QE2's (Steering) Wheel

[Twynkle]

With this and another picture of Thomas on the bridge, I am almost positive that that is not the original, as built wheel! Antone any ideas? I think the original was wood with spokes.

Yes Rod - You memory serves you well!!

https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-3844802-qe2-1982-world-cruise-bridge-close-wheel
Thanks to
Doug Jones

And on Beyondships.com
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b&biw=1391&bih=907&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=AcVNXMCgN-PzxgOapKDICw&q=QE2+wheel+on+Bridge+%3F&oq=QE2+wheel+on+Bridge+%3F&gs_l=img.3...33245.34185..34537...0.0..0.0.0.......1....1..gws-wiz-img.1JZquXNdoeI#imgrc=--tVoKUftoe80M:

[cunardqueen]

In April 1987 it looked like this.
(With Peter Radmore looking else where.)

[Thomas Hypher]

With this and another picture of Thomas on the bridge, I am almost positive that that is not the original, as built wheel! Antone any ideas? I think the original was wood with spokes.

The wheel in my photos was fitted sometime in the early 2000s from what I can deduce and it is a plastic "toy car" type wheel with a hollow inside. The helm position changed drastically over the years in terms of technology additions, updates and appearance, there even being one small addition between my bridge visits (between 2005 and 2008) that I can see by comparing photos, as Cunard kept QE2's bridge up-to-date often ahead of the regulations and requirements from what I've heard. The plastic "toy car" type wheel is still in place in Dubai today along with the rest of the bridge being largely as it was in the end in 2008 down to the chart from the final approach to Dubai still being on the desk space behind the helm. It is interesting to note that Dubai have used a wheel like QE2's original wheel (mini ship's wheel type with spokes) as part of their recreation of her bridge in the "Lobby" alongside their recreation of the original form of the Queen's Room.

[Chris Thompson]

Always felt that there should be a proper wooden ships wheel in place, went on the bridge of a newer cruise ship and could only find what looked like a video game controller!!
Many years ago I visited a Nimitz class Carrier, on the bridge there was a beautiful ships wheel, I asked if she had come from the shipyard like that. The answer was no, origionally there was a cheap car steering wheel fitted, her first commander took one look and sent a lieutenant scurrying off to the nearest ships chandler for a 'proper' wheel......

[cunardqueen]

and there was the time when there was no wheel and a screwdriver was used to steer QE2..

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

and there was the time when there was no wheel and a screwdriver was used to steer QE2..

Tell us more ...

[Willum]

another view with Sarah pretending to be nautical. The wheel had a rope knot around the midships spoke - probably the work of Cox'n John O'Keefe - not sure how accurate the amidships bit was though.

[cunardqueen]

  Tell us more ...   

Its all mentioned on Fast Boat to China..and thats from many years ago. If memory serves me its when they enter into Hong Kong.

[Willum]

On the subject of steering, I was called to the bridge because the autopilot had failed and they could only steer on manual. Turned out to be a loose 3mm nut on the rudder position feedback potentiometer. It vibrates in the steering gear room. Good job it happened in open water, but reminds you of how much hangs on the failure of any of  many tiny components.