The Delta Queen

redneck joe

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"If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were."



I doubt that 19th-century spiritualist and philosopher Khalil Gibran was talking about a docked and dilapidating steamboat, but the sentiment still applies.



It’s time to let go of the Delta Queen. We don't deserve her.



The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. has purchased the 1927 vessel and has plans to relocate and renovate the boat to its former glory next year.



All of this should take place in March, ending half a decade of dormancy and neglect.



Since 2009, the Delta Queen has served as a floating hotel and tourist attraction on the north shore of the Tennessee River. An outdated 1966 law outlawed the use of wooden passenger steamboats on rivers because they were considered a fire hazard.



As an audio specialist (sort of) for the Times Free Press, I was one of a few employees (along with a photographer and reporter) allowed to take what was considered the "final ride" of the Delta Queen.



We spent three nights on the vessel, traveling from Florence, Alabama, to Chattanooga. In that time, I met with a variety of the crew, historians and former passengers. Each of them had one thing in common: They loved the Delta Queen.



One of the best moments from that trip was a long discussion with Toots Maloy, the Delta Queen’s riverlorian (a riverboat historian). We were asked to do a series of interviews with people, and Toots provided much of the background information for the piece. But she also represented everything that I would come to love about the vessel.



"It has a soul," she told us. And by the end of our journey, I believed her.



As I smoked a cigar on the top deck with the moon shining off the river, I imagined the same scene playing out over and over again throughout history. What conversations were had on this exact spot? Did the ghost of Mark Twain make a hilarious quip that had the entire table laughing? Did two people fall in love?



Built in 1927, the Delta Queen was as much a utilitarian vessel as it was a respite for travelers. It served briefly with the Navy during World War II and eventually became one of the most popular of the great steamboats for wealthy travelers.



Following the service of owner and Capt. Tom Greene, the Delta Queen became the first steamboat to have a female captain, Mary Greene. Many people believe her ghostly presence can still be felt on the boat today.



The late John Hartford was a frequent performer on the Delta Queen. He even wrote a beautiful love song called "Delta Queen Waltz," which captures many of the qualities we all could feel resonating from the walls.



Even Ryan Adams name-drops the Delta Queen in his song "Let It Ride": "Moving like the fog on the Cumberland River, I was leaving on the Delta Queen," he sings. "But I wasn’t ready to go."



For years, the Delta Queen has sat idle. And any boat owner will tell you that the worst thing you can do is let a boat sit. But that’s what we’ve done with the Delta Queen.



We’ve watched as the paint has faded and the bottom of the boat slowly rotted away while the rest of the city circles and thrives. The last time I was on the Delta Queen was to have dinner, and the neglect was shocking.



This "authentic riverboat experience" was nothing but a farce, a sad reminder that history is forgotten and priorities can be misplaced.



What is an authentic riverboat experience without the spin of the paddlewheel and movement down the Tombigbee Waterway? The Delta Queen was meant to move, slowly, up and down the river. That was (and is) her only purpose, and when our life loses purpose, we die.



Chattanooga has served as a low-scale retirement home for the Delta Queen, and she’s finally being rescued. "Mistreated" implies at least some treatment or care. The Delta Queen was neglected. It was left to die a slow death on the riverbank, and, until now, nobody stepped up to help her.



President of the newly formed company Cornel Martin said, "We look forward to the day when the Delta Queen will once again be able to ply America’s waterways and allow passengers to relive the experiences of Mark Twain and his unique cast of river characters from the decks of a true 1927 steamboat."



There are many factors that will keep the Delta Queen from serving her purpose. Laws need to be changed, and millions of dollars in renovations are needed.



Maybe, just maybe, we'll see her pass through Chattanooga again. But it's probably a good thing she doesn't have a middle finger.




some great pics here:


nooga.com/169435/photos-a-final-look-at-the-delta-queen/
 
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southkogs

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VERY COOL read. I've been considering doing some research into the old riverboats / packet boats. Just really haven't had time to do anything substantial.

Thanks Joe
 

rogerwa

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Great topic and story. I watched the vid and holy crap. Is the rest of this available online anywhere? Would love to watch the whole thing..
 

redneck joe

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i did a quick search and not found but they are offering to sell the DVD so I imagine thats why not easy to find.
 

southkogs

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You can find the "rest of the last couple of minutes" out on YouTube. Just search the boat name.

Pretty yacht.
 

jbcurt00

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Isn't this the same Delta Queen that competed w the Belle of Louisville every year during the Derby festivities?

I've not been in Louisville during Derby 'season' in about 15yrs, and admittedly the Delta Queen usually easily won the race (lighter, faster and shorter, so quicker U-turns at the 1/2way point) but I didn't know they'd stop the races.....
 

alldodge

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Born and raised in Louisville and the great boat race is setup. One year the Bell wins the next the Queen wins. One year (dead give away year) the Queen went full out and started to cross the 2nd street bridge, then she put her paddle wheels in full reverse. As she was slowing down the Bell passed her just barley "completely" under the bridge. The local media stated it was the first boat to pass completely under the bridge.

Hence the story and I witnessed it from the IN side at Buckheads restaurant.

That said a former guy I use to work with is employed by the Queen and the Bell on his off days as an engineman. He loves both but likes the Queen more (don't say anything he stills lives and works in Louisville:"
 

four winns 214

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The Delta Queen-Belle of Louisville race every Derby Week was most certainly rigged. I photographed the race from a helicopter as a Courier-Journal and Louisville Times staff photographer from the early to late 1980s. In 1982, the Natchez came up from New Orleans to make it a real three-way race. From the very start, the Delta Queen and Natchez flat blew the doors off the Belle. By the time the DQ and Natchez reached the Water Tower on the upstream leg of the race, they were so far ahead of the Belle I couldn't hardly get all three boats in the same frame. The Belle's steam engine only has a 600 HP. The DQ and Natchez had at least twice that.

Rigged or not, the DQ-Belle race was a major and fun part of Derby Week. And the Belle is the only one of the three still plying the river. It celebrated its 100th birthday last October.
 

southkogs

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Isn't this the same Delta Queen that competed w the Belle of Louisville every year during the Derby festivities?
Same one: she's been laid up in Chattanooga since '09, but left just the other day for New Orleans to be restored (hopefully). Be nice to see her cruising the river again.
 

jbcurt00

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Isn't this the same Delta Queen that competed w the Belle of Louisville every year during the Derby festivities?

I've not been in Louisville during Derby 'season' in about 15yrs, and admittedly the Delta Queen usually easily won the race (lighter, faster and shorter, so quicker U-turns at the 1/2way point) but I didn't know they'd stop the races.....

Perhaps it was only the years I was more 'involved' in the Derby festivities that the DQ won, seems the underpowered Belle did 'win' quite a bit... \

Rigged or not, still have fond memories of going Down to the River :)

Official Results
1963Delta Queen
1964Belle of Louisville
1965Delta Queen
1966Delta Queen
1967N/AHigh water led to race cancellation.
1968Delta Queen
1969Belle of Louisville
1970Belle of Louisville
1971Belle of Louisville
1972Belle of Louisville
1973Delta Queen
1974Delta Queen
1975Belle of Louisville
1976Julia Belle Swain
1977Delta Queen
1978Delta Queen
1979Belle of Louisville
1980Belle of Louisville
1981Belle of Louisville
1982Natchez-New OrleansThree-boat race
1983Belle of Louisville
1984Delta QueenBelle of Louisville received a bomb threat and had to pull into Cox's Park, evacuating 613 passengers.[SUP][8][/SUP]
1985Delta Queen
1986Delta Queen
1987Belle of Louisville
1988Belle of Louisville
1989Delta Queen
1990Delta Queen
1991Belle of Louisville
1992Delta Queen
1993Belle of Louisville
1994Delta Queen
1995Belle of Louisville
1996Belle of LouisvilleRace shortened due to high water levels on the Ohio.[SUP][9][/SUP]
1997Delta Queen
1998Belle of Louisville
1999Spirit of Jefferson
2000Belle of Louisville
2001Delta Queen
2002Belle of LouisvilleBelle of Cincinnati "initially won", but was disqualified when "it was found out" that it was diesel powered, and thus not a steamboat.
2003Delta Queenthree boat race
2004Belle of Louisville
2005Belle of LouisvilleDelta Queen was unable to come to Louisville due to high water levels on the Ohio.[SUP][10][/SUP]
2006Delta Queen
2007Belle of LouisvilleThe Delta Queen arrived at the finish line ahead of the Belle by 1.5 boatlengths, but because the Queen turned before it got to its turnaround buoy, the Belle was given the victory.[SUP][11][/SUP]
2008Delta QueenThe Belle of Louisville arrived at the finish line ahead of the Delta Queen, but because the Belle turned before it got to its turnaround buoy, the Queen was given the victory. 3 Boat Race.[SUP][12][/SUP]
2009Belle of LouisvilleBelle of Cincinnati replaced Delta Queen, which has been retired.[SUP][1][/SUP]
2010Belle of Cincinnati[SUP][6][/SUP][SUP][13][/SUP]Score: 60 - 99
2011Belle of LouisvilleHigh waters on the The Ohio River forced the race to be postponed to June 29, 2011. The Belle of Cincinnati was renamed The Belle of Kentucky, and, accordingly, she flew a Kentucky Wildcats banner covering "Belle of Cincinnati", adding a UofL/UK rivalry flavor to the race (seeing as the owners of The Belle of Cincinnati are UK fans) as a means to increase interest in the event being held outside the traditional time of year, The Kentucky Derby Festival.
2012Belle of Louisville[SUP][14][/SUP]three boat race including the American Queen
2013Belle of Cincinnati[SUP][15][/SUP]

Year Winner Notes

By 'involved' I meant old enough to pay attention regardless of my consumption of frosty adult libations :) So yeah, from mid 80s to the mid 90s, alcohol clouded memory but yep, DQ won more races......

Grew up in Louisville, graduated from high school there, went to UK, lived in Louisville until the Admiral's job took us west, 5yrs in NoCal, 5yrs in SaltLakeCity, 5yrs in LasVegas and now 5yrs in WV.

Salt Lake and Louisville were our favorites. Miss the Derby stuff.....
 
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