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Carrying a steam ship across Africa

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:59 pm
by Rick A
Memories of first ship carried on foot from Mombasa to Kisumu


https://www.nation.co.ke/news/first-shi ... index.html

Re: Carrying a steam ship across Africa

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:52 pm
by PeteThePen1
Interesting story. A rescue of the hull might be an interesting project to celebrate all the effort that local people put into the task of getting components to the Lake. Not knowing much about the surroundings of the lake, I wonder if there would be local bio fuel to fire a steam boat of this size.

Pete

Re: Carrying a steam ship across Africa

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:53 pm
by Rick A
Another interesting story involving a steamboat; Fitzcarraldo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitzcarraldo

Re: Carrying a steam ship across Africa

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 7:51 pm
by Rick A
And of course, the most famous movie involving a steamboat: The African Queen


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_African_Queen_(film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUKpm2bcIz8

Re: Carrying a steam ship across Africa

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 7:20 am
by steamboatjack
The African Queen story was inspired by a real life incident when two Thornycroft motor launches called "mimi & "toutou" were hauled to Lake Tanganyika to defeat the German craft on the lake during the first world war.
Regards
Jack

Re: Carrying a steam ship across Africa

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 1:15 pm
by Rick A
Interesting. I never knew that. Is the film based on a book? I would love to read more about that story.

Re: Carrying a steam ship across Africa

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:10 am
by TriangleTom
Rick A wrote:
Wed Apr 15, 2020 1:15 pm
Interesting. I never knew that. Is the film based on a book? I would love to read more about that story.
Yes it was! The African Queen was written in 1935 by CS Forester.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_African_Queen_(novel)

And interestingly, you can take a ride on her today if you ever find yourself in Key Largo, Florida:

http://calypsosailing.com/The-African-Queen

Re: Carrying a steam ship across Africa

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 1:26 pm
by Rick A
Great link Triangle. Can I call you Triangle? :) Fascinating story about the African Queen. Now I am going to hunt down the book by Hepburne. I loved the part about how everyone on the set got severe dysenetery except Huston and Bogart!