Topic starter
13/02/2020 6:17 am
Karen and I were traveling through Louisiana again this past week, so I detoured over to Houma to see if the Delta Queen was still there. I figured after the Congressional vote in 2018 that maybe she had been taken somewhere to start the refurbishment. Sorry to say that she is still floating where I saw her 4 years ago.
There was a security guard sitting in her car, but she wasn't bothered by two old people taking pictures of the boat.
Here are pictures of the Delta Queen in Houma from Feb 2020
https://englepj.smugmug.com/Retirement/Delta-Queen-Feb-2020
Here are pictures from March 2016
https://englepj.smugmug.com/Retirement/Delta-Queen-March-2016
We last cruised on the Delta Queen in August 2008 where I created this video of kite flying day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjS95Ut0RSQ
Pat and Karen Engle
14/02/2020 10:44 am
*DQ Photos, February 2020*
Steamboating colleagues,
Thanks Pat and Karen for sharing the many DQ photos above covering years 2008 to 2020. Sobering to say the least viewing the 2020 photos. Clear to any viewer there has been a rapid decline in the boat from outside appearances facing the variations of weather down there. A number may decry that, "Oh, it's just cosmetic" but condition of the wood I wee--and unseen--tells a different story. So far you two the only ones to step up with photos here. What more need to be said? Thanks.
R. Dale Flick
Old Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati
19/02/2020 9:30 pm
Looks like Letha Greene Was Right
R. Dale Flick;37288 wrote: *DQ Photos, February 2020*
Steamboating colleagues,
Thanks Pat and Karen for sharing the many DQ photos above covering years 2008 to 2020. Sobering to say the least viewing the 2020 photos. Clear to any viewer there has been a rapid decline in the boat from outside appearances facing the variations of weather down there. A number may decry that, "Oh, it's just cosmetic" but condition of the wood I wee--and unseen--tells a different story. So far you two the only ones to step up with photos here. What more need to be said? Thanks.R. Dale Flick
Old Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati
In 1956/57 when the bank foreclosed on the DQ and there were no buyers; Letha Greene said the DQ was the largest, most expensive white elephant in the world, I wonder how long the owners can bleed money keeping watchmen, insurance and dockage going. From the pictures she's beyond repair without a complete dismantleing to the steel frame and a complete rebuild. The future for our ol' gal doesn't look very encouraging.
04/03/2020 9:39 pm
It is so sad to see Delta Queen rotting away after all the efforts to get the legislation amended. She looks so far gone now that only a miracle will save her. Perhaps the new owners could up-date their web-site to tell us what, if anything, is really happening. In the meanwhile, I will be making another pirgimage to US to sail on American Queen for her new-year cruise for New Orleans on December 28 th. It should be good fun!
06/03/2020 1:34 am
Ah yes, I did get that one up pretty high, eh? In order to have "Kite flying day" I had to bring enough kites for "everyone." as Majestic didn't think such an activity was "sophisticated" enough for their cruises. On our first trip in '07, when I asked about kite flying they thought they had me when they required "enough" kites, but I had come prepared, as I did all the other since.
Yes, she looks sad, but it is not as terrible as it looks. There is more rot than I'd like to see, but the windows you show the worst rot on are modern replacements on the Orleans Room windows. never really did like them, but better than aluminum ones, I guess.
Wish I knew the future!
08/03/2020 3:06 pm
*Letha Greene's 'insights*
Morning, Steamboating colleagues,
Jim, right you are RE: Letha Greene's statements and 'insights' during her tenure as president/CEO of the former GREENE LINE STEAMERS. Letha was no fool being well educated; then marrying Capt. Tom Greene and into the Greene family. I knew Letha for years, talking to her often down to not long before her health failed and her death. She had other statements she often would mention in a soft, low voice with one being, "I learned a lot and the hard way." Another was, "The river steamboat business one of the hardest to be in. You have a marine operation, crew, officers, food and beverage, hotel division, entertainment department, home office--and I inherited it all." I often wondered how she could lay her head down for a night's sleep with all the headaches, problems, unanticipated issues that hovered around her 24/7/52. And along with this she had four children to raise, a home to maintain. She mentioned also how both she and the company were nervous watching the berthing books on arriving reservations for the Mardi Gras trip as that usually set the tone for the new year with the DQ. "And we often thought long and hard about how many standing prime ribs of beef we could purchase for the boat looking at our finance books." When Mardi Gras trip departure date approached she mentioned often turning, tossing at night worrying about a possible flood, bad weather or even river ice." Another was, "When we hired a new captain, or other officer for the boat, we often wondered what we were getting with the 'full package.'" Yeah, steamboating is really warm, fuzzy, romantic and wonderful isn't it?
R. Dale Flick
Old Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati