The Dear Old Queen

[Tommyboy]

I had a conference to attend last weekend, and as luck would have it, the organization booked the Queen Mary Hotel. I hadn't been aboard in twenty years, and at that time there was no hotel. It was an OK conference, but it was a wonderful photo opportunity.

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Many of my colleagues were booked into tiny below-decks rooms, but I somehow lucked out and got this fabulous stateroom with an ocean view. There was a separate dressing area and bathroom--it was huge and I imagine must have been first-class when the Queen was sailing. She anchored for the final time in 1967.


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The spooky hallway leading to my room. The ship is reputed to be haunted, though I encountered no paranormal activity during my stay.

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Original ship's fan.

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Topside there is more great scenery to photograph. This is an observation tower (I'm sure there's a more nautical term for this), one of two jutting out of the bridge. I like the peeling paint and the creeping rust. The old girl's getting a bit long in the tooth.

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Enormous vents and fans everywhere.

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The bridge is a wonder. This is a ship's telegraph. I've always had a fascination with this partcular gadget.

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There are no shortage of them on the bridge and elsewhere on the ship. There must be one-hundred or more. The circular window in the background is a "high-visibility window" that rotates at high speed to sling off the rain.

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On the stern sundeck.

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Below deck in the propellor box is the only remaining prop on the ship (there were four). This is a really spooky place that I remember from my childhood visit. The propellor is 18 feet across and I don't remember how many tons, 20 or 40. It's enormous.

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The engine room is less spooky but no less interesting a place.

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That about wraps it up. If you're interested in the remaining shots, you can find them here: http://www.snc1923.smugmug.com/gallery/2750075/1/146184997

Thanks for looking. Comments welcomed.

[z_28]

Great coverage !
Thanks for sharing

[David_S85]

Thanks for the great tour and pictures! :clap I've seen this ship twice. The first time was in the Port of Miami in 1968. It was a sad rusting hulk and there were plans to sell it for scrap. It is in one of the old Bond movies, I forget which one. They were having a boat chase around it.

In the early 90's, we got the Q.E. tour while I was in town for a trade show. Those propellers you mention — one of them was on display at the time. Nearby was a wrench large enough to require King Kong to lift. Awesome stuff. Then we watched the Chicago Bears win a playoff game from the all-too-small bar. I Later wished I had booked my say on the ship. We didn't see or hear any ghosts, but they're supposed to be below the water up by the bow.

[a110p0]

I grew up in Southern California, but never visited the Queen Mary
(I live in the SF Bay area now) while I lived there.

Your shots inspire me to visit the QM.

Alvin

[mmroden]

I grew up in Southern California, but never visited the Queen Mary
(I live in the SF Bay area now) while I lived there.

Your shots inspire me to visit the QM.

Alvin

It's worth it. She's very photogenic, if nothing else.

[redhawk]

I especially like the composition of the lifeboat shot.