QE2 and all her names...

[Twynkle]

QE2 was called Q4 for a time, and Q3 as well

I wonder, does anyone know how this came about?

[Andy F]

Understand the confusion Rosie but it's not quite as it seems.  Originally the plan was to build 2 new liners, which were referred to as Q3 and Q4.  The former was supposed to be the larger of the 2 at some 75,000 tons and expected to be completed in the mid 1960s but due to spiralling costs the project was scaled back and Q3 was cancelled, leaving Q4, which went on to become QE2. 

[Chris]

Indeed Andy - and then after the building contract was signed with John Brown & Co. in Scotland; she became Number 736.

[Scott Ebersold]

Andy,

Do you know, were there any real drawn-out plans for the Q3?  There's that painting in the book "QE2: Forty Years Famous" but I'm a bit suspect about that (It has a version of QE2's funnel and I thought that was developed over a great deal specific testing for QE2).

-Scott

[Malcolm]

Originally the plan was to build 2 new liners, which were referred to as Q3 and Q4

I thought the plan was to build one new ship - the Q3 - and the Q4 only came about when it was realised that Q3 would not be suitable.

[Bob C.]

Do you know, were there any real drawn-out plans for the Q3?  There's that painting in the book "QE2: Forty Years Famous" but I'm a bit suspect about that...

"QE2: Queen Elizabeth 2, The Authorised Story" by Neil Potter and Jack Frost has a good account of this phase of planning and I believe it also contains a photo of a model Q3.  It's been a long, long time since I've seen the book (my father owns it and it's been a decade or two in storage)  but I seem to remember it being a one-stacker and having a fore-mast similar to SS France and SS United States that incorporated a small enclosed area aloft (crows nest) for lookouts.  I remember the caption stating words to the effect of "Q3, disaster so closely averted".

I need to get my father's or another copy soon!

[Malcolm]

"QE2: Queen Elizabeth 2, The Authorised Story" by Neil Potter and Jack Frost has a good account of this phase of planning and I believe it also contains a photo of a model Q3.

It does I can't see any "crows nest" but the picture is too small to tell for sure. Other than that it looks very like, but not the same as, QE2. I will quite happily scan and post the image here but I'm not sure how Rob feels about the copyright issue - I don't think there'd be a problem as I'd only be using an exert but don't want to cause any trouble for the site. If anyone wants a copy of the picture drop me an email or PM.

I remember the caption stating words to the effect of "Q3, disaster so closely averted".

Not quite. The caption is "The disaster so nearly averted: model of Q3"

I need to get my father's or another copy soon!

That book comes up quite regularly on eBay.

[Bob C.]

I remember the caption stating words to the effect of "Q3, disaster so closely averted".

Not quite. The caption is "The disaster so nearly averted: model of Q3"

Well, thats not bad for not seeing it in over 20 years 
Can you send a scanned copy to my email?

[Malcolm]

Can you send a scanned copy to my email?

No problem Bob - you'll need to give me your email address though Mine is mrkpnh (at) dsl (dot) pipex (dot) com

[Rob Lightbody]

If you post/upload the potentially copyrighted image elsewhere, e.g. photobucket or flickr or something, it then becomes your problem! 

Then you can post a link to it here.

 

[Twynkle]

Until recently, it was well worth looking forward to the google alerts arriving -
often there were references to QE2 - QE2 as we know her.

Lately, alerts mentioning QE2, as well as referring to the Dartford crossing, and the conference centre,  these also refer to chess moves, badges for sale (ebay), health-centres, the highway in Canada, parks, stadiums, and more venues besides -  all around the globe.

As long as QE2 keeps her good name - hopefully she will never, ever lose her identity.


(PS - I wonder -  does anyone remember ever hearing HRH Queen Elizabeth ll being referred to as QE2?
I would have thought not - and I could well be mistaken!)

[Twynkle]

In her early days, QE2 was referred to as 'Betsy' by some of her Builders / Crew
in, "Queen Elizabeth 2" : The Authorised Story
by Neil Potter and Jack Frost

Mauritania1907 also refers to the book in the QE2 and Books topic.
Post No.17
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,74.0.html

[Mauretania1907]

Yes, she was known as Betsy or Betsy 2 by the crew, but I think the QE2 name took over. I thik it's true she was named for the first Q Elizabeth (ship) but the Q Mary was named for Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, so I think the Queen may have wanted a ship for herself. I believe the ship was to be called QElizabeth without the 2, and whether the Queen deliberately added the 2 or it was a slip of the tongue, so to speak, the ship was christened thus. She got the 2 , not II, because the Tudor Queen Elizabeth was never Queen of Scotland. And also because she was intended to be named for the first ship Elizabeth. I hope this is clear, anyone is welcome to correct or comment

[Andy F]

She was also disparagingly referred to as the Black Pig in some circles, although I can't remember now how this came about.

[Twynkle]

If I remember correctly, wasn't QE2 referred to as the Black Pig because she was tricky to steer?
Wonder whether requirements for a Master's ticket could include something about a Black Pig test!