Str. Mississippi Queen - SOLD !

Dynawhistle Calliope (world's loudest musical instrument)

I have a proposal for a Dynawhistle calliope using toroidal whistles of US Patent 4686928 to
qualify as the world's loudest instrument and sub as an ultimate warning device. Here is a link to the patent.
Toroidal whistle - Google Patent Search

It would definitely not be a riverboat calliope, but would be mounted on the edge of a bluff overlooking a large city and remote controlled via MIDI. It would use a 1500 HP centrifugal compressor delivering 15 PSI at 20,000 CFM to power it and be about the same size as a bell tower carillon and cost no more to build. If it were built, it would have an audible range of over 20 miles.

I know during their botched renovation a ton of stuff was removed. Where is it all? I mean fixtures, furniture, and things of that nature. Are these items something we might see some auctions for?

Donald Vivier;21483 wrote: I know during their botched renovation a ton of stuff was removed. Where is it all? I mean fixtures, furniture, and things of that nature. Are these items something we might see some auctions for?

That's a good question - considering that stuff was removed about 3 years ago, I suspect its long gone. I don't think they had a storage facility in NOLA, and it wasn't in the Perry St. wharf. As great of business thinkers that they were, they probably had it all pitched without attempting to sell any of it. As to the boaty stuff, like whistles and gauges, to my knowledge the only thing whose location is known today is the whistle, and it may have been moved due to circumstances...

Judy Patsch;21487 wrote: That's a good question - considering that stuff was removed about 3 years ago, I suspect its long gone. I don't think they had a storage facility in NOLA, and it wasn't in the Perry St. wharf. As great of business thinkers that they were, they probably had it all pitched without attempting to sell any of it. As to the boaty stuff, like whistles and gauges, to my knowledge the only thing whose location is known today is the whistle, and it may have been moved due to circumstances...

BLAH!!! Thats about all I can say. Sure the MQ needed some work, but it never needed work to the extent they were going for. I have all of the photos from the interior that a friend took inside ( I think I posted them here once) After it was demolished. If anyone has not seen them and would like them feel free to send me a message with your email and I will zip them up. They are not for the faint of heart.

Here is one that kills me...

Remodeling

They needed to either make a second exit for the rooms behind the Pursers Office or remove them as passenger rooms, period. The 'remodeling' was yet another planned step to kill the boats MAL never planned to run. They bought them only to corner the market. I suspect the plan was to keep the AQ on the Mississippi, and one boat on the Columbia. Remodeling got the MQ, Congress got the DQ, and MAL comes out smelling like a rose - or so they thought. Unfortunately for them, river people aren't stupid, but aren't rich enough to save the boats either.

Carmen,

I have not heard this peice of news. Perhaps there is some kind of faint hope yet for her.

Travis

Donald,

I'd love to have that calliope console! Specially since I know they new "owner" has no use for it! I'd put a digital keyboard into it and it would become the focal point of my living room (till I could get a calliope built for it).

What a shame! Thanks MAL...now I am the malcontented one for having assisted you in the destruction of my career...not to mention all this wonderful history lost!

I'd love to see those pics. Last time I walked her decks was the saddest time I ever had aboard her. It was in April of 2007...and the destruction had already begun (way before the "official" tearout). The crew of the AQ were told to raid her for anything they wanted. By the time the crew of the DQ got there, most everything was gone...up to and including my personal effects locked in my locker in my former room over there. I found my personal TV on the AQ later that year in someones room. I won't mention who...I never told them they had my TV...it wasnt worth it! I just wonder who got my clothes and sundry items!

Travis

Travis Vasconcelos;21505 wrote: Donald,

I'd love to have that calliope console! Specially since I know they new "owner" has no use for it! I'd put a digital keyboard into it and it would become the focal point of my living room (till I could get a calliope built for it).

What a shame! Thanks MAL...now I am the malcontented one for having assisted you in the destruction of my career...not to mention all this wonderful history lost!

I'd love to see those pics. Last time I walked her decks was the saddest time I ever had aboard her. It was in April of 2007...and the destruction had already begun (way before the "official" tearout). The crew of the AQ were told to raid her for anything they wanted. By the time the crew of the DQ got there, most everything was gone...up to and including my personal effects locked in my locker in my former room over there. I found my personal TV on the AQ later that year in someones room. I won't mention who...I never told them they had my TV...it wasnt worth it! I just wonder who got my clothes and sundry items!

Travis

Hey Travis,

Feel free to shoot me your email and I will get them to you. Here are a few more for all of you.

Donald, what was your position on the MQ? Your name sounds so familiar.

Judy Patsch;21522 wrote: Donald, what was your position on the MQ? Your name sounds so familiar.

I was on the MQ in 2000-2001 then moved over to the Cape may until the bankruptcy. Then went back to the MQ for a bit during the DN rein.

I started in the Storeroom, then moved to the pursers office, then on the cape may I was in the dining room.

MQ's Whistles

The condition and location of the main whistle and whistles of the calliope would be of particular interest to my group at steam-whistles : Steam Whistles

Judy Patsch;21487 wrote: That's a good question - considering that stuff was removed about 3 years ago, I suspect its long gone. I don't think they had a storage facility in NOLA, and it wasn't in the Perry St. wharf. As great of business thinkers that they were, they probably had it all pitched without attempting to sell any of it. As to the boaty stuff, like whistles and gauges, to my knowledge the only thing whose location is known today is the whistle, and it may have been moved due to circumstances...

MQ where art thou?

I called Souther Scrap and they say they did not buy her nor another place they suggested I try. Last I heard , on here I believe, was something about Laplace/Reserve, river marker 134/135.

If anyone know for sure, Please let me know. I really want to get to her. I lived on her for 4 1/2 years from '90 -'95 as photographer. I rarely left her in that time- she was my home. Thanks to facebook I ended up arranging an impromtu reunion of a bunch of my crew mates and others on the Steamer Natchez in April last year. Many thanks to her captain for the unscheduled detour so we could see her at the Perry st. wharf ( to many tears). I know she was ravaged ( don't get me started) during her stay at Perry and I can only hope as much ended up in the hands of steamboaters as possible. I swear if I had won the lottery, I'd have bought her.
We are meeting again in Natchez in June. I would be happy just to get just some railing or something to cut into mementos for my crew mates when we meet again.
She will be loved and missed forever by a special group of people whether they worked or sailed her who have the privilege and honor to proudly call themselves steamboaters!

Thanks for ANY info you can provide that gets me to her soon.
Lee Bercegeay: MQ photographer and resident, 1990 - 1995.

MQ location

Lee, the Reserve destination is confusing in this thread because it was posted before she left Perry St. to go downriver. The Harvey Canal is the most recent info. The towboat pilots said they were taking her to Southern Scrap, but they either misnamed it or someplace on the Harvey has been taken over by them. I have not heard from my NATCHEZ friends since Tuesday evening, so I don't know if anyone has seen the MQ since, but she is somewhere in the Harvey Canal, last word. Peters Road parallels the canal. I would imagine if you'd drive it you'd find the MQ. I was on the NATCHEZ last summer when Capts. Steve and Troy took us upriver so your group could see the MQ, and I'll be back there in June this year. When is your reunion scheduled this time, and is it on the NATCHEZ or in Natchez, Mississippi?

Mq, reunion. etc.

Thanks Judy, I hope she stays there a little while. I get off from work(teacher) very soon and will have ample time. The reunion is IN Natchez this time. I felt that was possibly THE most appropriate place since the boats stopped there more than anywhere. If you are on Facebook, an "event" page has been created with a lot of info. You can add me or just look up MQ/DQSC reunion 2010 in Natchez. feel free to contact me. Its June 11th - 13th with the reunion party friday, 11th about 8pm at the EOLA hotel. Saturday people can go where they want but it is assumed we'll all end up at under the hill sat night. Its all so strange and coincidental that I got on facebook in dec '08, by April, 126 show up on the Natchez. We get to see the MQ right as she is drawing her last gasps. And now the second one after its certain she is done. After all, its been 20 years since I joined her and 15 since I left. Funny how things happen and when.

She is here ....

The Mississippi Queen rests in the Harvey Canal adjacent to Belle Chasse Marine about a quarter of a mile North of the Boomtown Casino complex. She is on the East side of the Canal. She looks simply awful and the site will bring tears to your eyes. Black mold is visible throughout the vessel and the name "Mississippi Queen" is fading. Access to the area where she rests is blocked by a locked fence but you can see her through the open flood gates in the new Corp of Engineers flood wall.

Regarding the confusion as to her location and fate, I wonder if the information about Southern Scrap purchasing her is incorrect. On the South side of the Boomtown Casino complex is the scrap / recycling facility "Mississippi River Recycling." It appears two vessels are being dismantled at this site. "Mississippi River Recycling" appears to have been purchased by "Bayou Steel" which is located in LaPlace (LaPlace has been mentioned as a possible final resting place for the Mississippi Queen). "Bayou Steel" appears to now be owned by "ArcelorMittal" ... a company based in England.

Could it be the Mississippi Queen is now owned by and will be destroyed by ArcelorMittal either at the Harvey Canal site or the LaPlace site?

By the way ... long time "lurker" now member here.

MQ location

Thanks for the update and verification of her location. Apparently there is a bit of confusion about Southern Scrap buying her. I never stated that here, merely that she was going to Southern Scrap, according to the tugboat pilot delivering her Tuesday night. She was purchased by 3 individuals, names unknown, and her registry was changed to Canada last Monday, the day before she left Perry St. I assume the Southern Scrap, or whatever facility she is at, is merely the entity which is doing the deed for the owners. Thanks again for locating her. If you can ever get any pictures, please post, and keep us informed of the 'progress' of the deed...

Why change the registry if she's going to be cut to pieces???

Registry change

Good question - if it had been to a flag of convenience I would have assumed it was to avoid some US regulations, but Canada? Maybe it avoids US sales tax????? Somebody was harboring hope that she is just being prepared for a journey to Canada, there to be rebuilt to cruise there. I just feel that anybody who has seen her in NOLA recently couldn't hold out hope for her resurrection, at least I can't. Who knows, since the new owners got her for under a million, maybe they've got the bucks to re-do her, but I can't see it happening. And as far as fixing her up to be towed up to Canada, ask Bubba how the JOHN JAMES AUDUBON fared going up to NYC - no way would that box make it, unless she were put on one of those submersible deck ships rather than being towed on her own hull...

Environmental?

Could the change in registry be related to environmental problems / asbestos? Perhaps as a way to go around EPA requirements?

After doing a bit more research I am of the belief the Mississippi Queen is resting in the canal to be eventually moved to one of two "Mississippi River Recycling / Archelormittal" facilities. One is along the Harvey Canal just South of where she sits and there is evidence of vessels being broken there. The other facility appears to be along the Mississippi River between milepost 134 - 135 and there is also evidence of vessels being pulled into a yard and dismantled. The Mississipi River facility appears to be adjacent to the large "Mississippi River Recycling / Archelormittal" scrapyard. Both of these facilities are clearly visible on "Google Maps" satellite view.

I sure would love to know the names of the four individuals who purchased her!

I'm hoping to have pictures of her current position in the next few days.

O Canada!

That would be my first guess - but I'm wondering if there aren't La. laws regarding that abatement for any structure, on land or water, regardless of ownership? But as someone aptly put it this weekend: it's Louisiana...
The Google shot I've looked at is obviously old, as the MQ is facing downriver and the DQ upriver at Perry St, can't remember when that would have been, but more than 3 years ago. But I see a couple of bays near the Y junction with the Algiers Canal and it looks like scrap on the yards. Is that where you are thinking the dismantling would occur? It is inland from the Boomtown Belle which is prominent in the photo.

Look for Bayou Road

The Harvey Canal scrapping facility appears to be located at the intersection of Peters Road (Hwy 3017) and Bayou Road just north of a pumping station. If you look at the satellite view and zoom in you will see what appears to be vessels being broken in the scrap yard.

If you are looking at Google Maps, the Mississippi Queen is resting in the Canal just North of where the satellite photos show a yellow barge tied up on the East side of the Canal just North of the Boomtown Casino complex. There is a tugboat going up the canal beside the barge.

When looking ...

use Google MAPS not Google EARTH as these two satellite views were taken at different times.

Aha! The Canadian Connection!

Well well well!

It seems as though Arcelormittal, the Company that now owns the Bayou Steel scrapping facility off Bayou Road on the Harvey Canal has a CANADIAN operation ... "Arcelor Mines Canada."

ArcelorMittal Mines Canada

So this would be the Canadian connection to all of this.

Final post for today ... I'm hogging the forum!

Are not you looking at the Casio at Boomtown Bayou Market Buffet at about 4217 Bayou Rd. Harvey,LA

Yes & No

The Mississippi Queen is in the canal just North of the Boomtown complex and Boomtown Belle II vessel.

The Mississippi River Recycling / Bayou Steel / Arcelomittal scrapyard is to the South of the Boomtown complex.