QE2 in Photos - 1969, 72, 74 (best early photos ever seen!) + stairways & lifts

[Bob C.]

All you cats put on your bell bottom pants and head bands, grab your Beatles albums and take a groovy trip back to 1969 when QE2 was brand spankin' new by clicking on the link below. 

Isabelle,  I've got good news and bad news.  The bad news is that my dad was not a big picture taker in 1969 and the number of pictures is a bit disappointing.  Especially disappointing for you is the only shot I have so far of the Lookout Bar is one looking out of one of the forward windows at the foc's'le.  The good news is I posted some great shots of QE2 in '69 on Flickr and a whole lot more coming in the from the early and mid-70's when my dad became more and more of a shutter bug.

Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33120597@N03/sets/72157616250526148/ 

[QE2_MATTHEW]

BOB. They are SERIOUSLY cool photos. They really give a good idea of how the ship used to be. Thanks to your dad for taking them.

I love the photos of the deck area behind the mast and infront of the funnell, wish the penthouses wern't added.

Matt

[singlemalt]

Bob C -

I'm wearing flowers in my hair and smelling of patchouli oil...

Absolutely fantastic shots.
Thanks so much for sharing and apologies for spamming up your flickr stream with comments - I was awash with sixties style QE2 love   

Looking forward to more 

[ancoaster78]

WOWOWOWOWOWOW

They are simply awesome, thank you soooo much for sharing, that has made my shift! (am at work)

Cheers! 

[Rob Lightbody]

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!!

Thanks so much for posting!  The colours are superb - it looks like they were taken today.

[Bob C.]

I'm so glad you are enjoying these photos but stand by, I'm scanning a bunch more from 1972 (pre-penthouses - still a chance for Lookout Bar shots) with many, many more from '74, '77 and '79 to go.  My monthly 100 Mb upload  limit on Flickr may delay me getting them posted though. 

I am very partial to the '69 photos, though,  because as I looked at these and the more private ones that I did not post, I felt a real sense of connection with Cunard history (the real company, not Trafalgar or Carnivore) and the trans-Atlantic heritage.    People still took the QE2, the Michelangelo, Big U and SS France in those days because that was the main source of transportation across the pond as trans-Atlantic air travel was still catching on with the majority of the public.   And, at the risk of sounding discriminatory, the entire service staff on QE2, at least those in direct contact with passengers, was British in '69 which gave it a true link to the traditions of the golden age of the Cunard Line.  Nothing against the international crews of today (or even late 70's) but something disappeared when the shift occured.  Regardless, QE2 remained as a premier on the seas for 40 years and the memories run deep no matter if you boarded in 1969, 2008 or any point in between!

OK, too much waxing nostalgic in public, I'll stop here.

[Rob Lightbody]

My monthly 100 Mb upload  limit on Flickr may delay me getting them posted though.

Bob,

Its $25/year

Set up a Paypal account, tell us all what it is, and maybe we'll all chip in with a pound or dollar each and cover the payment   - its worth a shot

- Rob

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Wonderful photos, Bob! They give a real idea of what life on board was like at the time. And they are so very obviously QE2, even for someone who only knew her during her final incarnation...

So grateful to you for posting them, and to your Dad for having taken them and letting you have them -- and so, letting us have a good look at them too!

I have also looked further back, admiring your many views of the stairways again -- such a lot of detail, and so well labelled! Your whole photostream is a pleasure.

[Kev]

Bob
These are absolutely amazing. The clarity is superb and give an insiders view that Ive never seen before. Just love the pencil funnel and the fresh decking. Even the floodlights look straight from the shop. Kids at the wheel!! AMAZING!
Thankyou so much for sharing them-they are worthy of inclusion in any book and you should get paid enough for them to personally rescue and run QE2. Priceless!

[Bob C.]

 My scanner's been hard at work.  Got some good 1972 and 1974 QE2 shots and will be uploading them to my Flickr account.  Click on the link from the first post and it will take you there.

Enjoy!

[Scott Ebersold]

I LOVE these.  They are so great.  I especially love seeing the dark blue carpet and white railing.  Always wanted to see what it looked like.  I've seen publicity stills, but these personal shots are better!

[Bob C.]

Thanks Scott, I'm working on another set of 1974 (eastbound trans-Atlantic) and still have 1977 and 1979 to go.  Some really good stuff from what I can tell from holding the slides up to the light.

[Kev]

Bob-these continuously amaze me. Just love that black ansd gold look on the stairlobby. Whos who in the photos. Guess one of thems you but not in the swing!

[Rob Lightbody]

Just posting a link to all Bob's QE2 photos on Flickr now including 1972 and 1974

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33120597@N03/sets/

[Chris]

Thanks for posting the update Rob and agree fantastic pics!

[Andy F]

Thanks Rob and Bob and agree, some great shots there from a bygone era.  Groovy baby, yeah!

[Mauretania1907]

WHO is the 2-stacker in the lead photo. Is that the United States? Actually alive? That in itself is a historic shot and the ones of QE2 brand-new are just the cat's whiskers. Many, many thanks

[Bob C.]

Yes that is the Big U and Michelangelo on the other side and I was taken back by those ships being in my photos as well (1. because they are historic and still in operation and 2. because I am really getting old!).  Not sure if I posted the one with SS France - as the SS France and not Norway - but she was running on opposite schedules with QE2 back then.  In other recent scans I've yet to post is the Rotterdam and Cunard Princess and/or Countess.  I'm enjoying looking back on these photos knowing there is a personal tie with the past as opposed to just seeing pictures in a book - its a big thrill.

[highlander0108]

Thanks for posting.  It is fastinating to see the early years.  Interestingly, one can see that from the 1974 bow shot, that there was already problems with the aluminum superstructure.  You can see plating added to the corners of the Upper Deck rectangular windows.  Comparing that photo to recent ones I have taken, the windows have been infilled, yet the reinforcement at the corners remains.  Also, it is hard to tell, but there is something resembling a crack in the upper right in one of the windows.  I am curious to find out when the large horizontal band of plating was added as seen here, below the Upper Deck windows.

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

Comparing that photo to recent ones I have taken, the windows have been infilled, yet the reinforcement at the corners remains. 

I can't answer your comments about the reinforcement but I do wonder why the windows were blocked up. I had always assumed that the windows looking out over Boat Deck that had been blocked up had gone when they remodelled Double-Up to introduce shops instead of a lounge but I am finding it very risky to just assume anything with that ship!

[Bob C.]

mrkpnh, I think you are asking about the windows in the above picture that are blocked up.  This was done as part of the 1972 refit to expand the galley that was on Quarter Deck to serve the Britannia/Tables of the World/Mauretania restaurant.  Prior to this the galley on Q deck served all restaurants but the facilities were found to be lacking.  There used to be an escalator that ran from the Britannia restaurant down to the Q deck galley - I remember riding on it as part of a tour - very cool.  The solution was to convert the Lookout Bar into another galley and as part of the conversion the windows were blocked and the "mystery box" was installed. 

Its really a shame, the Lookout Bar was very nice and was in keeping with the tradition of QM and QE's foward lounges. 

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

The solution was to convert the Lookout Bar into another galley and as part of the conversion the windows were blocked and the "mystery box" was installed. 

I knew about the conversion of the Lookout Bar; I just hadn't thought of it having side windows It was a great pitty there was no forward view on the QE2 except for two suites and that short walkway under the Bridge.

[Rob Lightbody]

and the "mystery box" was installed. 

Its really a shame, the Lookout Bar was very nice and was in keeping with the tradition of QM and QE's foward lounges. 

Here's my SUSPICION (No Proof).  The lookout bar front windows werent strong enough to withstand the bashing they were going to take over 30 years on the Atlantic - hence the ultra-strong looking Box.  If the side windows on upper and Quarter decks have been suffering fatigue cracks etc for well over 20 years, can you imagine what the front windows would have been like?  How would the lookout bar have faced when confronted with the 95 foot rogue wave, that crashed over the bridge 30 feet above it...  The "box" isn't even all that big.

I think this is the true explanation for the "box", but I have no proof of it whatsoever.

[Bob C.]

Very good and logical theory Rob.  I've often thought about what would have happened if a large wave crashed over the bow with the Look Out Bar configuration given a few bow wave videos I've seen on youtube of QE2 and other ships.  I'm sure it would have taken out a few or more windows and trashed the bar.  There would most likely have been passengers there too -yikes!  Perhaps the covered windows were enough to handle the rogues and the mystery box served to break up a full "flat panel" impact.  Given the deck plan of the box, I really don't see much added functionality unless critical accesses were needed between U and Q decks in that location (like the garbage chute?). 

[Bob C.]

I've uploaded more photos from 1969 which show a lot of good stuff ranging from the Double Up Room with no shops in it, pools and other public rooms including a good shot of the Lookout Bar.  Here's the link. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33120597@N03/sets/72157616250526148/

[stowaway2k]

What a perfect day to post more photos! 

I think many of your photos are better than what has been published in the many QE2 books.

Thanks for inviting the public to view them.

[highlander0108]

Great photos!  Interestingly, I did not notice this at first, but the bow shot, photo 17, shows a third anchor chain leading to the bow anchor coming of the starboard capstan.  Groovy color brown color scheme too!

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

I think many of your photos are better than what has been published in the many QE2 books.

Agreed. I never tire of seeing pictures of that ship and the ways in which she changed over the years.

[Rob Lightbody]

These
Photos
Are
Stupendous!!

As a life-long QE2 nutter, these are definitely the best early photos of QE2's interiors i've EVER seen.  Bruce Peter would have died to have these in his recently published QE2 book.

Will post more tomorrow but the double-up room especially looks amazing, the coffee bar too, she was stunning when new.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I so agree!

Your father was a remarkable man. At a time when we were using film, and when every picture was precious and expensive, it would have been normal for him to concentrate on just a few family pictures of the voyage... But here he was, taking photos of the ship and her details, like any enthusiast of her final years (who would have been working in disposable digital pictures) ...

And then, he committed his precious slides to the postal services... and you reproduced them for us... huge thanks to him and to you     !

[Scott Ebersold]

So Amazing.  She looks so incredibly modern in her original decor, more modern than she did as I knew her. 

As minimalist design-lover (in addition to QE2-nutter), I would have walked on an died on the spot.

She was just stunning.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Another Flickr member, Michael Smithers, has just uploaded these five wonderful photos from his grandma's slides! They are of QE2 in 1971.

Two beautiful pictures of rooms which someone will, I hope, be able to identify definitively :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_smithers/3516670670/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_smithers/3516636764/

This is familiar territory :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_smithers/3516614310/

And two more :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_smithers/3515766381/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_smithers/3515900935/

Looks like she did rather different routes at the time too :

From Southhampton on Queen Elizabeth 2nd to New York and Niagara Falls, Canada, Montreal.

[Scott Ebersold]

I think that was the name of the whole journey.  QE2 would only have brought them to NY, they'd have had to take a train, plane or automobile from there to Niagara Falls and from there on to Canada.

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

Two beautiful pictures of rooms which someone will, I hope, be able to identify definitively :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_smithers/3516670670/

Britannia Restaurant, that late became Tables of the World and then the Mauretania

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_smithers/3516636764/

The Starboard Anti-Room - outside the Midships Bar. What lager became The Chart Room. In the distance you can see where the jigsaw was.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Thank you for the guiding hand!

So strange to see these pictures... looking so familiar... and yet unknown... all at the same time...      !

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

So strange to see these pictures... looking so familiar... and yet unknown... all at the same time...      !

We've all been there. We know the structure well. But the layout, the furniture and the decorations ( )