What Would YOU Do for the DELTA QUEEN?

I would volunteer my services in that capacity for a limited time, from time to time. The Reynolds's would also likely pay to do this occasionally as well.

Is this a pipe dream Sam, or something you or someone else is actually cooking up?

A QUESTION FOR JIM HERRON:

How is this handled by the railroads? What licensing is required to operate a steam locomotive under special conditions such as this, with a museum piece being brought out from time to time? And to Capt. Blum or any other knowledgeable person in that regard, does the USCG have any special allowances for "special" operations by a museum piece, a la railroads?

I've always said I would work as a handiman, light carpenter, fix-it-guy for free, matter of fact I would probably pay a bit for the honor, and of course being able to learn more about how the ol' girl tics...Not sure what Deb would think of that...And if reality, it may get old after awhile, but I sincerly doubt it. I've also dreamed of ways to lower the fuel usage too, and would like to offer my ideas or better yet be able to experiment on my own...

And I've always thought that some of the ammenities were unnecessary for the repeater...requiring large amounts of manhours...a buffet for all meals is fine with me, I suggested it for breakfasts and lunch here on this forum a while ago and got blasted for it. Turn down at night and making up the staterooms every day seems a bit much too. Interesting topic...

I would volunteer what time I could to work as part of the crew. Would be a good way to earn watch hours and underway days to increase my license tonnage.

Sign me up! Many of us repeaters have said from time to time we would volunteer to work just to get to ride on her. (But I only get three weeks vacation a year).

I can't imagine what changes would need to be made limiting her to only 49 overnight passengers and then enough dining space for the 100's that would have be to fed to keep her profitable. But at least she'd be running and not teethered to a concrete landing day in and day out rotting away!

I have worked as a pilot and as Master on the DQ and would do either for room and board to keep her going.

I'd be happy to deck on her and work on getting my license back. I believe I could work and live in those conditions. Done it before.

Can I keep my Harley on the Bow?

Captions to the new pics

ok Folks I put captions to the new pics I posted yesterday. And Bruno where is the 10 things thread?

Still pretty spry for my age and I could and would do most anything to keep her on the rivers. Good enough for necessary paperwork, gift shop, meet and greet and could (hopefully) absorb alot more to become a historian/riverlorian/interpreter. And yes, I'd wash dishes and help with buffet setup, etc. In other words one of the "grunts".
Where do we sign up?
Ginnie

I could never afford to ride as a passenger, but now that I'm semi-retired I would certainly work as a volunteer if I could find any way.

I'M IN;;;,,!!!
I'll help out in engineering or deckhand or
"ANYTHING" to get out of the middle of the cornfields here in Indiana,,,...

"To help the DELTA QUEEN would be a GREAT privilege",...

Sounds like a skeleton crew. All we need is an engineering crew and I could double as an oiler if'n I had to.

Count Me In Aswell !

Greetngs From New Orleans ,
Well , count me in aswell and I will be more than happy to contribute to the overall navigation of the DQ and for that matter anything else that I may be able to assist with .

mel hartsough;13997 wrote: Sounds like a skeleton crew. All we need is an engineering crew and I could double as an oiler if'n I had to.

I've said it before--I'll work for room, board and a few pretty clothes. Well, I have enough clothes for now. Make it just room and board! And, I'll be willing to learn any skills I'm seen fit enough to learn!

I'm about as serious as I've ever been. These days I'm about as free as I was when I walked on the MQ for the first time in Natchez about 32 years ago. And like Mary I got plenty of clothes just give me a cot and a couple of meals.

Someone asked how museum trains comply with federal regs. I'm a volunteer engineer, and involved with training at a railroad museum.

To be totally exempt from FRA (Federal Railroad Admin.) regs., a railroad must be "insular," meaning it is not connected to the "general system" of railroads, and crosses no public roads or navigable waterways.

There are a few equipment exemptions for "historic" railroads, but, generally a tourist line must comply with FRA regs.

As far as crew goes, the engineer must be certified under an FRA-approved training program. This is the only crew member that must be certified (on ANY railroad, including the big ones). In their eyes, a train, is a train, is a train. I am certified on my railroad, entirely run by volunteers. FRA doesn't care whether or not we are paid.

So, my guess for the DQ, unless it is moved to a pond in someone's back yard, the operating crew would have to comply with whatever the USCG requires now.

Jim Baker
Steam Foreman, Pacific Southwest Railway Museum. Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

OK, Don: lessee now. How about Oiler or Striker Engineer? Where do I sign? Tom Schiffer

Something I neglected to mention above: the FRA makes no distinction between a diesel (diseasel) locomotive engineer and a steam engineer. But there is a whole set of regs specific to steam locomotive inspection. Those regs were revised for the first time since about 1918 in about 2001. This was the result of a boiler explosion on a tourist train in Pennsylvania in about 1994. Oh, and the guy in charge of a train is the conductor, not the engineer. The conductor needs no kind of certification.

Another point about crew certification can be made with the experience of the San Diego Maritime Museum. They operate the STAR OF INDIA, the oldest (1863) operable ship in the world. My dad was on the board of directors of that museum in 1976 when they first sailed her after restoration. They had to find a captain certified for sailing vessels. They are a bit rare these days. Fortunately, one of their group was retired from the USCG, and had been captain of their training square rigger, the EAGLE. The CG wanted no passengers on board, and no more crew than she had when last commercially operated in the 1920's. The volunteers, of course, had gone through a lot of training at the dock, but had no real experience. The museum argued that they needed more people, because of that, and the CG finally agreed. And this was for a day-sail; no overnight. A tug towed her to sea, where she sailed for a few hours, before coming back into port with tug assistance.

Of course, now with 30 years of doing this, with no problems, they can take lots of passengers, and have a big crew. Still need the licensed Master. I don't know about mates. A harbor pilot is required, I believe.

So, again, volunteer or not, I think that the Delta Queen would require the same number of people with appropriate certifications as she does (did?) now.

Jim Baker

Cap,

I would be more than willing to donate a certain amount of my time to the PR stuff, Riverlorian, Perfessor duties, as well as my former position from the BELLE as deckhand. Since I have a degree in such, I will help out as computer tech, too! Of course, I am handy with piano repair (and there is another poster on this board who is MUCH better at it than I...but I won't mention names), calliope repair (again another poster is much better...etc), and general handy man.

Where do I sign up?

~Travis~

Bruno & I have talked about this many times. In return for being onboard, I would be privileged to work on the boat. I grew up in a mountain resort, older than the boat & did all kinds of maintenance; woodworking, plumbing, electrical, painting, and roofing. I also spent my share of time in the office and making beds too. I’ve also been around steam power of various kinds since I was in high school. There ought to be SOMETHING I could do onboard!
I’m still working, so my participation would have to be within my vacation days allotment!
S'
David D.

Sign me up, too! I could do the watchman job as I'm a night guy, anyway. Heck, I'm usually the last passenger to hit the sack. I love sitting on the bow at night and watching all that is happening from locking to taking on fuel or anything else. I can also handle a broom or mop, if required. I've swabbed more than one deck in my time.

As for special locomotive operations, Jim Baker is correct. Any locomotives that operate on the nation's rail system have to meet all FRA requirements and the process to bring them into compliance is labor intensive and expensive. Even so, some railroads won't run steam at all due to the liability exposure and from fears that if the engine breaks down, their freight ($$$$) operations would be disrupted. That is probably a non-issue on a river because the right of way is broad enough to allow any other boats or ships to pass.

What won't change are costs for mechanical upkeep, fuel, and anything else that is more or less fixed. The savings would be in food and hotel type services and from any volunteer filled positions.

I have wondered about creating a non-profit foundation that would own and operate the DQ. Of course, that would have to come from "somebody else's money" but if enough contributors sign on, the boat's future could be secured. Ideally, enough funds could be invested to run and maintain the boat out of interest earned plus receipts from tickets, food, gift shop, charters, etc. I have no idea what the real costs are to maintain and run the DQ but others on here probably do. Any comments? (Perhaps this should be a different thread.)
-Jim Herron

Bob-
See my post below. By the way, were you on a tow at Cairo the night the DQ came down from Cape Giriadeau? If so, I heard you asking for a whistle on my scanner.
-Jim Herron

Well, if the United States is generous enough to grant me a working visa (which as a foreign citizen you even need if you work as a volunteer without pay) I'll be willing to spend 4 week of my vacation on the DQ, doing any work that is needed to be done, from deck hand to serving dinner or giving lectures.
The only catch with this is: If the US Immigration Office is refusing the visa (they don't have to give any reason for doing so and they'll not refund the $300 visa fee), I'll be banned for 3 years from the US and can't travel to the US for this time at all, not even as a tourist; and need a visa for the rest of my life. But to help the Delta Queen, I'd take this risk anyway.