with daily maintenance often deferred until a major breakdown occurred. I was booked on a 5 day trip to RedWing and back the first year. The trip started a day late, due to boiler problems. Another extended trip in 2002 was from LaCrosse to Stillwater and back, but we ended up cruising only the 4 hours from LaCrosse to Winona, again due to boiler problems. We had people from all over the Midwest on that one who had their vacation plans ruined. That particular malfunction was definitely due to a lack of daily maintenance which then escalated into a major problem. There was a third trip I had booked which got cancelled before it began, at least. So needless to say, I have been reluctant to recommend anyone come from a distance to ride the JBS due to her unreliabilty. In some other post, someone mentioned that they hoped she moved to a warmer clime where she could run longer seasons. That was not the problem in LaCrosse. That is actually a great location for overnight trips, which she did regularly her first years: a 2 day 1 night trip to either Prairie du Chien or Winona. I took several of those. But then they gravitated to longer dinner trips in the harbor, and to make the Winona and P du C trips one ways. If someone were to buy her and run the original concept, with a longer trip thrown in a couple of times, and who would put the money into making her function reliably, she could do well. Its too bad they decided to sit out this season, of all times with the QUEENS gone. This could have been their best year ever, if they had planned right. Remember the TWILIGHT is running her 2 day trips between LeClaire and Dubuque 3 times a week and she is reliable and charming and enjoyable....

At one time, Dubuque was THE port between St. Louis and St. Paul. With multiple boatyards, it was the Upper Mississippi's best bet for steamboating activity! Can it become so again?

It would only take the City of Dubuque the slightest amount of vision to augment their river rides tourism (M/Vs SPIRIT OF DUBUQUE and MISS DUBUQUE) with a real, breathing steamboat. The JULIA BELLE was built here. The TWILIGHT does excellent making many trips per week here. And I know of at least one person who would make a wonderful, dedicated deckhand/calliope player!!

What say you, Dubuque brass types?

JBS and the museum

It would be the perfect addition for the River Museum to own their own steamboat...and they have the corporate funding to do so. Just think, stroll through the museum and learn about river and steamboating history and then walk over the floodwall and experience it. Jerry and Terri are you game?

How disconcerting that yet ANOTHER steamboat whistle and calliope will be silent this year! Here's hoping that the dandy little sternwheeler will again "roll on the river", with her familiar warbling whistle, chuffing 'scape pipes and tootling cally-ope!

It appears that the online gift shop of the JBS website is still "up", so those who wish to purchase souvenirs (mugs, sweatshirts, cd's, etc.) should act quickly! Probably would be well to contact them first to be sure items are still available. Click here to visit Julia Belle Swain Home.

Gosh, it seems like "only yesterday" that the JBS was a new steamboat and I well recall all the hoopla of her debut in 1971, as well as the excitement of having her here at Louisville for the first time in 1975 to participate in the steamboat "celebration" race with the Belle and DQ, returning again in 1976 and 1977. The JBS has also been a "movie star", appearing in a number of films, including a version of Life on the Mississippi, starring Robert Lansing as Capt. Horace Bixby and which is available on both VHS and DVD. Check Ebay!

Time, like the river, keeps a rollin' on by, and a hearty whistle salute to the memory of Capts. Denny Trone and John Hartford.

Julia Belle Swain info?

How many passengers is the Julia Belle rated for on COI?

Capt Hunter,

I believe the last time I saw the printed COI aboard the vessel it was 250 pax plus 10 crew.

Travis

In her early days it was 400 and I can't imagine that. They had been limiting the longer trips and dinner trips to 150 for practical purposes, not sure what the official number is. Her big drawback is a lack of seating outside - not counting the open air main deck.

The best fertilizer is the farmer's footprint.