Great youtube video: The “TSS Pasteur” was a special case in ocean liner history. The great liner was never officially in service. It arrived just in time for World War II and saw little passenger service.  The Pasteur was one of the least-documented great liners of its era, yet its interiors were truly magnificent. This video is an excellent collection of Pasteur interiors. From a great youtube classic liner enthusiast.  The wonderful collectibles is scarce, and not reduced to a beautiful PIN, and postcards, stamps, etc. The Cie de Navigation Sud Atlantique, organized some trials in the British Channel with the brand new liner.  The photos shown were taken aboard, and from the l’Illustration dated September 9th 1939, special Edition “Déclaration de Guerre”.

TSS or SS Pasteur was a turbine steam ship built for Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique.  She later sailed as the Bremen for Norddeutscher Lloyds. Over the course of her career, she sailed for 41 years under four names and six countries’ management. In 1936, the French shipping company Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique planned to build a new liner as passenger and freight transport ship for South Atlantic routes, which with Cap Arcona from the shipping company Hamburg South America Line. The construction began in 1938 at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, St. Nazaire in France.

In 15 February 1938, she was christened after the scientist Louis Pasteur on the names Pasteur. A fire in March 1939 delayed her completion. So, she had to be launched in August 1939, one month before the World War II broke out. The Pasteur was 29,253 gross tons. She was 212.4 m long and 26.8 m wide. She had 11 deck and possessed extensive loading spaces.

She was designed to carry 751 passengers. She could reach around 50,000 HP and up to 26 Knots run, however generally, her service speed was around 22 knots. Her depth was 93 m.. She had four propellers. She was the third fastest ship of her time. Although she was sometimes referred to as an SS (Steamship), she really was a TSS or TS (Turbine Steam Ship).

[Read more...]

A menu of the first dinner served to first-class passengers on the  RMS Titanic has sold for $70,000 at auction.

It was among 400 items being auctioned in Wiltshire, England, as part of the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking in the Atlantic Ocean.

(Left: RMS Titanic menu) The opulent menu is dated 10 April 1912, three days before the liner hit an iceberg on her maiden voyage and sank, killing 1,522 people.

It features several courses, such as roast duckling and fillet of veal.

The choices are really very limited compared to first class menus following World War 2 for Trans-Atlantic liner crossings. It pales in comparison to menus aboard the French Line, Cunard Line, Italian Line or United States Lines.

Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge and Son Auctioneers, said: “Menus from the Titanic are among the most sought after memorabilia from the doomed liner.”

The menu itself was the property of Charles Caswell, a first class steward, aged 34, from Southampton.

Mr Caswell sent the menu to his wife Hilda when Titanic stopped at Queenstown, but he later died when the ship sank.

Also featured in the sale was a gold medal awarded to the rescue ship Carpathia’s Second Officer James Bisset.

The gold medal is only the second to be offered for auction in the last 25 years
He later became Commodore of the Cunard line.

“After the survivors of the Titanic disaster were picked up by the Carpathia a committee was formed by a group of surviving First class passengers to reward the crew of the Carpathia and the Captain Sir Arthur Rostron with the silver loving cup and medals for all of the crew,” said Mr Aldridge.

“This is only the second gold Carpathia medal to be offered in the last 25 years and is thought to be the most senior officer’s medal to ever to go under the auctioneers hammer.”

The medal sold for $65,000.

Interest is high in the Titanic after the 100th anniversary of its sinking was marked earlier this year with a special cruise.

More light has also been shed on eccentric Australian billionaire Clive Palmer’s plans to build a new version of the ill-fated ship.

(Left: Clive Palmer) All public rooms, cabins and stairways from Deck D and above will mirror the original vessel’s features.

However, the Titanic II will not be an exact replica.

It has been given an overhaul for better safety with an extra deck to provide improved access to lifeboats.

Great youTube video on the SS United States from past to present.

Here’s some fun 8mm home movies dated 1960 showing the docks at Southampton (or is that Bremerhaven?) and Le Havre as well as shots aboard the ship. Notice in the last shot on the enclosed promenade that the woman is walking against rough seas! Music is by the Melachrino Orchestra, a little vintage ditty entitled “Gay Romance.”

The SS United States.