Wrong end of the boat for my knowledge. This little I
know: the Natchez burns diesel, so I suspect so do the
MQ and AQ, although I thought I once heard some Bunker
C talk around the MQ. The Belle now uses oil, what type
I don't know, but she converted from coal to oil in 51
or 52, right when Doc was new on her. I believe the
coal was stored where now there are small storage rooms
near the boilers, Keith or Frank?? You can see many
pictures of the Gordon C. Greene with a pile of coal on
her bow. I don't know what year she converted to oil.
There are many pictures of boats towing a barge of coal
on the side. Guess that option makes the DQ's ugly new
hull not so bad,huh? For many years the DQ refueled
just below here at Buffalo Iowa. Bunker C is not
available many places, St. Louis at Apex, St. Paul, and
at Buffalo on the UMR. Those of you who have been to
the beautiful Lambert Landing in St. Paul know the
expressway right next to your starboard room. When the
boats refuel up there by tanker truck, the one lane of
the expressway has to be blocked off and the speed of
the cars makes for a dangerous situation. That's why
they took to fueling here midtrip. As to why they went
back to St. Paul, I don't know. But I think that with
the new hull, the DQ can hold enough fuel for 14 days
rather than 7 now. Anybody know for sure?
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