Transatlantic Crossing Times - Records & Scheduled

[Rob Lightbody]

Can we answer the following?

• Fastest ever steam crossing of Atlantic
• Fastest ever diesel-electric crossing of Atlantic
• Date of last 5 night scheduled crossing (the last time ever for a liner?)
• Date of last 6 night scheduled crossing

[Michael Gallagher]

Rob

Do you want this for QE2? I assume so. So....

Fastest Steam: June 1970.3 days 20 hours and 42 minutes. Average speed: 30.36 knots
            
Fastest Diesel: 17 – 22 July 1990. 4 days 6 hours and 57 minutes. Average speed: 30.16 knots
   
(Each powerplant obtained a record – one as a two-year old steamship and one as a 21-year old motorship).

The crossings went to six days in 1997 so the last five-day was either in December 1996 or as part of the 1997 World Cruise. Will check and confirm.

Her last six-nighter was 16 - 22 October 2008.

OK?

Michael

[Rob Lightbody]

Thats great Michael, thanks!  My Dad would be happy to hear that the fastest crossing was done under steam

For how many years before 1997, was a 5 night transatlantic service regularly maintained by Cunard (or other lines?).

[Louis De Sousa]

She done a five-day crossing in 1997 leaving Souhampton on the 12th April and arriving in New York on the 17th.
After it became six-day crossing.
But the last (ill confirm this) five -day crossing was done that same year leaving again from Southampton on the 27th July and arriving in New York on the 1st August.

[Rob Lightbody]

Were you on board for both those crossings Louis?

Was any fuss made about it being the 'end of an era' - by my reckoning the 5 night crossing must have been maintained for more than 60 years!

Before those dates, did she ever have any crossings which were timetabled to take longer?

[Peter Mugridge]

Flagship, 3d 10h 42m - that's only 10h02 slower than the SS United States did on her own record crossing isn't it?  Just shows how well designed QE2 is doesn't it?

[Louis De Sousa]

Were you on board for both those crossings Louis?

On the first one i was on leave.I was though on the second.No fuss onboard that i can recall.

B

efore those dates, did she ever have any crossings which were timetabled to take longer?

Ill check this out Rob.

Fastest Diesel: 17 – 22 July 1990. 4 days 6 hours and 57 minutes. Average speed: 30.16 knots

I was onboard this one.   

Louis

[Rob Lightbody]

I was onboard this one.   

Wow!  Tell us more! 

Was there any fuss for this one? 
Was it intentional - i.e. did they tell the passengers before hand that they were attempting it?  It was for the 150th anniversary of Cunard or something, wasn't it?
She must have gone well over 30 knots at times during the crossing - did the Captain inform the passengers of the speed and distance travelled?  This would have been so cool, just like the old days of racing across the Atlantic. 
Which Captain was it? 
Did the ship shake rattle and roll more than normal (or less!). 
Was the atmosphere different on board?

So many questions... i think if i could have been on board QE2 for any crossing ever, this would have been it.

[Michael Gallagher]

It was Captain Woodall in 1990 and they didn't set out to break any records - everything was in their favour. What made it better was the fact it was the 150th Anniversary eastbound crossing.

[Rob Lightbody]

So they could have gone faster?

In the 1970 record - was that not deliberate either??

[QE2postcards]

If the date for the diesel record is correct that was the crossing with Our Queen aboard.

Cheers

[Michael Gallagher]

Which Queen? HM Queen Elizabeth II only sailed briefly with QE2 on 27 July 1990 when the ship was making her way back up the Solent after taking part in the special Cunard 150th review off Spithead.

It was interesting to note that in his speech on board QE2 on 11 November 2008 (her last day in the UK) HRH The Duke of Edinburgh said that he wished he had sailed transatlantic on QE2.

[Lynda Bradford]

According to our timeline information on this day 9 August 1990 QE2 completed her 500th transatlantic crossing Southampton to New York.

Was any of our members onboard for this crossing?  It would be good to hear about the celebrations onboard ship. Was there any commemorative items?

[Andy Holloway]

I always enjoyed 'Trannies', West bound more than Eastbound by 'a neck' as it was 5 hours longer with clock changes. But, East bound were 'enjoyable' as we were 'going home', my wife usually came down to S'ton for the day. But, what with the shorter nights they were quite tiring.

There is something about being out of touch with the World, that you  get on a 'Trannie' , that makes them special, the fact that you're all - pax & crew - in 'the same boat', literally as well as metaphorically. 

Subsequently when i worked on other ships after QE2 the only people who could  understand this were exQE2 crew, says  it all really.