QE2's Restoration to Original Appearance

[Ken_W]

The talk of QE2 being restored to her 1970's appearance once she's in Dubai reminds me that I just ran across a few postcards, scanned and published online, of QE2 when she first entered service, here at http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/QE2-2.html.

 

Anyone else know of any sites that depict QE2's early days, specifically her interiors?

[dougnewmanatsea]

Well, they sadly never said anything about returning her exteriors to their original appearance, but it will be interesting to see how they handle the interiors. If done well it could be magnificent. If not... Well, let's not go there right now.

 

Those are the best interior views I know of online of QE2 as built.

[RAL72]

QE2 : Space Age Liner

 

http://members.tripod.com/~Tziper/qe2indx.htm

[Ken_W]

Ral72, thank you! That's the first picture I've seen of the original look of the Midship Lobby in years. I once had a Cunard booklet, published prior to her entering service, with watercolor (colour?) illustrations, but that disappeared many years ago... if only I'd kept it, but I was 13 or so at the time and I think my mother tossed it out one day when she cleaned up!

[RAL72]

I think the news that they were planning to do this was one of the most startling things that came out yesterday.

 

Done right (they have the money) it could be quite amazing.

Restoring the midships lobby wouldn't be too hard... the queens room also - a change of furniture to the old white plastic chairs wouldn't be too hard - and i'd love to see the double-up/down room reappear - with the double-up part inparticular opened right up to the sides again as a lounge, not shops.

They should leave the outside pretty much alone, in my view... unless they feel like bringing back the lookout lounge!

 

I do hope guests enter the 'hotel' at the midships lobby... and i hope it doesn't have huge gantries to the pierside like the poor queen mary does. I hope she looks like she's ready to depart on a voyage...

[Jim Avery]

A good read for seeing many views of original QE2 is "Queen Elizabeth 2, sailing into the new millennium" by Gary Buchanan. Even shows the short lived but much missed Lookout Bar.

Jim.