OT: Marine Preservation: Scrapping of the Mississippi Queen

bbunge · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:13 am

Built in the 70's, steam nonetheless.

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20100620/ARTICLES/100619279?p=1&tc=pg

This article suggests the MQ hasn't been scrapped yet, but says the American Queen is now owned by the Government:

http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/522757.html?nav=5002

Bob

survivingworldsteam · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:56 am

Quote:

The American Queen is now owned by the federal government and could be used to transport troops should the need arise.

Use an inland steamer as a troop transport? Hmmm <puts on tinfoil hat.>

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:56 pm

If Texas secedes we will use the AQ to send troops from the north (via intracoastal waterway).

survivingworldsteam · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 1:58 pm

softwerkslex wrote:

If Texas secedes we will use the AQ to send troops from the north (via intracoastal waterway).

Much faster taking Southwest Airlines; and also have them carry their equipment as frieght. :)

(Which is why the government no longer keeps troopships in reserve; they would just contract the airlines to handle what they can't airlift themselves.)

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 3:23 pm

Well, I knew that someday the 6X7 Kodachromes I took of all three Delta Queen Co. boats going to and at the Tall Stacks steamboat gathering in Cincinnati in '95 would someday be historic. I just didn't think they would be in less than 20 years! No more Kodachrome, no more Delta Queen Steamboat Co. Boy am I glad I did that. I ponied up the money to ride the Race for the Golden Antlers between the Delta Queen and the Belle, on-board the Belle. The fix was in - never bet against the hometown boat (Delta Queen)!

Just another reminder not to take any of this stuff for granted.

David Dewey · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 12:17 am

Yes, the American Queen is owned by the Government, who took her back when MAL gave up the "mortgage" on her, that was financed by the Government. She is sitting in a backwater, awaiting a purchase or ???
The Mississippi Queen has good engines, and (maybe, depends upon whom you talk to) good boilers. But she does have major environmental issues. Some think she could be saved, others think she's a goner. The interesting thing is that so far, cutting hasn't occurred. It would take millions to put her to right, but OTOH, back in the days, she earned millions per year--along with her sister ship, the Delta Queen. Even the Delta Queen will now require major dollars to put her back into service--besides the needed Congressional Exemption. BTW. the Mississippi Queen was more "pure steamboat" than the Delta Queen, as she even generated her electricity with steam; the Delta Queen utilized diesel generators. The American Queen's main propulsion is steerable drive units in front of the paddlewheel--which is steam powered, and can provide some of the propulsion.
Right now it looks like overnight steam paddlewheel travel in America is Dead. 1811 to 2008, almost 200 years, and now it's gone. Unlike Steam locomotives, that can sit for decades on display, and still be viable restoration candidates; steamboats sit in water, and suffer its corrosive nature--most end up sinking, even in "preserved" conditions.
S'
David D.
http://www.save-the-delta-queen.org