Would it not have been most enjoyable to go "cruising" on one of these? Would be a whole lot different than the "Columbia Gorge", which in itself is a lot of fun. You get an entirely different perspective of the area on both sides of the river when you are sailing down the middle of it.

Charlott on 7th January 2016 @ 7:02am

I was never all that interested in steamships until HHR opened my eyes to the variety of boats, the pride in the boats, the obstacles and divisions of the Columbia River, and the knowledge of the captains.

I just finished Bill Gulick's book, "Steamboats on Northwest Rivers".
In his "Acknowledgments" he says his initial interest in steamboats was stirred during the research and writing of his first novel, "Bend on the Snake", which was published in 1949. The book sold to the movies. Its title was changed to "Bend on the River" and was shot in the Rooster Rock stretch of the Columbia in order to display the beautiful scenery of the area.
Arthur did a series of HHR photos of that movie.

The filming was done in the summer of 1951. Two stern-wheelers, the Henderson and the Portland were still operating as tug boats. The movie company leased and renamed them so they could stage a steamboat race for movie publicity.

L.E. on 7th January 2016 @ 8:13am

Saw part of "Bend of The River" being filmed. Many venues in the area of the Columbia River and surrounding locale used. They used Bridal Vale falls as one. Used the beach at Rooster Rock, as you could see Cape Horn across the river. They did quite a bit of shooting up on White River and also at Timberline. It was quite the production. I remember the long lines at the theatre to see it when it was released.

The cast included a young Rock Hudson, Julie Adams, Ward Bond and probably if I thought it through other notables.

Charlott on 7th January 2016 @ 9:01am

Well, dummy me, I forgot the main character, none other than Jimmy Stewart himself. This makes me wish to see it again. I do recall a couple of glitches. One being the trail of a plane going over. Seems there was something about the screening over on Cape Horn that kept the falling rocks off the railroad track, but not sure about that one. Too many years ago.

Charlott on 7th January 2016 @ 9:04am

Had a brain flash. If you wish to see the "trailers" of Bend of the River just punch in You Tube - Bend of the River and there are a number of sites there where you can see the scenery that many will recognize.

Charlott on 7th January 2016 @ 9:08am

Must have been a pleasant evening with only a light breeze. Lots of people out on the decks verses huddling inside for warmth.

Interesting how they are blowing steam off below the deck line at the bow. I guess I would just have assumed they would have blown it either into the smoke stacks or upward through its own stack.

Longshot on 7th January 2016 @ 10:05am

The steam at the bow is excess steam released by the safety or pop off valve to prevent an explosion. It cannot be released through the stack as mentioned above because it would suck the fire out of the firebox.
These boats appear quite large to each have only one engine. Apparently both were stopped, possibly for communication, and the one on the right just starting out as his wheel is turning and really pouring out the smoke.

Kenn on 8th January 2016 @ 8:47am

Seems like it would be incredible dangerous to have blown steam off at such a location. If someone or something were close to the bow such as when the boat was docked or run up against the shore someone could have been badly burned and if there were horses about the horses could have been easily spooked both from the heat and from the noise.

Longshot on 9th January 2016 @ 8:10am

Longshot is right, the automatic pop off valve would exhaust overhead, this is apparently blowing out the accumulated cylinder water.. It is controlled manually and would not be done at a dock,. A fireman on a railroad steam engine will blow out the cylinders at track level while away from a station or people..

Kenn on 9th January 2016 @ 9:29am

The steamer on the left is either the Dalles City or Regulator. The steamer on the right is the Bailey Gatzert. These boats only had one engine. This photo looks like it was taken at The Dalles. The steamer on the left is backing slowly while the Bailey appears to be taking off.

Mychal on 11th March 2017 @ 9:00pm