I once bought second-hand 4-volume text-book on marine-engineering, written for professional reference. This had a section detailing the unusual forms of the engines on these river-boats, vessels very much designed for the manufacturing facilities available, and the nature of the rivers and basic landing-stages. Looking at this photograph I wish I'd kept those books!
It was a simple but ingenious idea to make them both cargo and passenger ships by a flat, easily-accessible main deck for the cargo while the people occupied an upper deck supported on open frames. I'd not realised this until studying your photo.
@ArishMell That is interesting! My great-great uncle owned this boat that carried passengers and cargo on the Ocmulgee and Altamaha Rivers to the port at Darien, GA. His brother was captain of one of the boats.
@exexec amazing. Can you imagine such travel during that time?
We were on safari in February. We got home just in time, March 8th. Remarkably we we screened constantly in Africa, but just waved on when we landed back in the US!
@samueltyler2 I have Walter's scrapbook from a cruise to the Holy Land around 1927 with a group led by Charles Sheldon. It has some interesting photos and commentary. You were lucky to get home.
@exexec yes, looking back on it all, it is amazing to think we took the chance. It was a trip of a lifetime. As it happens, our travel will be local, drivable only, for a very long time!
