Original skylights on the signal deck

[Rob Lightbody]

Hope I've got my decks right.

Attached is a photo I took today of the builders model at the Riverside Transport Museum. 

Below is Bob C's photo standing near the windows.  What did they illuminate below?  Do we have a photo of them from underneath?

1969 - 044 by reltco, on Flickr

[Rod]

If my memory is not playing tricks.......part of the "dust bowl" was covered by an overhanging roof/ceiling where table tennis tables were set up (same area where the bar was set up for illegal parties)

&

[Twynkle]

If my memory is not playing tricks.......part of the "dust bowl" was covered by an overhanging roof/ceiling where table tennis tables were set up (same area where the bar was set up for illegal parties)

&

Oh Rod - What Was the "Dust Bowl'!
Was it Crew Country? Please tell us All about it!
(Such irony, because won't the (now un-sheltered) balcony decks be ultra-dusty very soon too!)

Rob - might this help?
http://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=244&year=1969&article=d.244.39

[Thomas Hypher]

Oh Rod - What Was the "Dust Bowl'!
Was it Crew Country? Please tell us All about it!
(Such irony, because won't the (now un-sheltered) balcony decks be ultra-dusty very soon too!)

Rob - might this help?
http://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=244&year=1969&article=d.244.39

The "Dust Bowl" was the sheltered sports deck (for passengers and crew) in her as built design, replaced by the first set of penthouses in the 1972 refit. Apparently became dusty and windswept at speed (I can imagine the vortices that could've formed there).

I recently read this topic on the forum that appears to have the answer to the room the windows illuminated:

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,465.msg5042.html#msg5042

If my memory is not playing tricks.......part of the "dust bowl" was covered by an overhanging roof/ceiling where table tennis tables were set up (same area where the bar was set up for illegal parties)

&

One of Bob.C's other photos shows him and his family at one of these table tennis tables in that area of the sheltered sports deck (maybe in the topic I linked to above?).

[Rob Lightbody]

Thank you Thomas - I'd got confused when reading that topic, but I understand now.  Seeing the QE2 Model at Glasgow's transport museum again yesterday, after reading so much material here since the last time I'd seen it, made me see details I hadn't noticed before, such as the skylights clearly in place on the model.

Here's Bobs reply to me again, just the relevant bit, and his image.

Those skylights were colored plastic and went to the covered area of the Sports Deck between the open "pit" and the Childrens' Playroom.  The area had a few ping pong tables and some children's play equipment like swings and see-saws.

Here's a photo of the Sports Deck area under the skylights.  Notice the color in the overhead structure.

[Thomas Hypher]

Thank you Thomas - I'd got confused when reading that topic, but I understand now.  Seeing the QE2 Model at Glasgow's transport museum again yesterday, after reading so much material here since the last time I'd seen it, made me see details I hadn't noticed before, such as the skylights clearly in place on the model.

Here's Bobs reply to me again, just the relevant bit, and his image.

I've got confused myself, I didn't put two and two together with the location of the table tennis tables being where the skylights were also located. I was answering Rod's question!

Looking at the topic I've linked to I thought the skylights belonged to the 736 Club until your most recent post here in this topic. Ended up answering two questions with one stone by accident!

Her original design/form in this area of her superstructure is clearer to me now too! We never stop learning!

Thomas

[Bob C.]

Rod, I'm curious about the "illegal parties" that were held there!  What made them illegal?  Not authorized by the Captain?  If so, that area was very close to the bridge and officer country so how did the crew get away with them?

[Bob C.]

Her original design/form in this area of her superstructure is clearer to me now too! We never stop learning!

Even though I was younger, I have the images of the original configuration of QE2 burned into my brain.  I'd be happy to share my knowledge of passenger areas any time and my photos as they apply!  My favorite thing to do on QE2 was to explore which I did quite often during my two crossings in 1974, two in 1977 and my final time onboard in 1979.

[Thomas Hypher]

Rod, I'm curious about the "illegal parties" that were held there!  What made them illegal?  Not authorized by the Captain?  If so, that area was very close to the bridge and officer country so how did the crew get away with them?

Likewise, I'm curious too. As Bob C. has said about the bridge etc being nearby did it involve a "small fee" like silencing the bow foghorn to give crew in her bow section a break?

[Twynkle]

Rod, I'm curious about the "illegal parties" that were held there!  What made them illegal?  Not authorized by the Captain?  If so, that area was very close to the bridge and officer country so how did the crew get away with them?

Hi Bob - and Rod,
Might it have been in any relation to The Barn?
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1997.msg62205.html#msg62205
(This is the Crew Country area which I'd love to take a sneaky peek at!!)
All the very best to you both
Rosie

[Rod]

Rod, I'm curious about the "illegal parties" that were held there!  What made them illegal?  Not authorized by the Captain?  If so, that area was very close to the bridge and officer country so how did the crew get away with them?

Was the Officers!! May be a few others, passenger might bring a bottle.
Why illegal, not authorized , mixing with pax like that, icing with crew like that. MOst of he were spontaneous.

[Rod]

There was quite a bit more fore to aft space there than I think some of you realize. SHuffleboard, deck quoits courts etc.
It was called the dust bowl because of its shape and the fact that due to the aerodynamics of the place it collcted every piece of dust, paper  etc, etc.
If you walked forward off the dust bowl you got stairs down to the display. Cases on boat deck( where the thank you certificate for helping that ship in Martinique  was displayed, and if you didn't tak he stairs down but turned right you gots the Chief Officres cabin/office. DOnt forget guys this is all from my head from close on 45 years ago! Don't think It is inaccurate though

[Willum]

Rods right, Although the dustbowl was just before my time as penthouses were plonked on top, those skylights would have illuminated the childrens playroom. I was under the impression from Brian Martin that the dustbowl was an officers only place. The barn was not a communal area, it was immediately behind the bridge, had the flag locker, the Bosuns/Cox'n canvas store and sewing machine (Master exponent the excellent John O'Keefe), some electronics for VHF Radio, and latterly the Chief officers office. There was a 5 step staircase to a very low door where you could bang your head and end up at the foot of the signal mast. A ladder was stored in the barn to hook on to the lowest rung of those rungs welded to the signal mast to access the Radar Scanners. Oops getting off topic.

[Bob C.]

If you walked forward off the dust bowl you got stairs down to the display. Cases on boat deck( where the thank you certificate for helping that ship in Martinique  was displayed,

I remember those stairs!  Not so much when the dust bowl was there but one would use those stairs as one of the ways to get up to the penthouse cabins.  I remember mostly 1974 and 1977 prior to the second phase of suites being installed. 

If I remember correctly the entrance to those stairs was on the same wall (STBD side) and just aft of the A Stairway elevators but forward of the 736 Club/Queens Grill.

[Rod]

Correct Bob.