Author Topic: QE2 Carrying Cars  (Read 43647 times)

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Offline Janice Naylor

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #60 on: Feb 24, 2011, 09:59 PM »
I remember standing on the pier in NYC in 1978 preparing to board the QE2 and a big, silver Rolls Royce, or  Bently, was being lifted onto the ship with a crane.   The car floated right over my head.
Whenever I hear a sea story I think of the first time I saw the QE2 and the great adventures that followed.

Offline Rod

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #61 on: Oct 30, 2011, 10:12 AM »
When I was on board in the 70's, Cunard had the contract with the Mercedes Car club of the US to carry the very old Mercs to Europe. Quite often we would have up to 20 Mercs of 20's and 30's vintage.
Because of union regs nearly ALL cars were driven on board by stevadores. The only places that had car ramps were Soton, NY and Chergourg.
Larger cars and campers like Winnebagos were put in the forward hatch. Once in NY a smaller camper was dropped into the hatch when the slinging arrangement came adrift.
The forward and after holds were not connectd...the engine room got in the way.
During the world cruise the holds were used for stores.
As Louis said, later one hold was taken for the technical stores.

usqe2fan

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Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #62 on: Oct 30, 2011, 09:03 PM »
When I was young, our family transported 2 cars on QE2, both from Cherbourg to New York, in 1975 and again in 1977.  I still have the August 15 1977 "car passage ticket" in my QE2 artifact collection.  Both Cherbourg and New York were drive on - drive off for cars.

We had to arrive at the pier in Cherbourg by 10:00 AM the day of sailing.  After check in, they did a "steam cleaning" which entailed picking up the car by crane, and having the underside washed via a fire hose; I was never entirely sure if it was salt or fresh water!  My father had a certificate delivered to his cabin on each crossing that the car had been "steam cleaned" as it was required for entry into the US.  On both voyages, there were well over 30 cars loaded at Cherbourg, I have pictures of our car(s) parked and waiting in queue for each voyage.  QE2 did quite well as a car ferry in those days.

In 1975, the fellow operating the crane was accidentally sprayed with water from the hose by the car cleaner below.  He yelled obsenities at the man below, and proceeded to rapidly move a huge lime green Plymouth Fury out of range of the man below.  Needless to say, he overdid the move, and the Fury proceeded to crash head on into the corner of an adjacent crane, similar to driving head on into the corner of a building.  The loud crash occured, the green antifreeze and some other fluids leaked from the car onto the ground.  The car was quite badly damaged.  A minute later, a large, loud enraged New Yorker who owned the Fury stormed out of the terminal lounge, and was yelling obscenties at the French stating he was going to "kick their a$$es".  He was ultimately prevented from reaching the workers, but it was all quite dramatic.  I am not sure if the green Fury made that voyage, it was just put down and pushed into a corner of the car waiting area as it was not running.   After we boarded, I was focused on exploring the ship as it was my first time aboard QE2.  Quite the adventure at Cherbourg that day!


 

Offline Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #63 on: Nov 18, 2011, 01:23 PM »
That is quite a story! Thank you for posting it.

I love the collection of stories we are building up here -- all the many things that QE2 saw during her days on the oceans, and all the things that changed during those 40 years...

After check in, they did a "steam cleaning" which entailed picking up the car by crane, and having the underside washed via a fire hose; I was never entirely sure if it was salt or fresh water! 

I am pretty sure that it must have been fresh water.

When I moved to Kenya, I had my car shipped in a container, together with my bicycle and the household effects. On arrival in Nairobi, I was told that the car would never be the same again -- it would rust much faster than would otherwise have been the case. Reason : the sea spray would have reached the car even within a container within the ship... and it would erode the metal parts.

Luckily, the container must have been well inside the hull of the ship and luckily too, Nairobi has a climate that is very beneficial to cars, so this car of mine lived on fairly rust free for many years, until it died in a crash.

The moral of the story is that Cunard would not have risked salt water damage to the cars it was transporting... word would have got around too quickly!

As for crashing the cars they were washing -- presumably that happened only once  ;D !

Offline Barrie Evans

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #64 on: Feb 01, 2012, 11:10 PM »
If i remember right, when the Q E 2 was built, she had a drive-on,drive off facilities for around 80 cars. Special lifts were capable of carrying five ton loads at 100-foot a minute, with a capacity to handle 40 cars per hour.

Offline pete cain

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #65 on: Feb 26, 2012, 05:07 PM »
Just found this interesting 8mm short (no sound) looks like she carried caravans also, the written script says they also had a Rover to tow it through America, some holiday !.
    
              

as ever thanks to youtube & in this case Kath & Reg.
« Last Edit: Feb 26, 2012, 06:39 PM by Isabelle Prondzynski »

Offline John Fürbach

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #66 on: Mar 30, 2015, 10:09 AM »
Hello community i have read somewhere, that the QE2 also had a car garage to take along a few cars, is this true. In case, does the QM2 have it too.

Thanks beforehand

John

Offline Lynda Bradford

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #67 on: Mar 30, 2015, 10:30 AM »
Welcome John and thanks for your questions about QE2 carrying cars.  I have merged your post with the existing post on this subject where you will find lots of information.  I am not aware of QM2 carrying cars and do not think that she has this facility. 
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

Online Andy Holloway

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #68 on: Jun 19, 2018, 12:10 PM »
The AA rating lasted for one year - the year it was awarded. She was never reinspected so it wasn't renewed. Carrying cars made QE2 the biggest car ferry in the world.

JDL: in the last few years the number of cars carried was low. In 2001 she carried a brand new Maybech (value £250,000) in a class case on her aft decks and it was helicoptered off the ship when she arrived in New Year. It was a publicity stunt for Maybech.

If i search my photos i have a couple of it onboard QE2 and being 'lifted'off by helicopter in NY.

Watch this space!

Online Andy Holloway

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #69 on: Jun 26, 2018, 01:54 PM »
If i search my photos i have a couple of it onboard QE2 and being 'lifted'off by helicopter in NY.

Watch this space!
Still looking for the 'lifting off' ones, but here are some of it in it's glass container when it was onboard.

Online Andy Holloway

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #70 on: Jun 28, 2018, 01:17 PM »
This was a very well planned operation from a safety and logistical point of view.

Firstly there had to be an identifiable spot to position the vehicle on deck as it was 'requested' that it be lifted off in New York having been 'seen' arriving on QE2!!

To this end the only structurally secure spot was on the sports deck above the Yacht Club. Riggers arrived immediately on arrival in S'ton, the deck furniture already having been removed and stored safely. Securing bolts were welded in position and finally all was ready for the arrival on The Maybach, complete with it's carrying container.
It arrived on a barge with accompanying floating crane and took about an hour to get in position, all the time passengers were kept clear on that part of the ship for safety reasons. 

The crossing was uneventful and the car was a a huge 'attraction' for the passengers, most being unaware that they would be travelling with such a 'famous' travelling companion.

On the first full day at sea i had a visitor to my office who had somehow found out about my previous Military service and came to say 'hello'! He turned  out to be a USMC [United States Marine Corps] Captain who was a helicopter pilot and was returning to the US after a posting in Europe.  We chatted about this and that and then met up again later at a cocktail party.
By then there had been a 'lift off' meeting where the final logistics of getting the car & container off in New York were finalised. 
While i was talking to him about this he asked if i thought there was any way he could witness the event.
One of the points that came out from the meeting was that all the open decks aft of the mast would be 'out of bounds' during the lifting off process.
I said that i didn't think so but, i would certainly speak to The Captain - Ian McNaught - and ask.
The next morning at breakfast i asked the Captain and he said that as this passenger was  an experienced helicopter pilot he was quite happy for him to stand just aft of the funnel and watch the whole procedure. That morning i search for and found the USMC officer and told him, to say he was delighted would be an understatement!! He knew about the helicopter that would be doing the lift a Sikorsky CH54 Tarhe, but had never seen one at work.
We arranged for one of my team to meet him and escort him through crew areas to his 'viewing spot' and remain with him throughout.   
As we approached New York the riggers were up early preparing the container for lifting, after passing under The Verrizano-Narrows Bridge the upper decks were cleared of passengers in preparation for the lift and our 'escort' Police boats joined us to ensure that a good size area of water around QE2 was clear for the lifting operation to take place.
As we approached a point approx over the Holland tunnel QE2 slowed down and the operation began. The helicopter hovered overhead for what seemed like ages while the lifting strops were attached and checked, then with a huge increase in power the CH54 began the lift, initially slowly taking the weight, and then once the container was safely clear of the it made the short trip across The Hudson and lowered the container onto one of the piers that line the lower part of that part of the waterfront.
From there, the Maybach was unloaded, quickly checked and driven through New York to Wall St where it was driven up a pre constructed ramp directly into the lobby of the NY Stock Exchange!

Meanwhile QE2 completed her arrival in New York and so another turnaround day began.

As my 'new best friend' disembarked he handed my a small memento/thank-you gift - a USMC Officer's Tie clip, which i still wear to this day, on those occasions when i wear a tie, and always think of that momentous day when i look at it! 
 
« Last Edit: Jun 28, 2018, 05:40 PM by Andy Holloway »

Offline Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #71 on: Jun 28, 2018, 05:19 PM »
What an excellent report, Andy, of a great crossing and arrival!

Thank you for a wonderful read...

Offline Dave Lowing

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #72 on: Nov 14, 2018, 07:21 PM »
Back in 1975 QE2 carried over a number of Ferrari's for Luigi Chinnetti's, North American Racing Team (NART). I photographed the procedure at Cherbourg where they were craned out of the forward hold onto the quayside. I was interested because the previous year I went to the 1974 Le Mans race, myself.

Offline Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #73 on: Nov 14, 2018, 07:33 PM »
Fabulous pictures! Thank you, Dave :) . Those cars must have been extremely valuable...

Offline Lynda Bradford

Re: QE2 Carrying Cars
« Reply #74 on: Nov 14, 2018, 07:46 PM »
Thanks for posting the photos Dave.  Fantastic pictures that are a part of history of QE2 and interesting to know that you had been at the Le Mans race, the previous year. I believe the race a bit of an endurance test for the drivers. Were you a driver or spectator? 
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank