This shot was taken in the first mile of the parade. I cannot imagine these carriers doing this for the next 10 miles. The flambeau is made of heavy tin and fueled with kerosene, not lightweight by any means.
It was very cold and windy at the beginning of the evening and just plain cold as the night progressed. Orpheus was organized about 8 years ago by Harry Connick, Jr. and the Grand Marshal was Sean Payton, coach of the New Orleans Saints.
Proteus, on the other hand, is one of the oldest Carnival Krewes in New Orleans, perhaps 150 years old and they still put their floats on old wagon beds with the old iron wagon wheels.