Shame here is a pic of better days layed up in Norfolk Virginia in the 70s, photo taken from the container terminal.

 

Shame here is a pic of better days layed up in Norfolk Virginia in the 70s, photo taken from the container terminal. View attachment 694812

a mighty ship - the fastest ever to cross the atlantic and for years a disgrace and a sham - why despite the many who have tried and failed did no one ever either try to
View attachment 694809
restore or just scrap her ...... image oct 2022

I remember seeing the SS United States/KJEH moored in the Navy Yard at Norfolk, Virginia, in her role as a reserve Troop Transport in 1974; when I was an R/O in SS Canberra/GBVC, at a distance she looked the “business”, but as we got closer, and berthed more or less along side, it was evident that external degradation had set in at apace.
The last time I saw her was during June 2005 in Philadelphia, I managed to get a quick photo while on the freeway going past the old docks (see attached), but as I got closer the truly sorry states of her became more evident. At the time I thought, she will cost a huge amount money ($60m+ for restoration to be carried out),
I hope she will not end up being pulled apart on a beach in Pakistan or the wreckers in Taiwan (as happened to Canberra).

 

I read somewhere that almost all of her inboard decks are in a perilous state with some even collapsed. Vegetation in her saloons and machinery spaces.
Clearly she was a magnificent liner but for me always a 2nd choice behind the SS France as a looker.
BW
J

 

I read somewhere that almost all of her inboard decks are in a perilous state with some even collapsed. Vegetation in her saloons and machinery spaces.
Clearly she was a magnificent liner but for me always a 2nd choice behind the SS France as a looker.
BW
J

I remember passing her in Norfolk Virginia I was on the act 6 at the time I talked to the stevedores and was told they only paint the Riverside part of the ship so when you passed this fine ship she looked good what a shame to a fine vessel tony

 

Correct, Tony. We used to berth at a right angle to her - Bow to bow. Her port side was painted, stbd not! I tried to get on her but a watchman vanished us with empty bottles! I just went to the port office and called my wife instead. USD27, all in quarters!

Rgds.
Dave

 

I have never had a "thing" for UNITED STATES although when 11 years old when penning a "What I Want to Be When I Grow Up" school report, I asserted I wanted to be Chief Purser of SS UNITED STATES (!). She was out of service of two years later and I have been frustrated career-wise ever since.

But when I finally got a chance to see her in the flesh, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of her maiden voyage, and from the water, not pierside, I was struck by her presence, lines and perfect proportions. Her hull is... perfection.

She's a sad derelict now and one I wish would be finally put out of her misery but externally she was simply a splendid looking ship. Then. Now. and Forever.

Peter Kohler

 

I was able to visit the ship at anchor at Bermuda in 1969. She was spotless! I thought she was beautiful and quite modern. My only disappointment was the lack of teak decks. I understood what it was all about. Yes she is stunning vessel. There is not a single part of her design I would change.
Stephen

Four paintings of the ship. The last was one done 35 years ago. Ouch!!!!!

 

Super pictures Stephen.

Thanks for sharing with us.

BW
J

 

I just had a model of her show up in the shop for some repairs.
The model has some seriously wrong issues but that’s for another day.

 

She looks the part. Just don’t look too close.

 

i have always been a france fan - although her interior decor never quite struck a cord with me - the big u - classic etc etc -but what was always off putting for me was the accolades every one bestowed upon her which is all good and well but the issue came when the so called preservation of her arose - and here despite the many years that have passed - NOTHING ..... - i was lucky to have seen the qm back in 1994 and spent 5 days exploring her - despite the fact that she had a lot of closed off areas - she still had that " true ocean liner " feel about her ...long may she be with us ....

 

I pick painting no. 3, Stephen.... it reminds of the Brenet series for Towline (the Moran Towage magazine) that had these sorts of detailed harbour scenes where big majestic ships look, well more majestic, close up in the confines of a port or pier. And quartering aft perspective (my favourite) is the make or break of a truly handsome ship... from that angle, you either have it or you don't. You prove that The Big U had it. In spades.

And yes, horrible mastic decks, an absolute horrendous seaboat (I had a French teacher in 8th grade who was aboard her famous 1966 crossing, her second fastest ever... she said you could barely stand up let alone walk, she rolled so much) and all that chalky flat fireproof paint.

But who wouldn't jump at the chance to cross in her... well right now.

Peter Kohler

 

She should go to the breakers, tout-suite! Good lines or not, the vessel is a has-been and will never be again.

QM - nearly thirty years ago, I went with my wife and a family friend who had gone to Europe on her, for her 15th birthday, around 1950. The friend remembered her cabin number and led us through the QM to show it to us. Unfortunately, it was in a closed off area. She did however, remember magnificently the layout, pool, restaurant etcetera. Yes, the QM still "has it".

(I was aghast with all the DC machinery - but that is another foible!)

Rgds.
Dave

 

I would not go to see QE2 in Dubai. A real 'shell' and not external fittings eg boats and davits. She does not look a ship any more.

ss ROTTERDAM at Rotterdam. Different matter. The change from ocean liner to hotel/museum could not be better.

UNITED STATES. It could be done. Internally she was stripped and there is very little of wastage on the steel. Most of the paint coating is in good condition. No piping, wiring. cabin bulkheads and deckheads, all gone. Externally there is some rust on the hull. Not that bad,. Some external decks, yes plenty of rust, bit that could be fixed. She is a good 'shell' so the cost would not be as bad as say, a ship like old QUEEN MARY. She could convert to museum with hotel. Rebuild some of the pubic spaces rebuild as before other wise there is no point. $60 million 29 years ago? Probably $250 today. Not that bad for a hotel on the riverside in Manhattan. Cheap!

Stephen

 

Hi Stephen I worked on the QE2 1977 she was a smart ship I sailed as shipwright looking after the wood decks inside lifeboats and fire shutters my most memorable thing is dropping a greasey rag on Harry second head he was in a deck chair below the lifeboat I was working in happy days

 

SS UNITED STATES.

. A New York arrival. This how I prefer to think of what she was like.

 

Beautiful photo but something looks quite amiss with her approach and that very long, taut towline... never seen a liner come into a North River slip like that. Indeed, could she be berthing without tugs during one of the not atypical tugboat strikes?? The towline possibly on a winch on the pier?? There is enough of a crowd on the pier head to make one think this was "newsworthy" enough even for New Yorkers to pause and watch.

Although often reported as "as a piece of cake," these tugless dockings were often embarassing disasters of crunching fenders, pilings and pier structure and in the slightest wind on the North River, all but impossible. EMPRESS OF SCOTLAND had to abandon an attempt in 1954 in high winds, overnight at anchor and come back for a second time and crunched her way alongside Pier 97.

But just look at her... IMMACULATE. Her hull always looked like licorice out of the bag and her white boot topping line was a perfect as any. Flawless. All of which makes her all the sadder looking today.

Peter Kohler

 

My guess is that you had a good position on board. I was in Franconia in 1967. The 'Chippy' went about the ship is spotless white boilersuit. Cap and a good torch in pocket. He must have been important. 'Lamps', Pat Conolly was another. Lots of curses when anyone came to his shop to ask him for anything. Bosun Tom King was the real boss. Owned a 14 Boston Whaler. On arrival at Bermuda the derrick was topped and the boat was put over the side. The Ch Off, Lee was his fishing pal.

Made several voyages in QE2... as pax. The ship was quite special. No, I would not to go back to see the ship now. How long did you stay with the ship?

Stephen

 

She was indeed special and like you would not visit her in dwbaii Stephen, I have special memories of this vessel and don't want them tarnished. Only ship I've been on where I was accused of sloping off and sleeping in the khazi when I was walking around the eng room actually carrying out some watchkeeping and trying to figure out how it all worked.If my memory serves me right the head honcho in the TCR ( turbine control room) was Steve Constance and even though we got on allright I,m convinced he didn't believe me?

 

Hi Chris and Stephen I was on her when she was a steam ship yes Stephen you are correct immaculate white boiler suit but going to the ER come out black and back to you Chris there were a few primadonas in the ER department but they never bothered the carpenters department as they seemed to rule the ship but that's another story tony

 

Hopefully this is posted in right place.By the way I also boarded and traversed the Russian sub alongside QM, what an insight and eye opener,they had to be brave lads to sail in those craft.

 

 

Taffe,

Apart from QE2, what other vessels did you sail in. How did you become a 'chippy'?

I am watching a series on YouTube by The Samson Boat Company. 134 30 minute films of the rebuild of the cutter 'Tally-Ho'. What this man and his crew are doing is unbelievable! Their skills are mind boggling These films have taken a derelict cutter and has renewed the complete vessel from keel to truck.

Tally Ho's King Planks (& more!) / rebuilding a wooden boat - YouTube ( A recent clip)


Stephen

 

Taffe,

Apart from QE2, what other vessels did you sail in. How did you become a 'chippy'?

I am watching a series on YouTube by The Samson Boat Company. 134 30 minute films of the rebuild of the cutter 'Tally-Ho'. What this man and his crew are doing is unbelievable! Their skills are mind boggling These films have taken a derelict cutter and has renewed the complete vessel from keel to truck.

Tally Ho's King Planks (& more!) / rebuilding a wooden boat - YouTube ( A recent clip)


Stephen

I shall watch this with a glass of vin rouge and a nice cheese (caws).🧀🍷

 

Meant to send this to Tony.... but to Taffe as well. I think anyone would find these clips interesting, 'Arm Chair Sailors & Chippies'!

Stephen

 

Hi Stephen first of all taffe65 was a engineer and a very good one by all means me myself was a time served shipwright who changed to er department I would like to point the mechanic job was so easy just seamed like I had been doing this all my sea career

 

Good start to the week! I have been following these clips for about two years. As soon as a new one comes up on YouTube it pops up.
Traditional boat building with a twist. The twist is the people are using the most 'tools' and mostly powered tools, not available 100 years ago. Today they are doing this work with say a half dozen shiprights. A century ago there would have been a few dozen doing the work. That is why I wanted to 'chat' with Tony.

I hope as soon as the boat is afloat and rigged I would love to do a painting. I would be use traditional methods... brush and paints!

Stephen

 

Ask away Stephen I still have my caulking hammer shipwrights term (whistler) and the 13 irons also my adz pilpn by mame razor Sharpe still to this day very proud of my shipwrights heritage and sailing on ships there was not many jobs I could not do so so proud regards tony

 

Tony.

If you want a good one for this evening, here is one that might give you a laugh.

BEST JOKE OF THE DAY! -
A monkey is sitting in a tree, smoking a joint, when a lizard walks past... The lizard looks up and says, "Hey, what are you doing?" The monkey says, "Smoking a joint, come up and join me!" So, the lizard climbs up and sits next to the monkey, and they smoke another joint. After a while, the lizard says his mouth is dry, and that he’s going to get a drink from the river. At the riverbank, the lizard is so stoned, that he leans over too far and falls in. A crocodile sees this and swims over to the stoned lizard, helping him to the side. He then asks the lizard, "What’s the matter with you?" The lizard explains that he was up in the tree, smoking a joint with the monkey and his mouth got dry... and that he was so wasted that, when he went to get a drink from the river, he fell in! The inquisitive crocodile says he has to check this out. He walks into the jungle and finds the tree where the monkey is sitting, finishing a joint. He looks up and says, "Hey, monkey!" The monkey looks down and says, "Dude!... " "How much water did you drink.... Dude?"

Stephen

 

Tony.

If you want a good one for this evening, here is one that might give you a laugh.

BEST JOKE OF THE DAY! -
A monkey is sitting in a tree, smoking a joint, when a lizard walks past... The lizard looks up and says, "Hey, what are you doing?" The monkey says, "Smoking a joint, come up and join me!" So, the lizard climbs up and sits next to the monkey, and they smoke another joint. After a while, the lizard says his mouth is dry, and that he’s going to get a drink from the river. At the riverbank, the lizard is so stoned, that he leans over too far and falls in. A crocodile sees this and swims over to the stoned lizard, helping him to the side. He then asks the lizard, "What’s the matter with you?" The lizard explains that he was up in the tree, smoking a joint with the monkey and his mouth got dry... and that he was so wasted that, when he went to get a drink from the river, he fell in! The inquisitive crocodile says he has to check this out. He walks into the jungle and finds the tree where the monkey is sitting, finishing a joint. He looks up and says, "Hey, monkey!" The monkey looks down and says, "Dude!... " "How much water did you drink.... Dude?"

Stephen

Marvellous .

 

Very funny!

 

I was 11 when my parents and I emigrated from England to the US on the United States. We had 3 years previously visited, doing both crossings on THE Queen Elizabeth. Those crossings were perfect with lovely weather in mid-summer, my father got sunburned and food and service good, etc. I remember it well even though I was only 8. We traveled tourist class which was very basic - bunk beds, sink in the room, and communal bathroom. As for the United States, lovely stateroom and private bath BUT rough seas and very unpleasant crossing. We hardly left the cabin, I recall. Even excused from lifeboat drill because we were sea sick immediately, and my father was very proud of his sealegs so he was both psychologically and physically ill! He would venture out more than my mother and I and he always said that it was a 'bloody tugboat' compared to the Elizabeth and that he watched the stern go down one side, come up, then slew around and go down on the other side (landlubber terminology). Anyway, not surprising since US was a much smaller ship and an April crossing so North Atlantic was rough. Very very sad that the ship has been gutted and left to decay.

 

Great reminiscences and beautiful photographs. It all reminds me of of watching, in 1971, alternating passages, up and down Southampton Water, of QE2 and France as they saw out the transatlantic services. Also, revived memories of crossing the Pacific and the Atlantic aboard SS America (as Australia), no less.

 

Although she held the Blue Riband, I vaguely remember back in the seventies that and I can't remember which one, but one of the old queens after she came out of dock, unofficially broke the States record crossing.