1939 124mwNet Guntersville Dam on Tennessee River near Guntersville, AL

(Satellite)

TVA posted

 

124mwNet with four units

nrc and TVA
"The dam is 94 feet high and stretches 3,979 feet across the Tennessee River....The larger of Guntersville’s two locks was built in 1965 to handle the growing river traffic."

Richard D. Hamilton Sr., Mar 2021

 

May 28, 2024:

Jerry Bevis commented on a post, cropped
13 Gates at Guntersville.

TVA posted

John Lisby posted
TVA Guntersville Dam

TVA-tour, 15th photo of 17

TennesseRiverValleyGeoTourism
In addition to fishing, "eagle watching has become popular on Guntersville Lake, where over 20 mating pairs visit each year. One of the most easily viewed nests is on the north side of Guntersville Dam and can be observed from a small parking area at the intersection of Dam Reservation Road and Painted Bluff Road." There are several trails, one of which goes to "a cave that was used during the Civil War to mine saltpeter, a basic ingredient of gunpowder."
This photo is also on NorthAlabama.

6:47 video tour @ 0:38 via tva-virtual-tour

@ 2:09

It uses Kaplan turbines.

@ 4:40

lecbiz
To clean the stators, walnut shell blasting is used.
[I think the worker is standing on the stator.]

Guntersville Lock posted five photos with the comment:

Intermittent closures at Guntersville Lock have you scratchin your head, trying to figure out what’s going on? 

Lock and dam mechanics from Wilson Lock, Pickwick Lock, and Guntersville joined forces, and expertise to repair a bent valve stem in the Guntersville Lock main chamber. The functionality of the valve stem is crucial because it connects the valve machinery and the valve together to lift and lower the valve. Left in disrepair, Guntersville Lock and Dam would only have one filling valve. If it were to fail, Guntersville’s main lock would become completely inoperable bringing all commerce on the Tennessee River to a screeching halt. 

We want everything to...flow (like water) so, we’re working hard to get things up and running and resume normal operations soon!

Pickwick Lock shared

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Robert Pacheco posted
Sternwheeler Golden Eagle  The picture possibly at the  Guntersville Lock and Dam on the Tennessee River near Guntersville, Alabama. No date found. U.S. Corp of Engineers.

Bob Reynolds: Str. GOLDEN EAGLE, without a doubt. The “GOLDIE”, as she was referred to, was one of two of the older steamboats that ran the “tourist trade”, that is, catering to the passenger trade exclusively and no freight. The packet boat trade had played out due to increased rail service, but more importantly, better highways and truck service. The GOLDEN EAGLE was owned by the Eagle Packet Co of St Louis. The other boat that tried the tourist trade was the Str. GORDON C. GREENE for the Greene Line of Cincinnati. The GOLDEN EAGLE had a wood hull and was sunk near Grand Tower, IL. Ironically, the steel hulled GORDON C. GREENE had previously been owned by the Eagle Packet Co before being sold to the Greene Line. Had the GOLDIE had a steel hull, she might have survived the accident that caused her demise. As it was, that accident left the GCG as the only surviving overnight passenger steamboat on the Mississippi River system. Both the GOLDIE and the GCG ran trips all over the Mississippi system and both made trips up the Tennessee River to Chattanooga. These trips were very popular due to the fantastic scenery on the Tennessee and the public’s fascination with the then-new TVA system of locks and dams creating big, beautiful lakes on the Tennessee. These boats were also able to survive the Great Depression and the rationing during World War II. People who had money and wanted to travel could not go to Europe during the war, and so the Greenes found themselves with a great product for those able to afford travel during that time. They made money and were able to purchase the Str. DELTA QUEEN and bring her around from California after the war, refurbish her for Mississippi River system service and continue the overnight steamboat experience well into the 21st century.

R Dale Flick: *~*Thanks, Bob. You nailed it right. When autos, trucks with dependable tires, growing highway systems came along packet steamboating as we view it quickly died. Truck service eliminated 'double handling' of freight from landings and wharfboats to the receiver. Packet companies had 'experimented' early on with dabbling in the 'tourist angle' for pleasure trips. A number of boats promoted steamboat pleasure trips but still depended on the remaining freight business to supplement income. Capt, Fred Way ventured in the tourist angle with his BETSY ANN but soon found out he needed the freight business. Steamboat pleasure trips then, like years later, predicated to the warm weather months unless they repositioned in New Orleans. The Greenes were no fools in purchasing the larger steel hulled GIRARDEAU. Mary Greene-Stewart, daughter of Capt. Tom and Mrs. Letha Greene mentioned to me,"My grandfather Capt. Gordon C. Greene made his real money in freight, wharfboats and river terminals." Capt. Chris Greene, brother of Tom Greene, was interested in the freight angle for the GREENE LINE with others encouraging the company to diversify with freight and towboats, barges. Capt. Chris died early with brother Tom moving more to the tourist business only to be told by friends, advisors he should have gone with an entire new boat built from hull up with diesel engines, more and improved passenger amenities. Tom chose the DELTA QUEEN going with what he knew. Cheers.

Robert Pacheco commented on his post
Library of Congress - U,S, Corp of Engineers. No date.