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John Brown's shipyard in Clydebank has a history of building great ships and this was one of the best.
The 1000ft, 81,000-ton liner was launched on September 26, 1934, and, despite the foul weather, thousands of visitors crammed into the yard to see the three-funnelled ship edging down the slipway.
Once launched, it went to its fitting out berth before being completed in March 1936.
It came into service the following year, capable of taking 776 cabin class passengers, 784 tourist class and 579 3rd class.

The launch of the Queen Mary attracted national and international interest. It was a symbol of hope during the depression and a great deal of trouble was taken to arrange that the public on Clydeside, and a much wider international public, could participate in the celebrations.

The following are historical excerpts of events around that time.

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TRANSPORT FACILITIES
The Transport Department of Glasgow Corporation have arranged to provide augmented tramcar and 'bus services, on certain routes on the day of the launch.
On the tram routes to Clydebank and Dalmuir 80 cars per hour will be run to Clydebank and Dalmuir, 37 to Knightswood, and 70 to Renfrew, or 187 cars per hour on these routes.
The bus services will be correspondingly augmented. To Clydebank there will be 10 buses per hour, and 53 to Knightswood.

SPECIAL TRAIN SERVICES
The London and North-Eastern Railway Company announce that augmented train services will be run to Clydebank on Wednesday in connection with the launch.
The service to Clydebank Central, Clydebank East, Singer, and Dalmuir stations will be from Bridgeton Cross, High Street, Queen Street, Charing Cross, Partick, Anniesland, Helensburgh, Craigendoran, Cardross, Balloch, Alexandria, Renton, and Dumbarton. A similar service will be available for persons returning after the launching ceremony. Trains will leave Bridgeton Cross and the other stations at frequent intervals from ten o'clock until about 2.30 The returning trains will leave at approximately 15-minute intervals from 3.33 until 6.44
Special return fare rates will be put into operation during these services.

RENFREW FERRY SERVICE TO BE MAINTAINED
According to the number of enquiries which have been recieved at Renfrew Ferry from motorists and others an impression appears to have been gained in some quarters that this ferry will not run on the day of the launch of the Cunarder.
It was officially announced yesterday that the Renfrew Ferry will run as usual on Wednesday, except for about ten minutes after the launch. This delay will probably be necessary to allow for an abatement of the surge from the vessel taking to the water. Arrangements have been made, with the police to direct traffic on both sides of the river at the ferry.
Special trips have been arranged by Messrs Williamson-Buchanan Steamers Ltd., on Tuesday to enable passengers to obtain a last view of the Cunarder on the stocks. Sailings will be made from the Bridge Wharf, Glasgow, by the King Edward in the afternoon and evening. A similar sailing will be made on Wednesday evening to provide a view of the ship in the water after the launching ceremony.
(The Glasgow Herald, 22 September 1934)

THE ROYAL VISIT TO CLYDEBANK
Drive through the Glasgow streets
Arrangements for to-morrows Launching Ceremony

The stage is now all set for the launch at Clydebank to-morrow afternoon of the Cunard White Star liner 'No.534'.
It is anticipated that about a quarter of a million people will witness the floating of the gigantic vessel.
The event is of Imperial importance. Their Majesties the King and Queen will aprticipate in the ceremony, and the Prince of Wales will be present as a spectator.

To-morrow will indeed be a historic day on Clydeside. The launch at Clydebank of the greatest merchant ship ever fashioned is intrinsically an event of national importance, and the interest in it as such is enhanced by the participation in the ceremony of their Majesties the King and Queen.
The occasion has thus a glamour which draws the eyes of the Empire, if not of other countries besides, while in its immediate theatre it naturally engages to an unparalleled extent the attention of the local public.
The term 'local public' is to be construed in this case in a less restricted sense than usual. It means more than the communities of Clydebank and of Glasgow. The whole of Scotland within a day's return journey of the shipyard appears to be agreeably agitated over the opportunity which is being presented of personal observation of the launch and of participating in the glory of its accomplishment.

BROADCAST TO EMPIRE AND AMERICA.
The launch will be broadcast through the Empire transmitters at Daventry to listeners in India and the East and in the United States simultaneously with the broadcast in this country.
Listeners in the African Continent will hear the proceedings by electrical recording at 8.25pm (Brittish Summer Time) on Wednesday, Canada and the American Continent at 1.05am (Brittish SummerTime) on Thursday, and the Antipodes at 7.15am (Brittish Summer Time) on Thursday.
Transmission to the United States of America will be made through the National Broacasting Company and the Columbia broadcasting system.
(The Glasgow Herald, 25 September 1934)

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The Clyde-built liner is now berthed at Long Beach, California, and its bottom deck is crammed with angry spirits.
They inhabit the spot where the Queen Mary rammed the military cruiser HMS Curacoa, off the coast of Ireland in 1942.
The Queen Mary was under orders not to stop and 300 drowned.

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Take me back to the CLYDE BUILT page please.

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Take me back to the INDEX page please.

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Take me back

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