Why is the DQ Going via Mobile?

In my opinion all of the reasons you site are why they are using the Warrior-Tombigbee and that waterway terminates on the Tennessee River about two hundred miles above Paducah and, thereby, closer to Chattanooga. To me it's the smart thing to do.

via mobile

Just 'cause the MS river will be down 8 to 10 ft (more of less) for winter don't mean it runs any slower. In the bends the river is alot narrower so the current will run just about as fast when the water is "down" as when it's "up"!
And you gotta remember that any paddlewheeler is only going to get 9mph tops in still water.
Even with all the locks, you can run across the Sound (in good weather) to Moble and up the Tombigbee faster than runnin the Miss all the way up from NOLA to Cairo.
You just have to watch the weather forecast to get 1 and 1/2 days good weather to get out of the ICW eastbound and up Mobile bay to the river.

Capt Mark

RE: 'DQ via Mobile.'
Capt. Mark and steamboating colleagues:
Thanks Mark for the information on this thread RE: the progression of the DQ from New Orleans via Mobile and thence north. I'm 'fuzzy' about the rivers down there and only have general atlas maps--no river charts. Could you give us a 'sketch' of how the boat will go along with an estimate of how many miles? I'm sure most on this web will be following with great interest day by day as this transit is made. How much open water is there across the Sound? Interesting country down there.

Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River.

Dale and steamboating collegues: From New Orleans (Industrial Lock) to Mobile is 160 miles, all but about 30 of that is in Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay. Depending on tides, she will be back in rivers in a bit less than 24 hours...she should step in the sound. With favorable tides, it could be as little as 18 or 19 hours. Once on the Mobile/Tombigbee/Tenn-Tom, they will have about 450 miles and 12 locks to the Tennessee River, thence 255 miles and 4 locks up to Chattanooga.

The Tombigbee River and Tenn-Tom Waterway CAN get swift in high water, though at pool stage they are much like the Ohio - slack above the locks, moderate current for a few miles below the locks. Once the boat gets in the canal section of the Tenn-Tom (mile 360 or so above Mobile), the water is very shallow and it is pretty much one-way traffic with a few exceptions. This waterway is narrow and has numerous bends...it is kind of like a miniature Lower Miss. It still probably makes more sense for them to do this rather than go up the Lower, Ohio and Tennessee; they will travel only 865 miles by the Mobile Route vs 1,378 miles on the Mississippi/Ohio/Tennessee route.

Trying to see if I can chase part of the trip....

Bob:

Thanks much for this info. There is a chance I can get a cheap weekend air fare to that area (Sat-Mon) next weekend. I would like to get some (hopefully not final, but just in case) photos of the DQ in route and through some locks. Do you or does anyone have any estiamted timings or expected/planned arrival times at key locations or even the end of trip at Chattanooga? Is there any way to find out approximate locations of the DQ once it is back on a controlled river?

From what you show, at 10-12 mph and 700+ miles it would take over 3 days + locking time to make the trip, if they run 24 hours. Is the crew size sufficent to do so or will they tie up and take breaks?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Richard Reiff/Pueblo, CO

I live in Alabama and would love to see her either at Demopolis or at the lock at Gainesville to take pictures. I hope she will be in daylight in that area of the Tenn-Tom. Please, when someone knows when, post. Thanks.

Richard, email me your phone number. There will be someone aboard who might be able to contact you with their progress. [email protected]

Wes, the DQ will go up the Tenn Tomm waterway to the outlet at Yellow Creek on the Tennesse River at mile 217, and the reason is it is much shorter, to Chattanooga, (over 400 miles) to go that way than up the Mississippi, my info is that 2 good friends of mine will be aboard to pilot the trip, wish I was there!