TripReport2.html

Rails to Riverboats

Amtrak and River Explorer

Memphis, TN to New Orleans via the Amtrak City of New Orleans train

returning to Memphis via the river barge River Explorer.

Trip Report #3 - Riverbarge New Orleans to Memphis.

The "Rails" portion of this "Rails to Riverboats" was complete with our arrival in New Orleans on the City of New Orleans. Now the "Riverboat" portion would begin. More correctly the "Riverbarge" portion. In New Orleans we boarded the River Explorer hotel barge...the only one of its kind in America. <http://riverbarge.com/> We headed back north to Memphis. This portion of the trip was on the Mississippi River (rather than on rails), on a hotel barge, at a maximum speed of 10 mph. We were now ready to learn what River Time, and relaxing is all about!

River Explorer at Natchez, MS.

	From the River Explorer, leaving New Orleans, we began to see multi-purpose bridges across the Mississippi River in Louisiana. This one is a combination highway and railroad bridge. I noticed one section had less of a degree of incline, and it stretched into the adjoining land much farther. Then, I spotted a train on the approach! (above).
The power for the River Explorer is the towboat, Miss Nari. Twin Diesels but on water now rails.	USS Kidd in Baton Rouge.

Korean War Memorial in Baton Rouge.	State Capitol building in Baton Rouge, LA.
Captain Joe welcomes guests back onboard.	My favorite time on the river is dusk, always different, always peaceful.

Antebellum Natchez home, Stanton Hall.	Left unfinished at the start of the Civil War, Longwood mansion, Natchez, MS.
Another dusk, between Natchez and Vicksburg, MS.	Raised from its Civil War grave, USS Cairo. Now at the Vicksburg National Military Park.

Vicksburg has many large murals on it's floodwall. This one depicts the importance of both riverboats and railroads in Vicksburg's history.	Civil War cannons at Vicksburg Park.
The River Explorer at Vicksburg, MS. (Right) Another sunset on the Mississippi.

I-40 Bridge from Arkansas to Memphis, TN.	Photo of the I-40 bridge at the Memphis Airport. For some reason, this bridge has been nicknamed the Dolly Parton Bridge.
Many people equate Memphis with the Danny Thomas St. Jude Childrens Cancer Research Center.

Another famous Memphis resident.
	The Mississippi River has a long history of moving commodities via riverbarge. However, if you want to see barging in action from a hotel barge, there is only one way to do it...The River Explorer.

See firsthand how American Rivers work, go to riverbarge.com.

"Rails to Riverboats" Sections

1. Memphis, TN, and the City of New Orleans.	3. River Explorer from New Orleans to Memphis.
2. The City of New Orleans from Memphis to New Orleans.	4. Links for this Report.

[ TrainWeb.com | Carl's TrainWeb Page ]