RMS Queen Mary

The operator of the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA, has got into financial difficulties......
https://www.frommers.com/blogs/pass...mary-is-in-dire-straits-as-operator-collapses

 

They need to bring this back to where it should be it should never have got sent there

 

Where should it be ?
If the yanks hadn't bought it when withdrawn from service it would have gone straight to the breaker's yard.

Bob.

 

Mid Hants will make room for it! Everything else seems to be going there.

 

I'd like to see that sail up the Wey to Alton

 

It's a lovely idea in some ways, with major 'raise the Titanic' vibes, but I think you need to look at a) the condition it's in, and b) where it is… I suspect it's more likely to return here piecemeal, in the form of tin cans and razor blades, than as a whole ship sadly. It'll likely eventually be cut up on site.

Simon

 

I must admit it’s a shame to potentially see a wonderful piece of engineering go to the wall, but when you think how much it is to keep a hundred odd tonnes of steam locomotive even in some sort of controlled storage, the figures mentioned to look after something that size are rather mind boggling. Not the sort of thing you can raise funds with a second hand book stall somewhere.

 

There is still this one sitting around in Philadelphia as well.......

 

By coincidence I was due to fly out to LAX and spend a week on the Mary in early April (postponed from April last year). I've been three times before but wanted a last hurrah with a full frame DSLR. Sadly not happening now...BUT, she has been in this quandary before and I remain optimistic something will turn up to rescue her post-covid. Towing her back to the UK would be a huge mistake (even if it were possible). Internally, she lost a lot of her sea-going strength when they ripped her guts out to make an exhibition space that never materialised. The UK climate would not be kind to her old bones and I'm convinced we only have her today because she sits in Californian sunshine.

 

If you think railway preservation is expensive just try marine preservation, you can basically add one or two zeros on the end of your value for locos. Then if you are really brave try aviation preservation, that’s another set of noughts as well.
Sadly she won’t be going anywhere under her own steam.

 

Not unless you replace ALL of her boilers, three of the four turbines and prop shafts/propellers, all of which were removed for her conversion to what is basically a building. She's beautiful to look at externally and the majority of her former passenger spaces are a joy to behold. Her machinery spaces however are mostly empty and vandalised. That said...she functions well as an hotel and eatery and I've always enjoyed my visits to this special 'Clyde Built' icon.

 

And remove all wood and other materials which would fail USCG tests, update escape routes , lifesaving equipment etc.
Cheaper to build a replica.

Bob.

 

Does Aviation Preservation actually exist?
When some of the more recent planes to be reborn seem to be rebuilt around an obscure piece of an original plane with all the rest of the plane being remanufactured from new material.

 

Indeed, that is where the eye watering sums come from.

 

The ship itself is owned by the City of Long Beach, so they are the ones who will end up with the "problem" at the end of the day, rather than the operating Company which has filed for bankruptcy.
There are various comments on some US websites stating that the operator has not been keeping up with maintenance on the vessel, despite being granted substantial sums (millions...) to fund that work by the City.

 

Oh dear....
https://www.foxla.com/news/historic-queen-mary-in-danger-of-capsizing-new-report-reveals

 

This 'in danger of capsizing' angle crops up ever 2-3 years or so. Having said that, I am genuinely worried for the future of this iconic vessel as none of the past 'operators' have ever been able to make her pay. I've been out to Long Beach to visit (and stay on board) three times since 1997 and whilst I enjoy the trips, as an hotel, she does not meet the needs of the 'post -boomer' generations in terms of what they require. Great for my age-group as a slice of maritime history, but day trippers or those just attending a 'theatrical' event on board are not going to keep her alive in the 2020's. I had booked to go for one final look in 2020 but covid delayed that until this year...which has also now gone by the board. It pains me to say it, but I doubt I'll be able to experience her again

Before anyone starts ranting 'bring her home' or 'we should never have sold her to Long Beach in the first place.' Long Beach saved her from being scrapped and the Southern California climate has kept her alive for far longer than we had a right to expect. It would be a pity if she can't make her 100th birthday; 2034 for launching/2036 for maiden voyage.

 

The City of Long Beach have taken back control.....
https://laist.com/news/city-of-long-beach-takes-control-of-the-beleaguered-queen-mary

 

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-07-20/long-beach-considers-options-for-queen-mary

 

It does look like the City of Long Beach are considering all possibilities and not rushing into the cheapest option. Also it was a well written article compared to some of our UK newspapers.

Cheers, Neil