Queen Mary (1933) to leave London 9th November

[Ben]

The 1933 built QUEEN MARY (last surviving excursion turbine steamer) will leave London for La Rochelle, France on Monday 9th November at approx 10am.  She will be turned into a floating hotel over a period of 17 months.

She will be towed by AICIRTRON , HORTON & UNICO to Tilbury.   I am still unsure on how she wil travel the rest of the journey, there is mention of her being loaded onto a semi submersible barge of some sort?

Moored at the Embankment since 1988, it will be a real shame to see her leave the Thames, but hopefully her plans go ahead and she is kept in near original condition.

This will be a fantastic event to photograph.   Locations for good angles will be:

- Waterloo Bridge as she breaks away
- Blackfriars Road Bridge as she passes under the two
- Southwark road bridge as she passes through
- Tower Bridge
- Various banks of the Thames

On the following page are 2 photos taken yesterday (22nd) by myself showing Queen Mary with lowered funnels
http://turbinesteamers.awardspace.com/Queen%20Mary%20Website/Queen%20Mary%20being%20prepared%20for%20tow.htm

An event not to miss for the Thames lads!  

[Phil English]

Thanks for the heads-up Ben. Both myself and Jonesy will have the perfect vantage point from our company offices, so it will be a toss-up as to which of us gets to post them here  :lol:
Cheers
Phil

[Robert J Smith]

Due to pass through Tower Bridge at 14:15 on the 9th.

http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/TBE/EN/BridgeLiftTimes/

Regards

Bob

[Phil English]

After all the excitement yesterday, I am wondering what the immediate plans are, when she is expected to sail to La Rochelle, and by what means. I understand that the tow yesterday was to take her to Tilbury, but exactly where at Tilbury is she now?

it will be interesting to capture her final departure from the Thames, if at all possible.

Phil

[Phil English]

Hi Ken,

Both myself and John wondered if you were in pole position for a shot in the Woolwich area, but realised that it was probably dark by the time she got there. Hopefully she will make the move from Tilbury in daylight, but this time of year is not the best  :-o

Cheers
Phil