Hatch 13 Ghost story

This is Hatch 13, site of one of the Queen Mary's most well known haunting's. The most documented is the ghost of eighteen-year-old crewman, John Pedder.  The story goes that Pedder was crushed to death while trying to slip through an automatically closing door in shaft alley during a watertight drill on July 10, 1966. The story is also told that the sailors played a sort of game of chicken with the closing hatches and well, John lost. It was hatchway door No. 13. Passengers and tour guides have seen a young bearded man in blue coveralls in this area. He is normally seen walking the length of shaft alley and disappears at door number 13. I spent a good 10 minutes alone standing right next to this hatch and taking photos of the hatch and all around it. Alas, I did not meet John.

Grand Old Ship- The Queen Mary- Part 1

RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line (then Cunard-White Star when the vessel entered service). Built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland, she was designed to be the first of Cunard's planned two-ship weekly express service from Southampton to Cherbourg to New York, in answer to the mainland European superliners of the late 1920s and early 1930s.

 After their release from World War II troop transport duties, Queen Mary and her running mate RMS Queen Elizabeth commenced this two-ship service and continued it for two decades until Queen Mary's retirement in 1967. 

The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is permanently berthed in Long Beach, California serving as a museum ship and hotel. Queen Mary celebrated the 70th anniversary of her launch in both Clydebank and Long Beach during 2004, and the 70th anniversary of her maiden voyage in 2006. She was the flagship of the Cunard Line from 1936 until 1945 when she was replaced in this role by the Queen Elizabeth.

I love these Vintage ads

The crossing guard at the Queen Mary

Quite a few of these British phone boxes scattered about, but this one had an ATM!!

Has the Queen sprung a leak? This is a special effect on part of the Ghosts and Legends tour.

Hello! Hey why am I out here in the sun?

The Queen Mary was painted all grey during the war and was known as The Grey Ghost.

In December 1942, Queen Mary was carrying 16,082 American troops from New York to Great Britain, a standing record for the most passengers ever transported on one vessel. While 700 miles from Scotland during a gale, she was suddenly hit broadside by a rogue wave that may have reached a height of 28 metres (92 ft).

 An account of this crossing can be found in Walter Ford Carter's book, No Greater Sacrifice, No Greater Love. Carter's father, Dr. Norval Carter, part of the 110th Station Hospital on board at the time, wrote that at one point Queen Mary "damned near capsized... One moment the top deck was at its usual height and then, swoom! Down, over, and forward she would pitch."

 It was calculated later that the ship tilted 52 degrees, and would have capsized had she rolled another 3 degrees.

Beautiful Detail

Upper Decks Nursery

Stairs near the First class level

The Bridge

Flag Cabinet

All the modern conveniences

We ended up standing right under the front smokestack at 3pm. WARNING! It is really loud!

Coming up in part 2. The Radio Room and the Engine Room!