RMS Queen Mary Or sadly whats left of her.

[Freiwillige]

I spent the last weekend helping my Girls sis move from Ontario California back to AZ. So on the first night of our visit we decided to take the 50 minute drive to long beach to explore the local culture. Realizing that the Queen Mary was near I asked directions and we found her at about 11:00 P.M.

Docked beside her was a Russian cold war submarine but the tour was closed.
So I approached on of the Queen Mary hotel staff smoking and asked if we could come aboard. She said that we came at the perfect time and to go right on ahead but normally they charge for the pleasure. I had images of a grand and vast vessel that one could almost get lost in! Wrong every where you looked it was blocked off limited to the deck (which was kind of open and four floors around the mid section with resteraunts and clubs blocking what used to be hallways. Upon further research I found out that what the city and its many owners did to that vessel was a crime! Entire historic areas gutted or wiped out to facilitate the days latest trend. Allot of areas destroyed only to never put anything in its place!!!!!!

The entire bottom half of the vessal gutted for a museum that existed for a few short years and only taking up 1/10th of what was gutted

None of the original crew cabins exist anymore.

The boilers and machinery below were all removed and scrapped!

Many of the guest rooms have been wiped out of existence!

The ship has been so heavily modified internally that much of the grandeur is lost forever!!!!

And yet what can be rectified only seems to get destroyed further as they gut more and plan future attractions! Ironically enough the greatest attraction below decks is the original engine room center that was not destroyed. What does that tell you? This is what happens when planners decided that the city planners had code rights and cited the vessel as a building!!!!!

For more on this travesty of disgust look here...

http://www.sterling.rmplc.co.uk/visions/index.html

I found this website to those whom are interested

[GoldenRivet]

A damned shame for sure it seems. I've overflown the old girl a number of times but never been dockside let alone aboard her.

Hate to hear it.

I suppose as long as she is receiving proper care the owners might be expected to do such things.

[Admiral8Q]

So I approached on of the Queen Mary hotel staff smoking and asked if we could come aboard. She said that we came at the perfect time and to go right on ahead but normally they charge for the pleasure. I had images of a grand and vast vessel that one could almost get lost in! Wrong every where you looked it was blocked off limited to the deck (which was kind of open and four floors around the mid section with resteraunts and clubs blocking what used to be hallways. Upon further research I found out that what the city and its many owners did to that vessel was a crime! Entire historic areas gutted or wiped out to facilitate the days latest trend. Allot of areas destroyed only to never put anything in its place!!!!!!


Shee,it. I hear what you are saying. But old boats, rusting away either get attention or neglected. I personally miss the old MV. Abegweit :cry:
But time goes on. There will be new boats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjFqPslqSgY

[Freiwillige]

It is true. But I think any sane human can see the distaste in the logic of "lets cut the wall out of the forward theater and put a clothing shop in and while were at it destroy any historic semblance this space once had!" "Hey we will make a killing selling these chairs and original wood panels at the auction!"

"While were at it lets extend the old library onto the walking deck and sell T-shirts! That way we can crap on any historical attraction and ruin parts of the upper deck!"


Idiots! :nope:

[Admiral8Q]

Believe me, Freiwillge I agree with you.

My favorite ship as a kid and growing up was this one:
http://uglyships.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/abegweit_1982_1.jpg

Then they built the bridge so it ended up in India as scrap...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/86127509_f5df20048b.jpg?v=0

[papa_smurf]

Being from a family who have worked on ships (grandfather and my father worked at Harland & Wolffe - Southampton, and a relative on my fathers side came from Ireland whilst working on Titanic), I am disgusted what they have done to this iconic ship, they should be ashamed:nope:.

[Freiwillige]

Found this youtube video documenting her gutting....so sad.

Oh well California run this Ship (Building to them) like they run, well.....California! Into the ground!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGkH7TszRa0&feature=related

[TheSatyr]

Look at it this way. Long Beach has often considered selling the QM off,probably for scrap. The only way to make sure they keep it is for the QM tours and such to make enough money to keep the Long Beach Politicians happy.

Which would you rather have? resteraunts,t-shirt vendors,museums and whatever or the QM in the scrap heap?

I lived near Long Beach for close to 40 years. It seemed like every 5-10 years the Queen Mary's future would be discussed. They almost sold her to Japan but the deal fell through when inspectors from Japan checked out her hull. They were afraid she would sink if they tried to tow her from California to Japan.

[Jimbuna]

That is a real shame but at least you've kept her more or less intact longer than us Brits would/could have.

[AVGWarhawk]

It is a shame these things happen. The Torsk was painted in any color the city could find. Blue engines in one engine room and gray engines in another. Things added that were not historical. Then the city of Baltimore had the teeth painted on the bow. It would seem that the cities powers that be will do anything to keep some revenue flowing in.

[FIREWALL]

While imho it is a historical shame it's, been a money loser since almost after it was brought here.

The Spruce Goose had more Longbeach,CA. history and, it is scrap wood up in Oregon somewhere.

[Ducimus]

Yeah i remember having the spruce goose here as a kid.

As to the Queen mary, it's more or less a place to hold banquets or class reunions and such. My 10 year class reunion was on the queen marry though i didn't go.

Anywho', its all about cash. They'll do whatever it takes to generate revenue off that ship. If it starts costing them money, i have no doubt they'll get rid of it. Just like the spruce goose. IMO, In southern california, It's hollywood, not history, that generates mucho denaro. Can't say i like it, but i think thats just how it is.

[Platapus]

Yeah i remember having the spruce goose here as a kid.

.


Is it still there?

I remember seeing the Mary when I was a kid. Very sad that it was gutted, but who would have paid to keep her in her prime condition? I don't remember anyone stepping up offering money.

Sad ending to the lady. Might as well put her out of her misery and scrap her. :nope:

[Ducimus]

Is it still there?

Nope, they got rid of it years ago. It's in oregon now.

[CaptainMattJ.]

HEY HEY HEY hold up just a minute. i visited the QM just this summer, and i find this to be inaccurate. it took all of 8 hours to explore the cavernous ship, and only dangerous sections were walled off (such as the engine room's service ladders that lead down into the endless series of pipeline and circuits. ) while yes alot of it has been stripped, its still very enjoyable. me and my dad went, and ended up paying 60 bucks for both of us to get a ticket for both the QM and the Russian Scorpion docked next to her, and get a full detailed tour of the ship from a jolly old mariner. he was very detailed. my dad won a pen when he correctly guessed who the first child to slide down a play area in one of the first class nurseries was (it was a young queen-in-progress, however i dont remember which). he told of life aboard the ship, and how it got its name. afterwards we continued to explore the ship, seeing the engine room, bridge, crew quarters, foredeck, and other areas. they left a few AA guns on the ship to tell of her role in WWII.

then we went into a russian sub. very cramped, but VERY interesting. you can still look through the periscope and fiddle with the buttons. in fact, its still operational, and if someone wanted to they could sail out of the harbor with it. it has diesels still, and as always very cramped living spaces. the beds were basically built for 5 foot tall people. command room had a very low clearance height. her exact crush depth is still a secret, but they say it can go down like.....a few hundred meters at least but wont give exact details. its op history is still top secret with the russians.

it wasnt bad in the slightest, and i enjoyed it. i REAAAALLY enjoyed going to san diego to visit the midway, which really kicked ass.