G Stairway

[Michael Gallagher]

I thought we'd walk up G Stairway for a change

G has 94 stairs on each side (total 188) and then you need to add:
+ 4 (leading to Yacht Club)
+ 6 (leading to QE and QE2 display cases)
+ 20 (spiral stairs leading to Boat Deck)

When being designed as a three-class vessel this staircase was for Cabin Class passengers and was designed to take passengers from the main Cabin Class deck Verandah (Upper) down to Cabin Class accommodation. The staircase did not include the Tourist Deck (Boat). This was corrected in the 1994 refit when G Stairway was extended to included Boat Deck.

Perhaps even the design of the staircase – double spiral suggested that this was the main stairway for the middle passenger class.

FIVE DECK

[Michael Gallagher]

FIVE UP TO FOUR

[Michael Gallagher]

FOUR DECK

[Michael Gallagher]

FOUR UP TO THREE

[Michael Gallagher]

THREE DECK

[Michael Gallagher]

THREE UP TO TWO

[Michael Gallagher]

TWO DECK

[Michael Gallagher]

TWO UP TO ONE

[Michael Gallagher]

ONE DECK

[Michael Gallagher]

ONE UP TO QUARTER

[Michael Gallagher]

QUARTER DECK

[Michael Gallagher]

QUARTER UP TO UPPER

[Michael Gallagher]

UPPER DECK

[Michael Gallagher]

UPPER UP TO BOAT

[Michael Gallagher]

LOOKING DOWN FROM UPPER

[Bob C.]

Once again - brilliant!!!

A few comments on Stairway G - First, I much prefer the original red color of the stairway.  Second, its great to finally see the modified Upper Deck portion of G in this detail and virtually climb the "spiral" staircase from U to B as well as look at the aft view on Upper Deck landing to see the opening that leads to the Yacht Club lobby - that used to be a solid wall and the top of the stairway on U-Deck lead straight into the Double Down Room.

Lastly I was reminded of another one of QE2's quirks and eccentricities.  It fooled me more than once and I'm sure it has a few others over the years.  The landing on Quarter Deck looks like there is no where to go but up to Upper deck or back down to 1 Deck.  The aft wall of the space just forward of the G Stairway entrance ( I forgot what it was and is today) is very close to the stairway entrance.  However, when one walks forward and approaches the wall, one discovers a narrow passageway to the left and right leading outboard and to the Q Deck promenade.

If you watch National Geographic's "Superliner: Twighlight of an Era" you'll find a short scene during the Boat Drill shot on Q Deck in G Stairway with an older woman saying "Now where do you go?" because she was fooled by this design arrangement. 

An absolutley classic quirk that you will never find again because of SOLAS regulations.  That's a good thing but again this what makes QE2 so wonderful!     

[Rob Lightbody]

The 2nd photo in reply #11 above - across from the Yacht Club entrance - that was a very clever feature of the 90s refit - the "giant display case" that you actually walked into.  It was exactly the same as the display cases around the ship, but huge and with the stairs/walkway right through the middle!  One of my abiding memories of this area, sadly, in 2008, was of very stinky toilets...

I'm also amazed that for the stairway extension above that, that they recreated (?) original style bannisters.

[Scott Ebersold]

I wonder where, in 1994, did they get the extra banister to extend the stairway up to boat deck?  It looks exactly the same - even has the "extended" hand rail.

-Scott

[Twynkle]

What a treat! This was the best stairway, with so much to see on the way.
It was quite legitimate not to race up it except perhaps for the last few steps into the Yacht Club
Difficult not to speed up these!

Thank you so much for posting them, and from bottom to the 'top with a view' .

[Bob C.]

Great photo - this is the way I remember the Upper Deck on G-Stairway although the carpet back then was a solid reddish color that matched the bannister with no blue.  I don't remember the doors being that shiney either.  I believe the doors in the 70's were embellished with red faux leather at the top and bottom.  I'll see if I have a photo.

Also the wall to the photographer's back was not open to what would eventually be the Yacht Club.  The only way to get aft from here was through the doors shown and then port or STBD and outboard and aft through the the Double Down Room (Grand Lounge).

[Bob C.]

Does anyone have any phots of the original reddish-orange colors of Stairway G? 

[Michael Gallagher]

These?

Image 1: 1969

Image 2: 1969

Image 3: late 1980s

[Rob Lightbody]

These?

Image 1: 1969

Image 2: 1969

Image 3: late 1980s

A 16-minute response time Michael ! 

[Michael Gallagher]

I'd have slashed that in half at least if I'd known I was on the clock, Rob!

[Michael Gallagher]

Top picture - 1987 (also where Bob starts his superb Double Room animation)

Bottom picture - 1994

[Michael Gallagher]

Two captures from 'Magic Ride'

[Bob C.]

It would seem to me that when QE2 was being brought into service and the final touches of the fitting were being made that there would have been a ton of photos taken throughout all of the public and samples of private rooms. 

Does anyone know if these sorts of photos were taken and if a repository of these photos exists anywhere?  Cunard archives? University of Glasgow?  National Library of Scotland?

[Andy Holloway]

It would seem to me that when QE2 was being brought into service and the final touches of the fitting were being made that there would have been a ton of photos taken throughout all of the public and samples of private rooms. 

Does anyone know if these sorts of photos were taken and if a repository of these photos exists anywhere?  Cunard archives? University of Glasgow?  National Library of Scotland?

When Southwestern House closed a load of items of interest/significance were transferred to The John Moore Institute I think it was called, in Liverpool. I think Commodore Warwick was the person who sorted the things out as, that was the time that the Silver Model of QE2 that ended up in the Rotunda, was discovered.

[Twynkle]

Top picture - 1987 (also where Bob starts his superb Double Room animation)

Bottom picture - 1994

What a fantastic photo, Micheal - it's even possible to see through the glass as far as the double stairway etc
Were the doors just "push and pull" open?
Wishing I could point to things like ??ash trays?? out, on either side before reaching the doors...
One of the best-of-all interior photos of QE2 - Ever!
Thank You!

[cunardqueen]

What i can never forget about the  stairways is how prior to the 86-87 refit was how low the handrails were
Indeed on my first crossing in June 86 on the second day out we hit a Force 9/10 The doors were locked so we couldn't get outside, and all l could think was how easy it would be to topple over the railings. Especially if you were at the top trying to get a photo of all the decks below in rough weather.....

[Bob C.]

I’m guesstimating the height of the railing at about 40 inches for my virtual model.  They were pretty low indeed but I didn’t really have a safety issue when I first went onboard in  ‘69 at the age of 6 and a height of about 4 ft.  It did become noticeable on our last voyage in ‘79 when I was 6’ 2”!

[Rob Lightbody]

Could we have a topic for the artwork in each stairway?

Do we have one already?

Someone has asked us on our Facebook page, which is why I ask.

There was a painting onboard on G stairway two deck I am
Trying to find the artists name

[Lynda Bradford]

Could we have a topic for the artwork in each stairway?

Do we have one already?

Someone has asked us on our Facebook page, which is why I ask.

Rob, I have merged with the G Stairway topic as in reply number 6 there is a picture showing this painting on deck two. Maybe someone can identify the artists.

Although we do not have a topic for each stairway art we do have topics for the stairways, so we could add art photos on these topic. 

There is also the Artwork on QE2 topic
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=790.0

and on the Heritage Trail Index where there are links to artwork on the ship.
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=9045.msg105538#msg105538