The Bridge

[cunardqueen]

Any visit to the bridge is an awesome experience, l first visited in June 86 my camera played funny and rewound the film so only a few pics exist then the second visit May 1987 was with the WSS and Captain Bennell asked us up and took a group photo of us for the magazine.

sorry my mistake, He wasnt Captain at the time.

[June Ingram]

Very good, Myles !   

[cunardqueen]

and the eagle eyed among you may notice Mr Peter Radmore, and that name should ring bells.

[holynougat]

I spent many a long hour standing on the Bridge of QE2....
QM's stood the whole time. When they were not 'in the barn' making tea... which could on occasion take several hours.
The SOOW did sit, the JOOW not so much. From about 2005 the 'Captains Chair' (well it was from a bus, but that is another story - as is what happened to it in 2004) was used by the OOW a little more.
Woe betide the officer who failed to notice when the Captain put his 'cap on' for arrival... we all had to follow immediately. Also when he removed it. Again this was going out of fashion after about 2004.
Stabilizers... well, when they did work it was from the bridge. We often operated in what became known as 'kebab' mode towards the end. This was one forward fin and one aft fin on different sides. Don't ask why it was called 'kebab mode' I have no idea.
Also, one thing we used to do a lot was when an officer was making an announcement from the chart room, it was possible to enter the electrical locker between the bridge and the chart room and bridge - to make the announcement you had to hold a switch down, but if you were in the locker it was possible to flick the switch 'up' from behind the PA panel, so it was often a case of who was stronger...

[Twynkle]

I spent many a long hour standing on the Bridge of QE2....
QM's stood the whole time. When they were not 'in the barn' making tea... which could on occasion take several hours.
The SOOW did sit, the JOOW not so much. From about 2005 the 'Captains Chair' (well it was from a bus, but that is another story - as is what happened to it in 2004) was used by the OOW a little more.
Woe betide the officer who failed to notice when the Captain put his 'cap on' for arrival... we all had to follow immediately. Also when he removed it. Again this was going out of fashion after about 2004.
Stabilizers... well, when they did work it was from the bridge. We often operated in what became known as 'kebab' mode towards the end. This was one forward fin and one aft fin on different sides. Don't ask why it was called 'kebab mode' I have no idea.
Also, one thing we used to do a lot was when an officer was making an announcement from the chart room, it was possible to enter the electrical locker between the bridge and the chart room and bridge - to make the announcement you had to hold a switch down, but if you were in the locker it was possible to flick the switch 'up' from behind the PA panel, so it was often a case of who was stronger...

History in the making - Thanks so much, HN.
Regarding the QM standing at the wheel - as in one of the photos, was this simply for the photographer - or did the QMs move the wheel (as opposed to levers etc) in response to instructions from the SOOW, or Captain, even?
The QMs could have got pretty tired - when it was foggy, and perhaps after sunset - did they keep shorter watches, taking turns more frequently? (Tea-making is still a popular pastime on board QM2!)
Was it 'Caps on' for the Pilot, too? Must have been a bit of a squash when the latter came on board with trainees / interested 'bystanders etc!
(About the fins - Kebabs, usually when under / over a BBQ / a grill, it's sometimes easier to have them placed alternately, so the ends of the sticks  stay out of the heat, and don't take up precious cooking space -Cool!)

Sounds as if That chair - the design, and fortunes of the bus-chair might need its own topic...!
Hopefully, like Queen Mary's Piano, it'll still be in situ.
All the best - and safe journey!

[cunardqueen]

Sounds as if That chair - the design, and fortunes of the bus-chair might need its own topic...!   

Ms Scripps and Captain Warwick have a lot to answer for, I gather it was for charity..

[Jeff Taylor]

As I have written previously, I did have the privilege of "steering" "driving" or whatever the QE1 under Cmdr Marr, and it was definitely a Quartermaster I "relieved".  I was told it was for his tea break (in the barn???), but he had the good sense to stand right behind me in the event that I went berserk.  I've said this before, but at 28.5 kts with a lot of vibration, and despite holding the wheel as still as I could, the compass kept wandering back and forth, and any attempt to correct just made the situation worse.