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The New and the Old in New Orleans

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Lacombe, LA.
The New and the Old in New Orleans
Posted by Big Jake on Sunday, July 7, 2013 8:22 PM

I though this was an interesting picture showing the old way to travel the Mississippi and the new way.

 

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/993595_4997512102174_1298239702_n.jpg

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: AandF in the Badger State
Posted by checkmateking02 on Sunday, July 7, 2013 9:57 PM

With all the incidents the cruise ships have been having recently, I'm thinking I might prefer the old way.

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by Dreadnought52 on Monday, July 8, 2013 9:18 AM

I know you are just kidding but the reality is different.   Check out the history of steam paddle boats and the violent explosions with hundreds of deaths.   It is grim reading.

  • Member since
    January 2010
Posted by CrashTestDummy on Monday, July 8, 2013 10:15 AM

Dreadnought52

I know you are just kidding but the reality is different.   Check out the history of steam paddle boats and the violent explosions with hundreds of deaths.   It is grim reading.

Indeed.  That's why there aren't many examples of original paddlewheels in existence these days.  I remember hearing of a report of a paddlewheel towards the end of the Civil War that was full of Union Army personnel who had just been released from a Confederate POW camp.  They were about to start the last leg of their return trip, but were overnighting near some town on the Mississippi River.  Early in the morning, the boiler exploded, destroying the boat, and killing most of the passengers. 
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

G. Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Monday, July 8, 2013 2:35 PM

A lot of boiler explosions resulted from steam boat captains purposely closing the safety valves  to gain more speed. Steam boat racing was a common occurrence.

File:Lucy Walker explosion.jpg

 

Here is a good article on the subject:  http://www.silive.com/opinion/columns/index.ssf/2013/02/the_disaster_that_spawned_the.html

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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