American Queen Ceases Operations

[steamboats]

The American Queen has left New Orleans yesterday afternoon under the command of her last master who is bringing her to Houma. Hopefully this won´t be the last trip under own power for this historic steamboat.

 

steamboats

[steamboats]

The American Queen has arrived at MARS (Modern American Recycling Services) in Houma and Captain Bert Suarez pushed the "all out" button.

 

The end of an era of overnight steamboating on the US river systems which started in 1811 with Robert Fulton´s "New Orleans".

 

steamboats

[westerdam]

What a sad ending for the American Queen! There must have been a lot wrong with her behind the scenes.  Let alone the steam engine she has.  Just a shame she didn't get a proper send off.  🙁

[Globalfish]

On 5/22/2024 at 2:59 AM, steamboats said:

The American Queen has arrived at MARS (Modern American Recycling Services) in Houma and Captain Bert Suarez pushed the "all out" button.

 

The end of an era of overnight steamboating on the US river systems which started in 1811 with Robert Fulton´s "New Orleans".

 

steamboats

I interpret Steamboat’s comment about the American Queen arriving at a recycling plant in Houma to mean that it’s about to be scrapped.

 

Therefore I assume that the following article that just appeared in today’s edition of Travel Weekly is outdated:

 

https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Fate-of-American-Queen-and-American-Empress

 

 

[steamboats]

@Globalfish the article is correct. So far - according to ACL - there is no final decision about the fate of the AQ or American Empress. The article states that the AQ is in storage at MARS in Houma. There is a slight hope she might find some new owners but then it´s pretty sure that she won´t be back as an overnight river cruise boat.

 

steamboats

[Globalfish]

32 minutes ago, steamboats said:

@Globalfish the article is correct. So far - according to ACL - there is no final decision about the fate of the AQ or American Empress. The article states that the AQ is in storage at MARS in Houma. There is a slight hope she might find some new owners but then it´s pretty sure that she won´t be back as an overnight river cruise boat.

 

steamboats

Thank you, Steamboats, for the explanation.  Good to know that there is some slight hope for her.

[chengkp75]

Yes, the inefficiencies of the steam plant are continued with having a pair of z-drives hanging under the ship, only being used when necessary.  Further, as noted in the article, steam plant boilers are not the best at responding to rapid load changes (stopping the paddlewheel), and will tend to belch black smoke at these times, not endearing the ship to environmental causes.

[bob brown]

7 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Yes, the inefficiencies of the steam plant are continued with having a pair of z-drives hanging under the ship, only being used when necessary.  Further, as noted in the article, steam plant boilers are not the best at responding to rapid load changes (stopping the paddlewheel), and will tend to belch black smoke at these times, not endearing the ship to environmental causes.

Maybe so, but environmentalists have long forgiven the occasional use of historic treasures like railroad steam locomotives, on fan trips, or historic regular operations…

[steamboats]

BTW, a former chief engineer of the Countess told me that there never have been any plumbing problems.

 

steamboats

[AeroArcher]

What a sad turn of events! American Queen Voyages brought so much joy and adventure to countless travelers. It's always disheartening to see a beloved company cease operations. Let's hope for a silver lining and that those affected find new opportunities on the horizon.

[chengkp75]

On 5/25/2024 at 2:31 AM, steamboats said:

BTW, a former chief engineer of the Countess told me that there never have been any plumbing problems.

 

steamboats

I have the feeling that what the article refers to as "plumbing" is actually the piping systems in the engineering spaces, and in particular the steam piping (it's been so long since I was on a ship where steam was anything but an auxiliary), but the steam piping may be pitted, and need replacing. I know there is a difference between requirements for auxiliary steam piping and "main" steam piping, and since the paddlewheel is the primary propulsion, this makes the steam system a "main" steam system.

[island lady]

Yes, sad they are now out of business.  But much more sad...and way worse for me...they have my 19K and I don't think I will see that again.  So yeah, maybe I don't so feel sorry for them at all. 😡

[ericosmith]

6 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

I have the feeling that what the article refers to as "plumbing" is actually the piping systems in the engineering spaces, and in particular the steam piping (it's been so long since I was on a ship where steam was anything but an auxiliary), but the steam piping may be pitted, and need replacing. I know there is a difference between requirements for auxiliary steam piping and "main" steam piping, and since the paddlewheel is the primary propulsion, this makes the steam system a "main" steam system.

Except the Countess didn't have any steam propulsion.  Given the fact that it was converted from a casino boat only a couple of years ago it was either a lousy build or the claim is bogus.  I certainly never saw or heard of any plumbing issues when I was onboard.

[steamboats]

@chengkp75 as @ericosmith said both the Countess and the Duchess are diesel boats and don't have a steam engine. Both boats are fairly new. And I do know that former chief engineer in person. So I definitely trust him when he says there never were any plumbing problems.

 

steamboats 

[Host Jazzbeau]

If the Countess and Duchess were built as casino boats – as I understand it they weren't designed to sail, but to be moored permanently in a pond to get around then-existing bans on casinos on land in certain states.  So isn't it likely that the later conversion into sailable vessels was difficult and long-term problematic?

[steamboats]

1 hour ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

If the Countess and Duchess were built as casino boats – as I understand it they weren't designed to sail, but to be moored permanently in a pond to get around then-existing bans on casinos on land in certain states.  So isn't it likely that the later conversion into sailable vessels was difficult and long-term problematic?

 

No, the boats were totally stripped and got a new superstructure. Actually they only used the hull. Technically both boats are newbuilts.

 

steamboats

[chengkp75]

3 hours ago, steamboats said:

@chengkp75 as @ericosmith said both the Countess and the Duchess are diesel boats and don't have a steam engine. Both boats are fairly new. And I do know that former chief engineer in person. So I definitely trust him when he says there never were any plumbing problems.

 

steamboats 

I wasn't disputing what your acquaintance said, but I was confusing Queen with Countess, sorry.  I was merely saying that a marine engineer would differentiate between "plumbing" and "piping", where a reporter may not.