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October 8, 2008

Delta Queen bids West Virginia goodbye

Staff writer

POINT PLEASANT,W.Va. - With hundreds of people waving farewell from Point Pleasant's Riverfront Park, the historic sternwheeler Delta Queen eased away from its berth, turned downstream in the Ohio River, and left its last West Virginia port of call for perhaps the final time.

As the onlookers shouted farewells and took photos with cameras and cell phones, the Delta Queen's calliope struck up a lighthearted rendition of "Country Roads." A group of pioneer and American Indian re-enactors from Point Pleasant's Fort Randolph responded with several volleys of musket-fire salutes.

The Delta Queen's departure Tuesday took place on the homeward leg of what could be the last journey for America's last operating steam-powered sternwheeler carrying overnight guests.

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5 Comments

Posted By: Anonymous (1:15pm 10-08-2008)

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i had the pleasure of rideing the Delta Queen 43 years ago and ill allways remember it PLEASE KEEP HER ON THE RIVER

Posted By: Anonymous (10:28am 10-08-2008)

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This is a real shame. I loved seeing the Delta Queen along the river during the summer.
I certainly hope that Congress can get past the bureaucracy and do something to help the boat as well as each community that benefits from her visits.

Posted By: Anonymous (10:17am 10-08-2008)

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This is truly the end of the steamship era, even among venerable oceangoing vessels. The beautiful SS Norway is currently being demolished as I write this, with the SS Independence and the SS United States inevitably soon to follow. QE2 was converted to diesel 20 years ago, and even then, she's still retiring this year.

I hope the Delta Queen can at least be preserved in some way if she *has* to be taken out of service.

Posted By: Anonymous (9:05am 10-08-2008)

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Isn't this the same House Committee that Nick Joe Rahall is the Chair of or 2nd most senior democrat? West Virginians, especially his constituents should be outraged!!!

Posted By: Anonymous (7:15am 10-08-2008)

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What a pity to lose another icon of americana. Congress should be ashamed.