[Keith Norrington]

I recall those days when the BELLE and DQ often locked through McAlpine together, amid much calliope tootling and whistle blowing as the boats steamed upriver to the wharf. Also, there were numerous "impromptu" races and calliope duels. But, sorry to say, "THAT was THEN and THIS is NOW"!

Due to the high cost of fuel and other circumstances that are a sign of the times, the BELLE now operates on a rather limited schedule for public cruises. Quite a contrast to the "old days" when she ran afternoon public trips every day but Monday (frequently we had charters on that boiler washing day) had charter cruises every evening (in the mornings too), an always sold out teen dance on Tuesday night and a very popular Saturday night dance cruise. In those prosperous times there was actually a waiting list for charter cruises and we very often turned people away (sometimes by the bus load!) on the public cruises when the counter went a bit over 1,000 passengers -- I think it was 1,153. As with many (TOO MANY!) things on the river -- and elsewhere, them days is gone forever!