Count down to the Q4 launch - where were you?

[Lynda Bradford]

September 17 1967 and the excitement would be building in the town of Clydebank as people were looking forward to the launch of Q4

The Glasgow Herald reported that there would be a special sailing of the Clyde Steamer, the Duchess of Hamilton three days before the launch to give passengers the opportunity to see the Q4 on her launching berth. 
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A39AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5192%2C2718646

The article also reported that the Caledonian and the Duchess of Hamilton would take 2000 passengers on Wednesday 20 September to see the launch.

Have a read at what has been posted on this topic - maybe you can add more to the memory
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,6947.msg74076.html#msg74076

[Lynda Bradford]

Rob has posted in another topic a picture of the poster for the Caledonia trip down the Clyde to see the launch.  Fantastic piece of memorabilia
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,5323.msg54453.html#msg54453

[Lynda Bradford]

National Records of Scotland on Twitter posted from the archives the photo of the worker looking at the unfinished 736 sitting in the stocks. 
https://twitter.com/NatRecordsScot/status/1432350015247327240

[Lynda Bradford]

On this day!

Two interesting little articles on 14 September 1967.  On the lead up to the launch of QE2 the Glasgow Herald newspaper reported a strike by the Q4 Platers. The workers were protesting that the management had brought forward the date when 80 boiler makers would be made redundant from October 30 to October 6.  This change would have had significant impact on the lives of the boilermakers and their families.  The strike only lasted for a morning as the workers agreed at a lunch time meeting to return to work while discussions continued and it was reported that the strike would have no impact on the launch of the Q4.

Another article is in relation to the closure of road in Refrewshire, opposite the launch site in Clydebank.  Right of way shut for the launch.

When viewing launch footage of the QE2 you will often see people on the opposite bank running away from the shoreline as to avoid getting wet with the displacement of water when QE2 entered the Clyde.  In the article there is a mention that the road that was planned to be closed was flooded when the Queen Mary was launched. 

[Lynda Bradford]

On this date in. 1967......

Glasgow Herald article 18 September 1967 - Hazards of Q4 launch

In the article JF Starks Assistant Managing Director outlines the dangers that need to be considered for the safe launch of the ship into the temperamental River Clyde. 

He also said:

- The ship will glide into the Clyde at 22 MPH
- There will be 1,400 tons of drag links to steady her path
- As she enters the water she will push 20,000 tons of water, her launch weight
- 3,000 men have worked on the ship and 500 more will be employed on the fitting out
- An average of 300 tons of steel a week have been put into the ship

Mr H G Parker shipyard director said “a variety of new materials had been used in the construction and would be used in the fitting out.  The specification of the ship called for craftsmanship of an unusually high order and this had been achieved. “