Missing The Boat (American Queen)

I had planned to take some pictures of the Majestic American Queen today and knew she may possibly leave around 1:00.  As I came down the hills of my hometown of Vicksburg, MS to the waterfront, I noticed she had already turned around by her smokestacks and that she was headed out with the calliope playing. I knew I would not get a closeup today but got her leaving out towards the mouth of the Mississippi River while in the Yazoo Diversion Canal.  

By the time I got to the Diamond Jacks parking lot she was headed northbound and was able to zoom in and get this picture of her headed to Memphis. 

Published on Nov 19, 2012

One of the "riverlorians" of the American Queen steamboat is Travis C. Vasconcelos, who also plays the boat's calliope, located on the stern of the boat! Here he is caught in the act on Saturday evening, November 17, 2012 somewhere south of Vicksburg, Mississippi. His selections include "Waiting For The Robert E. Lee" (1912), "Paramount On Parade" (1930) "Little Sir Echo" (1917). Vasconsuelos first assumed the position of calliopist aboard the steamer Belle of Louisville in 1981.In his 14 years with that boat he worked his way up from deckhand, narrator and later public spokesperson for the vessel. He has subsequently worked for the Mississippi Queen, the Delta Queen, and now the American Queen, the largest and most elegant steamboat ever built, currently traveling between St. Louis, Missouri and New Orleans, Louisiana. Writing articles on steamboats and giving talks about river history keep him busy.

I was lucky to find this video of the calliope playing on the American Queen going southbound under the bridges of my hometown. Hope you will enjoy watching it.