Social History – Virginia Leith (starred in 20th Century Fox’s KISS BEFORE DYING) appears in a 1950′s publicity film from the Santa Fe RailRoad about “the Super Chief” passenger train which ran between Chicago and California.
Cruising The Past welcomes you aboard the legendary Santa Fe Super Chief – the train of the stars. Extra Fare – All Pullman Streamliner.
“The Cunarder” boat train departs the Southampton Ocean Terminal bound for London Waterloo with passengers from the RMS Queen Elizabeth. The boat train is hauled by SR Bulleid “Battle of Britain” class steam locomotive No 34088 213 Squadron.
BOAT TRAINS TO SOUTHAMPTON – From Cunard Lines to the RMS Titanic and the SS United States.
Colonel John J. Astor IV waiting to board the First-Class boat-train at Waterloo Station for the ill-fated RMS TITANIC.
Social History looks at the boat train.
TITANIC MOVIE – FROM 1929 – PART TWO – Great short movie of the RMS TITANIC.
For more information on the RMS TITANIC – Click Here.
On April 14,1912 a great ship called the Titanic sank on its
maiden voyage. That night there were many warnings of icebergs from
other ships. There seems to be a conflict on whether or not the
warnings reached the bridge. We may never know the answer to this
question.
SS L’Atlantique of the Cie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique was an unique example for the next ocean liners of the 1930s, not only in Interior design, modernity, and wonderful Art Deco areas, but also a bad example regarding the risk of “fire”. Only 16 months she crossed the seas, when her lacquered interiors, wooden panels, were the victims of a fire on January 3rd 1933.
Youtube video – L’ATLANTIQUE 1931-1933 Part I, before the fire. Take a tour , on the beautiful liner before the accident. Photos source: l’Illustration 1930, 1931 – Miroir du Monde 1933.
Youtube video – L’ATLANTIQUE PART II , the doomed liner
On this January 3rd, 1933 only a part of the crew was aboard, 229 souls, the ocean liner was on the route to Le Havre, for some refits and transformations….but early in the morning at 6h 45…..a fire broke out.
Fitted out with the most expensive wooden lacquered panels, the Atlantique was on of the most modern designed liner of its period.
The beautiful shopping gallery, the use of wood and the important spaces gave the fire the best conditions to destruct this unique Art Deco Liner. 18 victims were the result of this accident and new rules for fire protection for Ocean Liners.
The Steamship Liner S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam was a Dutch ocean liner built in Rotterdam for the Holland America Line.
This Nieuw Amsterdam, the second of three Holland America ships with that name, is considered by many to have been Holland America’s finest ship.
To this day SS Nieuw Amsterdam is still regarded as one of the most beautiful ships to be built. With her stunning silhouette she was a well balanced ship. Her elegant lines were highlighted with her black hull, as well as her two perfectly proportioned funnels and two tall masts. At the time, she was also the largest Dutch ship to be built.
Originally she was to be named Prinsendam, however during construction, Holland America Line (HAL) decided to name their new flagship Nieuw Amsterdam, in honor the settlement of the Dutch in Nieuw Amsterdam, today’s City of New York. Nieuw Amsterdam was also given the honor of being the Dutch “Ship of State.” Unlike other ships of her time being built (especially British and American ships) her design did not include any military ingredient, despite the threateningpolitical situation of the day. SS Nieuw Amsterdam was launched by HRH Queen Wilhelmina on April 10, 1937 and was completed on March 21, 1938.
TITANIC MOVIE – FROM 1929 – PART ONE – Great short movie of the RMS TITANIC.
For more information on the RMS TITANIC – Click Here.
On April 14,1912 a great ship called the Titanic sank on its
maiden voyage. That night there were many warnings of icebergs from
other ships. There seems to be a conflict on whether or not the
warnings reached the bridge. We may never know the answer to this
question.
1950s ALASKA CRUISE – Retro August 1954 look at the final days of the Alaska Steamship Company with a history of the famous organization that provided passenger service to the far north.
A fond farewell. The SS Denali ends the era of passenger service for the Alaska Steamship Company as she makes her final departure and sails away for the last time from Pier 42, Seattle at 3 p.m., September 24, 1954.
Sailing day meant excitement for the Alaska Steamship Company liners. Here is the SS Alaska sailing from Seattle in 1952.
ALASKA CRUISE YOUTUBE RETRO VIDEO – AUGUST 1954 – $9.00 PER DAY.
This is a wonderful historical video of a 1954 sailing aboard the SS ALASKA on a cruise to Alaska and the Inside Passage. A retro 50s look at a style of cruising and travel now vanished. Views of the ship leaving the Port of Seattle, with streamers, confetti and visitors waving goodbye – something rarely seen today. See the ship sail up the inside passage… with passengers dancing, dining, playing shuffleboard and man nostalgic scenes of an Alaska steamship far different from the massive ships sailing the Inland Passage today. The Alaska Steamship Company operated passenger service from Seattle to all ports in Alaska from 1895 until 1954. During the summer weekly sailings visited the Inside Passage. The line challenged all kinds of winter conditions and operated year round offering regular sailings as far north as Nome. These are family films and footage taken during the 1920s through the 1950s.
Cruise Liner and Steamship History – Alaska Steamship Company, Seattle, 1895-1971
History of the Alaska Steamship Company – Cruising The Past
Regular monthly boat service from U.S. ports to Alaska began in 1867 following the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Occupation troops were dispatched and cargo and mail soon followed. By 1875 several ship lines were making the voyage up the Panhandle in spite of often inhospitable waters and a treacherous coastline. The first tourists began booking passage as reports of unparalleled scenery were increasingly publicized.
On August 3, 1894, Charles Peabody, Capt. George Roberts, Capt. Melville Nichols, George Lent, Frank E. Burns and Walter Oakes formed the Alaska Steamship Company which would eventually enjoy a near monopoly of freight and passenger service to Alaska.. This group of six men began gathering $30,000 by selling 300 shares of stock, at $100 each. Charles Peabody was named president of the company.
SS UNITED STATES TO BE SCRAPPED.
The SS United States Conservancy says the SS United States, may soon be scrapped. It says the ship’s current owners, Genting Hong Kong through its subsidiary, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), are currently collecting bids from scrappers.
The SS United States was listed for sale in February, 2009. While NCL offered the Conservancy first right of refusal on the vessel’s sale, the Conservancy says it has not been in a financial position to purchase the ship outright. However, the Conservancy has been working diligently to lay the groundwork for a public-private partnership to save and sustain the transatlantic liner for generations to come.
It’s the Captain’s Dinner Night. And it is the one night that Judy Garland left her stateroom. Pictured: Sid Luff and his wife Judy Garland with a friend John Carlyle at right. 1956 1st Class Dining Room – SS UNITED STATES
The Conservancy understands that Genting and NCL are reluctant to continue covering the significant costs associated with maintaining the vessel in its current berth in Philadelphia. It adds that it appreciates the good care the vessel has received since its purchase in 2003 with the stated intention of returning the ship to seagoing service.
The Conservancy has begun discussions with NCL with the intent of covering some of the fees associated with maintaining the ship in Philadelphia so it can finalize plans for repurposing the ship as a stationary attraction at a large metropolitan waterfront.
Actor Burt Lancaster boards the SS UNITED STATES with family in the 1950s.
The Conservancy has launched a new “Save Our Ship” (SOS) national campaign. It is offering a “Plank Owner” certificate for tax-deductible donations of at least $25 via its new donor website: www.ssusplankowner.org.
“This is both a patriotic and a practical effort,” said Conservancy Executive Director Dan McSweeney, whose father emigrated from Scotland to America to serve as a crewmember aboard the vessel. “We’re absolutely committed to saving one of the most important symbols of America in the 20th century, but we’re also talking about creating hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs when this ship is refurbished and becomes a stationary attraction in a large U.S. city. We must save this irreplaceable American icon and continue the process of establishing a public-private partnership to re-purpose her.”
New York City Campaign Kick-off and Film Screening
A special screening of the award-winning American Public Television documentary, SS United States: Lady in Waiting, will be held at the National Academy Museum (1083 Fifth Avenue, at 89th Street in Manhattan) on Thursday, March 11th, 7 p.m., followed by a reception and call to action.
SS UNITED STATES – Waiting for her future in Philadelphia.
A bit of history that deserves a better ending – from today’s MARITIME PROFESSIONAL.
Rumor has it that Norwegian Carribean Line NCL is looking to scrap the SS United States. A more dignified end for her might be sinking her as a reef as she has been stripped of all asbestos. Doing this would make an interesting dive site and a great haven for all sorts of marine life. A shame to see such a technically advanced ship of her time scrapped. The original buyer (Hadley) would have been better off to crank her up and market her for what she was with some detuning of the plant. MarAd maintained her for years in a great state of readiness and the gov’t had many pipe dream projects for her, school ship, troop ship, hospital ship, etc. Let her go with dignity rather than send her up on the breakers beach. As for a restoration, money spent on the restoration could well fund a modern, no frills school ship for use by the state maritime academies. Better yet, how about a marine fuels and emmissions training and research center dedicated to the engineers who “kept the lights burning” on the Big U.
SS United States disembarking at Le Havre in 1964.
The SS United States sits indefinitely at a pier in Philadelphia, but she was designed to move fast: Her knifelike prow could cut through the ocean at 44 knots. Inset: The luxury liner crossing the Atlantic in the 1960s.
SOS FOR THE SS UNITED STATES – PLEASE HELP SAVE HER! Will the famed liner survive 2010?
Walt Disney signing an autograph for a young fan aboard the SS United States during a 1950s crossing from New York to Europe. Both Disney and the boy are wearing party hats – it was probably Captain’s night aboard the famous vessel. The SS United States held the trans-Atlantic speed record.
Philadelphia lunching Ikea shoppers have a view of the SS United States, at Pier 82 since 1996.
CRUISE SHIP HISTORY: SOS for faded liner – SOS for faded liner – Is the SS United States headed for the scrap yards or will Philadelphia save her?
Bill Clinton was in his first term as president when the peeling hulk of the SS United States was towed up the Delaware River for temporary moorage. The massive ocean liner has now idled in the shadow of the Walt Whitman Bridge for so long that its 12-story stacks are virtually part of Philadelphia’s skyline, hardly noticed by the thousands who drive overhead each day.
But the once-grand ship could soon slip away as quietly as it arrived.
