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Post by Low Light Mike on May 24, 2011 21:55:09 GMT -8
Here's a thread for your postings and thoughts on the 100 years celebrations and remembrances for RMS Titanic.
May 31, 2011 is 100 years since her launch on May 31st of 1911. - in Belfast.
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Mill Bay
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Long Suffering Bosun
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Post by Mill Bay on Jun 9, 2011 16:22:44 GMT -8
Thought this might be an interesting correlation: this is the first news item I have come across. Belfast cheers, toots its horns for 100th anniversary of its most famous product - the Titanic By Shawn Pogatchnik, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – Tue, 31 May, 2011 DUBLIN - A century ago, the people of Belfast celebrated one of their proudest days — the launching of the supposedly unsinkable Titanic. The Northern Ireland capital commemorated that bittersweet anniversary Tuesday with cheers from schoolchildren in Edwardian period costumes, the tooting of foghorns, and a hymn-singing dockside choir. The doomed Titanic was launched into Belfast Lough on May 31, 1911. Ten months later, more than 1,500 of its 2,200 passengers and crew drowned or froze to death awaiting rescue after it struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage to New York City. For decades Belfast didn't publicize its status as the birthplace of the world's most infamous maritime disaster. But ever since James Cameron's film "Titanic" became a worldwide blockbuster in 1997, Belfast has been working to build a new community and tourism hub on its once-derelict docklands, now christened Titanic Quarter and one of the biggest construction sites in Europe. "As soon as you say 'Titanic,' most people think of the sinking," said the Rev. Chris Bennett, a Protestant minister who officiated at Tuesday's ceremony. "But here in Belfast we're trying to recapture that idea that the Titanic is something to be proud of. This fabulous, biggest man-made moving object in the world was built right here," said Bennett, whose Church of Ireland parish holds open-air services each Sunday on the docks and is raising funds for a boat to serve as its full-time church. At 12:13 p.m., the Belfast crowd was told to clap, shout and cheer for exactly 62 seconds. That's the amount of time it took the Titanic's 882-foot (269-meter) hull to slide from its slipway into the water for the first time. Boats in the harbour blew their horns as a single flare was fired into the sky. While Tuesday's ceremony recalled the launch of the Titanic, only the ship's hull and its 3 million rivets — suspected now of metallurgical weaknesses that contributed to its sinking — were put to the test that day. It took another 10 months for Harland & Wolff workers at a nearby dock to fit the ship's four smokestacks, decks, rooms and myriad luxury touches. Behind Tuesday's celebrations is a determined decade-long push to transform the former shipyards from an industrial wasteland into Belfast's sharpest new residential and tourist district, a 1 billion-pound ($1.65 billion) project. A new Titanic Quarter visitors centre expected to open before next year's 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking will focus on the liner's 1909-12 construction. Belfast City Council hopes it will attract 400,000 tourists annually to Belfast, a city of just 700,000. The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum east of Belfast also launched a major exhibit Tuesday of artifacts from the Titanic's construction and wreck. ___ Online: Titanic Quarter developments, www.titanic-quarter.com/Dock Church project in Titanic Quarter, thedockchurch.org/Ulster Folk & Transport Museum's Titanic exhibit, bit.ly/kiKW4e
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Neil
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Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Jan 5, 2012 13:56:07 GMT -8
One hundred years after the sinking, and we're still sorting through the information. A new perspective on how much time elapsed before Titanic changed direction after sighting the iceberg. From the Vancouver Sun, December 5th. Missing 30 seconds could have saved Titanic
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Post by Freeland on Mar 14, 2012 19:52:17 GMT -8
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Post by Freeland on Mar 31, 2012 18:33:36 GMT -8
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 31, 2012 20:01:01 GMT -8
Titanic remastered in 3D opens in Theaters Wednesday! This should be interesting!
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Neil
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Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Apr 3, 2012 16:57:48 GMT -8
Titanic remastered in 3D opens in Theaters Wednesday! This should be interesting! I'm going to the first showing at the cinema near us tomorrow. Once in a while you see a big budget movie that really shows what cinema can do, in the right hands, and with a lot of money. I've always thought Titanic was such a film, and I'm really looking forward to the 3D version. National Geographic has a very worthwhile feature on Titanic in their current edition. The current four part series running on TV is rather odd, and not really successful. It tells the story from the standpoint of different passengers, and in one hour (45 minutes without the commercials) you don't get enough insight into the characters for it to be compelling. Some scenes are repeated, and of course, every week the ship hits the iceberg. The CGI is passable, just. Maybe the idea looked better on paper. I'll be posting somewhat blurry shots of the front page of the New York Times, from their first story in the April 16th 1912 edition, through the following three days.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 4, 2012 9:11:12 GMT -8
Titanic remastered in 3D opens in Theaters Wednesday! This should be interesting! I'm going to the first showing at the cinema near us tomorrow. Once in a while you see a big budget movie that really shows what cinema can do, in the right hands, and with a lot of money. I've always thought Titanic was such a film, and I'm really looking forward to the 3D version. National Geographic has a very worthwhile feature on Titanic in their current edition. The current four part series running on TV is rather odd, and not really successful. It tells the story from the standpoint of different passengers, and in one hour (45 minutes without the commercials) you don't get enough insight into the characters for it to be compelling. Some scenes are repeated, and of course, every week the ship hits the iceberg. The CGI is passable, just. Maybe the idea looked better on paper. I'll be posting somewhat blurry shots of the front page of the New York Times, from their first story in the April 16th 1912 edition, through the following three days. I had thought that the Titanic Mini-Series would tie in with Downton Abbey, and key in the missing/drowned heir and either solve or complicate that story line. Despite two actors repeating but not in the same roles, the story is not at all connected. Having watched two episodes I am not at all sure if I will watch the remaining two. I did watch on PBS the story of the Electricians and Engineers who worked furiously to maintain power so the lifeboats could be dispatched and help save as many people as possible. It was more thorough and educational and less sensationalized. Without their work and "going down with the ship", the disaster would have been even worse. I am kind of Titanic'd out as far as TV/Movies. How many people and how many times can you watch people drown? I am still very interested in the factual and historic side just not the drama.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Apr 4, 2012 9:38:34 GMT -8
I had thought that the Titanic Mini-Series would tie in with Downton Abbey, and key in the missing/drowned heir and either solve or complicate that story line. Despite two actors repeating but not in the same roles, the story is not at all connected. Having watched two episodes I am not at all sure if I will watch the remaining two. I did watch on PBS the story of the Electricians and Engineers who worked furiously to maintain power so the lifeboats could be dispatched and help save as many people as possible. It was more thorough and educational and less sensationalized. Without their work and "going down with the ship", the disaster would have been even worse. I am kind of Titanic'd out as far as TV/Movies. How many people and how many times can you watch people drown? I am still very interested in the factual and historic side just not the drama. Good question. Some things just continue to resonate with some people more. For whatever reason, I've always been fascinated by all aspects of the Titanic, and while I don't take any ghoulish voyeuristic pleasure in watching re-enactments of the sinking, it still has an effect. Likewise, there is still a feeling of shock and horror every time I see those planes hitting the WTC towers, even after all this time. Julian Fellowes created Downton Abbey, and since I'm an unrepentant Downton addict, I had to give his Titanic effort a look. I'm with you... I don't think I'll be watching the last two. The story telling model just doesn't work for me.
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Nick
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Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
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Post by Nick on Apr 4, 2012 12:45:26 GMT -8
Some things just continue to resonate with some people more. For whatever reason, I've always been fascinated by all aspects of the Titanic, and while I don't take any ghoulish voyeuristic pleasure in watching re-enactments of the sinking, it still has an effect. Likewise, there is still a feeling of shock and horror every time I see those planes hitting the WTC towers, even after all this time. I know a large part of my fascination with the Titanic story comes from the sheer human arrogance on the entire project. The design flaws and engineering blunders that have been identified have illustrated that despite mankind's best efforts, nature cannot be tamed. The 'Unsinkable' claims, the lack of lifeboats, incomplete bulkheads, questionable steel quality, and questionable workmanship are all indicators of the arrogant way of thinking that was pretty prevalent at the turn of the 20th century. I like learning about the Titanic because it was such a wake up call for the shipping industry. The first SOLAS convention in 1914 was a direct result of the sinking. Titanic marked a change in thinking from "it's not going to sink" to "what's going to happen when it sinks".
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mrdot
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Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Apr 4, 2012 13:07:29 GMT -8
:)Daulton abby and the old upstairs - downstairs series tried to weave the titanic story into their drama, and they were both great tv drama, but the titanic mini-series in garbage in comparison to both those great masterpieces! mr Cameron's detail work is very realistic, but his storyline is hoaky! ::)mrdot.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Apr 4, 2012 16:59:36 GMT -8
:)Daulton abby and the old upstairs - downstairs series tried to weave the titanic story into their drama, and they were both great tv drama, but the titanic mini-series in garbage in comparison to both those great masterpieces! mr Cameron's detail work is very realistic, but his storyline is hoaky! ::)mrdot. I have to disagree on your last point; I thought the main romantic story in Titanic was very effective. Di Caprio and Winslet were great, Billy Zane was a wonderful villain, and Cameron's writers wove the story so well into the plight of the ship that I still found it compelling today. The 3D effects are uneven- they don't work in every scene- but the climax of the film, portraying the ship's final minutes, is more visually arresting than ever, and the plight of the passengers more awful to contemplate. Gloria Stuart's role as 101 year old Rose was also a stroke of cinematic genius that tied two very separate eras together. All told, I still think Titanic is one of cinema's greatest achievements. Nick is right; the legacy of the actual ship is largely a story of the hubris of the shipbuilders, and a tale of opulence over sound construction and design. The scene in the movie where designer Thomas Andrews is found staring blankly in the first class smoking room as the boat went down is apparently accurate; he knew he had the deaths of fifteen hundred people on his conscience, although the movie suggests he had at least advocated for many more lifeboats.
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Nick
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Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Apr 4, 2012 17:42:35 GMT -8
Nick is right; the legacy of the actual ship is largely a story of the hubris of the shipbuilders, and a tale of opulence over sound construction and design. The scene in the movie where designer Thomas Andrews is found staring blankly in the first class smoking room as the boat went down is apparently accurate; he knew he had the deaths of fifteen hundred people on his conscience, although the movie suggests he had at least advocated for many more lifeboats. The folklore on the lifeboat subject suggests that the shipyard actually had enough lifeboats for everybody, but they would have been stored 2 deep on the boat deck and cut into the deck space. J. Bruce Ismay, of the White Star Line, wanted the passengers to enjoy more open deck walking space, so demanded that the extra row of boats be cut from the design. Since the regulations at the time were quite lax, this was completely legal. This is simply one of the legends I have heard on the subject... I have no idea how much basis it has on fact.
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Post by lmtengs on Apr 4, 2012 18:05:27 GMT -8
This is simply one of the legends I have heard on the subject... I have no idea how much basis it has on fact. I believe this is true, it was noted at the RBC Museum's Titanic gallery a few years ago.
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Mirrlees
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Bathtub!
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Post by Mirrlees on Apr 4, 2012 21:03:23 GMT -8
Right after the disaster White Star installed extra lifeboats aboard her sister Olympic. Meanwhile, in 1913 when Britannic came along she had gantry davits that held 3 lifeboats each.
A side note, Olympic had a 24 year career. She was scrapped in 1934.
Titanic sank in 1912.
Britannic hit a mine in WWI and sank in 1916.
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Post by EGfleet on Apr 5, 2012 4:43:36 GMT -8
:)Daulton abby and the old upstairs - downstairs series tried to weave the titanic story into their drama, and they were both great tv drama, but the titanic mini-series in garbage in comparison to both those great masterpieces! mr Cameron's detail work is very realistic, but his storyline is hoaky! ::)mrdot. I little hackneyed, perhaps...but you have to figure, he had to have a hook that appealed to a broad spectrum of viewers to get in the theaters in '97 since everyone already knew how the movie was going to end. I remember the stories leading up to its first release predicting it was going to be a huge bomb and the most costly mistake made in film history, particularly after Cameron bumped the release from summer to December. As for the lifeboat legend listed later in the thread--that one is true. The original plans called for I think it was 48 boats--enough for everyone. I can't remember if it was Ismay's call to reduce it to the Board of Trade's minimum (I'll have to check one of my Titanic books) but a clear promenade deck was the reason for reducing the boats. They still could point to the fact that they were still above the BOT standards, as the collapsible boats brought them above the minimum requirement. This fact gets trotted out every so often with WSF--as only two of the boats have enough life rafts for a full passenger cabin--the Chelan and Elwha which have to for SOLAS regs. The Coast Guard has been after WSF for decades to have to have enough life rafts on board for full capacity on every boat, and to date WSF has been able to avoid it. The thought is that none of the boats are either far enough away from land/another ferry to justify the cost of having the boats fitted out with rafts for all.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 5, 2012 6:58:25 GMT -8
I had thought that the Titanic Mini-Series would tie in with Downton Abbey, and key in the missing/drowned heir and either solve or complicate that story line. Despite two actors repeating but not in the same roles, the story is not at all connected. Having watched two episodes I am not at all sure if I will watch the remaining two. I did watch on PBS the story of the Electricians and Engineers who worked furiously to maintain power so the lifeboats could be dispatched and help save as many people as possible. It was more thorough and educational and less sensationalized. Without their work and "going down with the ship", the disaster would have been even worse. I am kind of Titanic'd out as far as TV/Movies. How many people and how many times can you watch people drown? I am still very interested in the factual and historic side just not the drama. Good question. Some things just continue to resonate with some people more. For whatever reason, I've always been fascinated by all aspects of the Titanic, and while I don't take any ghoulish voyeuristic pleasure in watching re-enactments of the sinking, it still has an effect. Likewise, there is still a feeling of shock and horror every time I see those planes hitting the WTC towers, even after all this time. Julian Fellowes created Downton Abbey, and since I'm an unrepentant Downton addict, I had to give his Titanic effort a look. I'm with you... I don't think I'll be watching the last two. The story telling model just doesn't work for me. My parents visited the Titanic dry dock in Belfast but didn't get into the museum. I think that would be a fascinating visit. It isn't just the Titanic for me, I loved touring the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I suppose it is most historic ships and ship museums. But also if there are Navy or Coast Guard vessels that are decommissioned or doing port calls I always try and do a visit. On my bucket list, is to tour one of the Iowa class of Battleships. I never tire of getting on an aircraft carrier as the size and scale is just mind boggling. I don't know if it is still done but there used to be Easter Sunrise services held at Navy bases on ships in port. At Norfolk it was held on a an aircraft carrier in refit or replenishment. That was always a cool way to celebrate the day. I would also find visiting touring a newer cargo vessel interesting but I don't feel the same level of draw. They have contests every year that has the transit of the Welland Canal as a prize and going through the locks would be really cool.
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,947
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Post by FNS on Apr 5, 2012 10:41:02 GMT -8
This fact gets trotted out every so often with WSF--as only two of the boats have enough life rafts for a full passenger cabin--the Chelan and Elwha which have to for SOLAS regs. The Coast Guard has been after WSF for decades to have to have enough life rafts on board for full capacity on every boat, and to date WSF has been able to avoid it. The thought is that none of the boats are either far enough away from land/another ferry to justify the cost of having the boats fitted out with rafts for all. Add the KDT ferries to this list. According to this blog, they have four 192-passenger life rafts each (192 X 4 = 768 people that could be saved). The CHETZEMOKA II, SALISH, and KENNEWICK can carry 750 passengers each. wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/crews-slide-to-safety-during-chetzemoka.htmlThe operators of the TITANIC should have shown prudence and have enough lifeboats to save all of her passengers.
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Post by Name Omitted on Apr 13, 2012 19:46:00 GMT -8
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Post by Cascadian Transport on Apr 14, 2012 16:14:12 GMT -8
Well, one year, mm hmm, century, since the Titanic went down. (And 97 years on November 21 since the wreck of her infamous sister, Britannic.(It was not nearly as bad as Titanic, guys. Relax. Only 30 deaths.)) Anyway, it was 100 years ago TODAY. (Well, she technically began her final plunge on April 15, but she hit the ice on April 14. The disaster was unfolding at midnight.) Anyway, one century ago TODAY AND TOMORROW, Titanic sank. And I refuse to let a similar accident occur on a WSF. Why am I rambling?
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Post by Mike on Apr 14, 2012 17:47:20 GMT -8
And I refuse to let a similar accident occur on a WSF. Well, No need to worry. I don't think WSF will be offering trans-Atlantic car ferry service anytime soon. ;D
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Apr 14, 2012 18:09:36 GMT -8
Taking into account the sequence of events, Greenwich Mean Time, and the fact that Daylight Savings Time did not exist in 1912... The iceberg was sighted almost exactly at 7:30 this evening, our time, one hundred years ago. Titanic hit at about 7:40. By 10:18 tonight, she slipped beneath the waves. Less than three hours from first warning to the disappearance of the grandest ship that had ever been constructed, at that time. Showing that Titanic is still a current news story even today, disquieting speculation on the possibility that bodies may still exist within the ship that has become a treasure hunt for some parties. www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1161823--titanic-experts-divided-on-possibility-of-human-remains-at-site?bn=1
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Post by Freeland on Apr 15, 2012 12:11:45 GMT -8
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Post by Freeland on Apr 15, 2012 12:16:45 GMT -8
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Post by Freeland on Apr 15, 2012 18:54:45 GMT -8
I was curious what H.W McCurrudy Marine History of the Pacific NW would say about the Titanic. Only one little statement for April 1912. It came up when the SS Alameda crash into Coleman Doc on April 25, 1912. It said the sinking of the Titanic was on everyone's minds. Here is History Link's web page on the subject. www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=766
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