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By Don Burgderfer |
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The intriguing story of how the steam launch "The African Queen," made famous in the movie of the same name, ended up in Central Oregon running excursions on the Deschutes. In 1952 I saw a movie which has remained one of my all-time favorites. It was the film adaptation of a book by C.S. Forester called "The African Queen." Little did I dream, those 40 years ago, that the Queen and I would someday meet face-to-face in Central Oregon! |
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The whole saga of this amazing 80-year-old lady began in 1912, when a 30-foot-long, eight-foot-wide steam launch made of steel was fabricated in England for the British East Africa Railway Company. The vessel was then transported by ship, rail, and truck to Lake Victoria and subsequently to Lake Albert. The boat was quite likely pre-fabricated in smaller sections in England and then assembled at the Lake Albert destination. |
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Records indicate that the vessel was originally
named the S/L (steam launch) Livingstone (after the famous African
explorer). It was used primarily as a work boat and as a conveyance for
tourists and hunters. It was first powered by a steam engine and later on by |
