The QE2's Funnel

[Rob Lightbody]

QE2's funnel, last August, the night of the full lunar eclipse, in the middle of the Mediterranean, under the stars, with the North Star above.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lightbody/2813770991/

[hollihedge]

Excellent photo - almost a painting!!

[KEV]

Probably the answer's somewhere and I've overlooked it but does anyone know what happened to her original white/black pencil thin funnel after the 80s refit? Were any of the components saved/reused or just cut up on site? Often wondered.

[Andrew Collier]

Hi,

i read somewhere it was resued to make the new funnel with, it you look closely at the new funnel, you can see the forward part of the red part is the same shape as the old white parts, with a new section added at the rear, i believe the windscoop was also resued, just widened in the middle.

Also, if you look at the new funnel closely, you can see some slight distortion of the aluminium which I read dates back to a steam days fire which scored the funnel, this would back up the idea of the original being reused.

Am at work at the mo, so don't have references for this to hand, if no one else provides before hand, will look it up when I can from home.

Regards Andy

[KEV]

Thanks Andy
That's great to hear-I also remember reading something about the fire distortion but had presumed it was post refit. I'm glad the old one was reused and not scrapped if thats the case. Early recycling!

Hi,

i read somewhere it was resued to make the new funnel with, it you look closely at the new funnel, you can see the forward part of the red part is the same shape as the old white parts, with a new section added at the rear, i believe the windscoop was also resued, just widened in the middle.

Also, if you look at the new funnel closely, you can see some slight distortion of the aluminium which I read dates back to a steam days fire which scored the funnel, this would back up the idea of the original being reused.

Am at work at the mo, so don't have references for this to hand, if no one else provides before hand, will look it up when I can from home.

Regards Andy

[Rob Lightbody]

Its definitely her original funnel, adapted to its new shape.

[Bob C.]

Rob,
    Can you expound?  The photo on your website of the 80's refurb that shows the old funnel sitting off to the side, you are saying that pieces/parts of that was used in the fabrication of the new funnel? I believe you but would like to get more details if you don't mind.

Thanks,
Bob

[Andy F]

Certainly parts of her old funnel were incorporated into the replacement, hence the 'wrinkles', which was the result of an earlier fire affecting the original funnel.

[Rob Lightbody]

I was there in 1987, just after they'd re-fitted the funnel!

Ron Warwick's Book:-

During re-engining in 1986, the funnel was removed and modified to accomodate part of the new propulsion equipment.  The exterior shape is slightly wider than the original design

[KEV]

Out of interest I would like to see any comparison view photos/drawings/measurements of both original and modified versions including wind scoops if poss particularly from direct rear/front angles and side at funnel base deck level if possible if anyone can help please. Am also interested in what equipment necessitated the extra width and the fabrication evidence of how much of the original survived (any workers from the German refit here!) Also interested in more details of the date/cause/damage of the funnel fire. Am I funnel obsessive?-probably becoming so!

[Chris]

Kev,

Funnel fire occurred in 1976 - you can see an image of it on pp. 40 of David Hutchings wonderful book QE2: A Ship for All Seasons.

The new fatter funnel was largely due to the need to ventilate 9 diesel engines via 9 very large diesel exhaust pipes that ran up from the engine room and out of the new funnel. You can see these pipes in the below image that shows them before the funnel was added:



At any rate, it's addition is largely agreed to have vastly improved QE2's profile - it remains one of the most spectacular maritime features ever created. Everyone knew QE2's funnel.

Cheers.

[KEV]

Thanks Chris- That's great thankyou. I particularly like the shot of the new with the riggers-did you take it? Certainly gives the scale.I'm still intrigued as to what actual bits of the old metal survive into the new. Is it just the widened windscoop and some parts of the red/black? Andy's (ancoaster 78) answer below is very helpful in this regard aswell  and proof of what actual panels survived and were reused would be great (sorry I'm really rivet counting now and never went that way before !! It does look like to me that much is new rolled fabrication. Any ideas welcome. Perhaps some German shipyard worker somewhere has his fence propped up with a bit of the old funnel and we can do a deal with him to bring it back to the UK for display and homage whilst we wait for the whole ship! 

[Waverley]

Photo from the David Hutchings book

[KEV]

Great thanks Robert- quite a scorch!

[Waverley]

More about the original funnel design

http://vads.ahds.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=244&year=1969&article=d.244.37