Inside The Engine Room of the Fastest Passenger Liner on the Atlantic, SS United States

[@EdDetlie]

I rode on the S.S. United States in October of 1957, as a young child, with my family. We actually passed the Queen Mary, on the way to New York. It was incredible.

[@mitchilito99]

Wow, I too rode on her - about 4 or 5 years after that - and we ALSO saw the Queen Mary on the way to NY. As I recall we came to a stop (or at least slowed way down) to see her pass. We also found ourselves in a TERRIBLE storm on that trip and I will never forget the size of the waves I saw through the porthole in our little cabin.

[@MrPLC999]

Well unfortunately, it looks like the the SS US will soon sink to the bottom off the coast of Florida. It may be a metaphor for the country too, if Harris gets elected.

[@richardjohnson4365]

My parents rode her back to the US from Europe, and they said she rode solid as a rock even in heavy seas.

[@phonedudeofficial]

@@richardjohnson4365 well i was around when the dinosaurs were a thing, see? i can lie too

[@petersorensen9440]

It's probably being sunk because like many merchant ships - they are forgotten.

[@rclooking99]

Part of the reason for her good condition is she was in active preservation at least until the mid 1980s. I had the chance to tour her in 1984 and all the dehumidifers were running. I was amazed that some of the tile decks were still shiny and slick after more than 20 years out of service. All of the engineering plant equipment was also lubicated and in good working order (i.e., valves turned, doors opened and closed). We were told during the tour that the engineering plant was a "copy" of the plant used on the Roosevelt aircraft carrier. I was never able to confirm that.

[@jerrycallender9927]

Were the carved Lalique panels still in place between the First Class bar and dance floor?

[@rclooking99]

@@jerrycallender9927 I can't say for absolutely certain, but the ship was very complete. The cabins still had linens on the beds. Up on the orchestra stand that Ryan was on in the first class video, the music stands with music were still there..The Chief Engineer's cabin still had his uniforms hanging in the closet. So I would imagine the panels were still in place. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to bring cameras onboard, so all I have are the recollections of a pretty amazing day.

[@garymartin9777]

The Navy provided the engines which had been ordered for the USS United States -- a carrier class canceled by Congress. Because of the funding provided by the Navy the Navy would not consent to scrapping her and required the maintenance you describe so it could be returned to service if necessary. The living spaces were gutted in the 90's and everything not nailed down was sold to the public.

[@Lutefisk_lover]

There was an auction in October 1984 that emptied the interior of anything sellable. You got lucky to see it beforehand.

[@Scott11078]

I was an engineer on the USS Kitty Hawk. Her boilers are closer to Forrestal/ Kitty Hawk class. We had 1200psi boilers, but we had Foster/Wheelers. I was an HT and did a lot of pipe fitting it's AMAZING how utterly brutal 1200psi is on piping, and the metals are very exotic and worth more in weight than gold.. We also had 285,000 shp.

[@Yaivenov]

I guess that explains why they went back to 600psi for the Wasp class LHD. Edit: My ship was the last boiler ship built for the Navy, USS Iwo Jima LHD7. 2x Babcock & Wilcox 600psi boilers pushing steam to a pair of triple expansion geared turbines producing 77,000 SHP.

[@TheDidgerideuces]

Ah the good ole Sh*tty Kitty, I was lucky enough to come aboard and visit her in Sydney pre 2001. Shame she didn't get the museum treatment so justly deserved.

[@mikeray1544]

I drove some of the crew around during Desert Storm, (duty driver), K Hawk was in drydock at the time,crew was pulling asbestos from ship, they called her the " Shitty Hawk"..lol.

[@manga12]

@@mikeray1544 its nickname was the shitty kitty I belive

[@seafodder6129]

@@mikeray1544 I was ship's company then. 4MMR. Even got married aboard. I mean, how many people can say they were married aboard an aircraft carrier when it was out of the water?

[@danwilson9530]

I knew based on the million dollar engineering study Crystal Cruises had undertaken on the Big U about 7 years back that’s she’s solid as a rock. The faded paint and missing interior makes people thinks she’s in poor shape. She’s not, and way structurally more sound than the Queen Mary.

[@rogersmith7396]

It simply has no economic use. Cruise ship passengers of today would be horrified of its accomodations. And nobody cares how fast it is.

[@danwilson9530]

@@rogersmith7396 Unfortunately you are 100% correct. Only a handful like myself could appreciate a vintage experience. She’s an obsolete North Atlantic liner, not a cruise ship.

[@geodot595]

she should be, way more aluminum, 16 yrs newer, and a very short non stressing service life.

[@rogersmith7396]

@@danwilson9530 The original pictures I have seen were that it was rather plain Jane compared to the British and Italian liners. As there is no interior left anyway I would turn it into an art decco palace if I was restoring. Something that would knock peoples socks off and make scrapping unthinkable. Modern cruise ships are barges with hotels on them and have to float in protected areas. This is of course a completely superior ship but not for modern cruisers. It would have to be flagged out of Liberia to put any crew on it. Modern freighters run with a crew of 30 not the hundreds this thing requires.

[@danwilson9530]

@@rogersmith7396 It’s highly unlikely at this point that she will ever return to service at sea in any capacity due to being a tool of specialized design to serve a purpose that’s no longer needed. Only one liner needed at this point to run that route part time, and the QM2 probably does it far more efficiently with a more modern cruise ship type atmosphere onboard. While in my world it would be fun to see the Big U purchased by Carnival/Cunard and refit to succeed the QM2 for a more vintage experience crossing the North Atlantic, I’m not your typical traveler, so it will never happen, but at sea that’s all she’s good for. Best she be turned into an east coast version of the QM, but as we can see by the Long Beach era of the QM, that’s easier said than done, but anything is still possible with the right plan and budget.

[@adiamondforever7890]

As a retired Marine engineer, yes it is a shaft alley, from stern tube to the most forward water tight bulkhead before the reduction gear. Propeller rpm is listed on the reduction gear nameplate, as are each shaft (high and low pressure pinions, and input quill shafts. I worked for a short time on Sealand’s SL-7’s, which were two shafts, two boilers and in the neighborhood of 125,000 hp. I remember about 1100 psi, 1000 degree steam, 4 steam atomized burners in each boiler, instead of 10 straight mechanical atomized burners. The Foster Wheeler boiler had to put the burner shutters to track with firing rate to get enough air turn down to match oil for proper combustion. The whole plant could be fed from one feed pump, but was fitted to run from 2 DC heaters into their own feed pumps. We ran ‘economy’ mode most of the time for schedule, somewhat under 60,000 hp total. Should we get delayed by weather, and had two good boilers, then since schedule was king, we could go as fast as needed, usually only up to 28 knits or so. It could do substantially more, but we would have run out of fuel in one crossing from Oakland to Yokohama. Have fun

[@peteradely885]

In 1953 I was a passenger with my Mother sailing from NYC to France and then to Germany. . The Captain was John Anderson who lived across the street from my family in Bergenfield NJ. He was Commodore of US Lines and captain of USS United States. I was a very young boy at that time. Recalling Captain Johnson and the USS United States and its luxuries was permanent in my mind.

[@matthewfisher96]

I’m going to watch it sail down the Delaware this week

[@Stude59]

I served aboard the USS Proteus, AS-19. My “Sea and Anchor” detail was down in the port side shaft alley. Accessible only by a vertical ladder that went from the second deck down to the bottom of the ship. The overhead (ceiling) was too low for me to stand up. I’m guessing the shaft alley was 30-40 feet long with a catwalk than ran alongside the length of the shaft on one side only. There were three or four spring bearings that I had to monitor for overheating by occasionally touching the bearing housing with the back of my hand to the housing. It was rather mesmerizing to watch the shaft rotating one direction then stopping and rotating the other direction as we were maneuvering when docking. I was often the only guy down there, communicating to main control with sound powered headphones.

[@A2Wx8]

For those of you who are as interested as I am in the engineering of the Big U, there's a book coming out in June called "SS United States: An Operational Guide to America's Flagship" which is written by a team including one of the former caretakers and is supposed to have a bunch of new operations and engineering data that hasn't been released before.

[@Lutefisk_lover]

Just ordered! Thanks.

[@thirtynine392001]

I've already pre-ordered it. Can't wait for its release!

[@stantondaywalt4215]

Thanks for the book shout-out!

[@crazyfvck]

@Matthew Weiner Thanks for mentioning that book! I had not heard of it. I went ahead and pre-ordered it :)

[@danreddan44]

@@crazyfvck check out' ss united states, the view from down below', by Robert Sturm. We sailed aboard her as assistant engineers in different time periods (50's, 60's)

[@williamherndon5065]

Thank you. My father was a menber of her crew. He was so proud of the ship. We had a Model of the ship at home in the livingroom. My first ship. I became a sailor like my dad. William M. Herndon, USNRET.

[@DavidSheetz-c4e]

Where are the Lifeboats

[@robertf3479]

@@DavidSheetz-c4e The lifeboats were removed at some point along with a number of fittings and bits of equipment, IIRC during the early 1980s and sold to various collectors or companies who wanted or needed solid boats like them. One of them spent years stored next to the parking lot of a Nautical Antiques store in Virginia Beach / Norfolk before the store was sold and closed and the boat went I don't know where.

[@Richard-eb3rx]

In 1966, my parents and I sailed from New York Harbor to Europe on the U.S.. I was 9yrs old then and still remember the entire experience . Still have all the suveneer's including the Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu's and tons of photo's......

[@CountySchoolSM]

That ship is a global icon. I really hope someone eventually finds her a new role. She certainly looks a lot better condition than the reports suggested.

[@marthakrumboltz2710]

The new role will likely be razor blades and rims for electric cars.

[@johnmaliskey7951]

I rode her in 1959 when we came back from Germany. Still have small memento's and a menu form a lunch. Fond memories ................. enjoy

[@joshuasteel2109]

This sure is sad that it’s going to be sunk to the bottom of the ocean to make an artificial reef. I really appreciate you showing parts of it to us Ryan and your time. God bless you thanks again.

[@wtmayhew]

My roommate’s uncle worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and we got to tour the dry dock area and foundry February of 1980. I believe it was USS America CV-66 and a nuclear sub which were in dry dock at the time. The size of ship’s equipment and foundry tools was mind blowing. When we were there, one of the America’s 12 foot propellers was on a balancing stand in the foundry. The pitch of the SS United States’ propeller is much steeper than my recollection of USS America’s. The erosion caused cavitation shown in the video is an interesting sight.

[@VeryFamousActor]

An amazing ship, it's a shame she had such a short life. You'll never get to cross the Atlantic again in such class, for such a reasonable price

[@jp-um2fr]

Odd us Brits still keep one going - Queen Mary 2. If the RMS Queen Mary is not looked after better it's going to sink.

[@computiNATEor]

@@jp-um2fr Queen Mary just reopened for tours! The city of Long Beach has retaken control and seems dedicated to keeping the ship maintained; at least, a lot more so than the last operators.

[@TheJd195555]

And has been getting the much needed restoration inside the ship. And after underwater inspections, she is still structurally sound. I great historical landmark worth preserving. And I feel the samexway about the SS UNITED STATES. I pray that she gets the much needed restoration that she deserves.

[@jackmorris1068]

You still can you can go on the Queen Mary 2

[@davidmcqueen6332]

Thank you for this video! Back in 1972 I was in the US Navy as machinist mate onboard the USS Neoshow A.O. 143. She was a twin screw 600 psi system. Our home port was the NOB piers at the Norfolk VA naval station. And just a couple of piers down was the SS United States and I fell in love with that beautiful ship with the graceful lines! And back in 1972 she was only 20 years old and her paint was still in good shape. Do know that you brought joy to this old machinist mate’s heart today. Thanks for the memories! I still think I could take light off or secure an engine room! And yes, I would still call it a shaft alley it’s bigger than most I’ve seen!

[@ULTRA1BOB]

Our family was sailing to NYC on the SS United States and I was offered a tour of the engine room. Unfortunately, my parents couldn't find me to tell me of the opportunity. At least in this video I can see what I missed. Still, to have seen the area in action would have been incredible.

[@steves5172]

Hi!, I worked for many years as a marine engineer surveyor for the British Royal Navy. One of my colleagues told me he worked on Queen Mary, the liner now over with you, as an engine room officer. I will not compare United States to the QM as it may well be an argument I could never win! My friend had worked on the ship during WW2 transporting German POWs across the Atlantic. He showed me his collection of ships in bottles made by the POWs to get cigarettes, food etc. Apparently the QM had an eerie drumming sound in the shaft tunnels when performing her zig zag procedures which could induce a hypnotic trance should someone stay too long. It is also matter of record that several of the ship staff were found hanging in those tunnels. He was also on board when QM cut that warship in half with such tragic loss of life. Thanks for the upload keep up the good works!

[@timothystevenhoward]

I can't thank you enough for the tour. If only they would let you into my dads ship, CV-67. Its still in Philly awaiting tow to Brownsville for scrap!

[@bebo4374]

If you’re in the area you should go to the Philadelphia navy yard. Cv67 is awesome to behold.

[@Lutefisk_lover]

My brother served on CV-67 in ‘74-‘75 when it collided with the Belknap. I’m hoping the scrappers sell mementos.

[@kevincrosby1760]

@@Lutefisk_lover According to them, they don't. What you may be able to arrange locally with a worker carrying a large lunchbox may differ. My ship also ended her life at Brownsville.

[@alexh3153]

Would love to see you do more videos on the United States and the other nearby ships, especially Olympia. You set the bar pretty high and the other museum channels content leaves me wanting

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

We've done quite a few videos on Olympia, but there will be more at some point. We will have 5 total videos on SS US in this series.

[@thirtynine392001]

​@@BattleshipNewJersey I'm loving this series. Can't wait for the upcoming videos!

[@peterj5022]

In 1972 during layup at Norfolk the last Chief Engineer of the ship, John Logue, gave me a complete tour of the aft engine room and walked me down the length of the propeller shaft. This was followed by a tour of many of the public rooms which still had their furnishings minus soft goods like draperies and linens. Then John showed me a typical outside Tourist Class cabin and several First Class cabins including the famed Duck Suite which was regularly booked by Edward and Wallis, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The First Class Ballroom had the glass art wall with the hidden buxom mermaid etched into it which John explained was always great fun for first timers on the ship to hunt for and the lucky would find. I have two breakfast menus from the ship from October 1968 that John gave me and a 1952 Nautical Gazette magazine published just after the ship broke the record for fastest ship. John located the magazine in a drawer of his Chief Engineer's Stateroom which was located mere steps aft of the bridge. John Logue was a fine officer and I cherish the numerous letters he wrote to me from his retirement home in Florida. Thank you for your informative videos. They are the best of the ship I have seen and I have seen many. You know your "stuff" and your presentation is both educational and casual at once. These are characteristics I most enjoy from an educator. Well done!

[@aubreytycer8708]

I was on the USS United States in 1982 when it was berthed in Norfolk. It still had the asbestos. I was able to buy linens and silverplate from the ship during that visit.

[@zachmaster426]

One of the few working steamships i have been on was the Training Ship Empire State, originally built as a cargo ship for States Lines as SS Oregon in 1961. She was a MARAD C4 class built to be used for merchant shipping in peacetime and military cargo transport in wartime. They had something like a 17,500HP plant driven by a single engine room around the center of the ship. This meant that there was about 200 feet of shaft in a separate tunnel that I only ever heard referred to as "shaft alley". And it was pretty spacious, with a catwalk on one side and plenty of headroom.

[@michigandon]

I was fortunate enough to have sailed aboard the SS Middletown, as well as the Cason J Callaway and the John G Munson. Of these, only the Callaway still exists in its relatively original configuration. The Middletown is no more, and the Munson has since been repowered.

[@Channel-jj9zw]

Was on this ship from NY to Le Harve in 1967 when I was 9 . Great memories of the kids game room and not so great of having to get dressed up for dinner. Wish I had been old enough to understand what a special thing that was. My brother, the adventurer at 7 years, actually got lost running around the ship before departure and they held up the departure briefly. He was found near or in, not sure which, the engine room. The purser sternly put his name and cabin number on his hand in permanent marker as a result......

[@phillipbouchard4197]

Thanks Ryan for another informative video. When I was aboard in 1966 I never got off of the main deck. I will always remember the towering funnels in their red, white, and blue paint scheme. When you are six years old everything looks huge !

[@ronstucker3550]

Phillip They were Huge. Still to this day the largest on any ship.(there's a picture from before they were installed with a bunch of early 50's cars showing the size).

[@theblackbear211]

One key difference in a warship steam plant vs a non-warship plant is that part of the feed system extends upward into the uptakes (stack), the feed pumps are supplied by gravity from a tank located well above the engine room, whereas a warship uses a pressurized Deaerating Feed Tank (DFT) (pressurized with Auxiliary Exhaust). This keeps the entire steam/ feed system low in the vessel.

[@ytlas3]

The aux exhaust system usually has their safeties set around 15psi. It's the main feed booster pumps under the DFT that push the feed water to the Main feed pumps, then up through the economizer and into the steam drum.

[@theblackbear211]

@@ytlas3 Retired Cheng here, I'm aware of how they work, and you are right, the booster pumps supply the feed pumps, but the DFT supplies NPSH to the boosters. Losing the (`15psi) steam bubble on the DFT will cause a loss of boiler feed. On a commercial vessel the feed tank (it goes by a couple of names) - is mounted high enough that there is no need for booster pumps.

[@ytlas3]

@@theblackbear211 I miss understood the point you were driving at 👌

[@theblackbear211]

@@ytlas3 I could have been clearer.... 🙂

[@meinfraulein380]

in aux boiler in diesel ships, the feed pumps are beside the cascade tank, always at deck lower than the aux boiler

[@Edgy01]

Our family sailed in January 1967 on her from Bremerhaven to NYC, all via first class. You can’t imagine the wonder for a 12 year old kid to have the run of that entire ship! We sailed into South Hampton, and then Le Harve, prior to departing for the USA. Left Bremerhaven 7 January and arrived in NYC on 11 January1967. Only 4 days to cross west bound!!

[@beaglemusiclabs]

I heard the ship was in good condition, but also found myself doubting that to be possible, and definitely didn't expect there to be anything like the amount of original engine equipment left on board! This is absolutely wonderful to see. Like many others here, I'm sure, I've been hoping for years to see the ship preserved in some way, preferably in a way that keeps some of the interesting historical spaces preserved as a museum even if large areas are repurposed for some other use. Wish there were more news about the possible deal with RXR Realty! Thanks so much for filming and helping preserve the ship!

[@bigdansplan9262]

I am always impressed with your video narratives. Sure, there are many museum curators but most of them do not speak with your knowledge and clear description.Thank you for continuing to educate us on these historic vessels. I worked on a cruise ship in the 1990’s and this subject has always interested me.

[@kevinsmith6273]

My parents sailed on the SS United States in the early 1960's and Dad kept memorabilia like menus and table cards and sailing schedules which we had framed and conserved. When it was in Norfolk, we went and took a look at the ship at dock and purchased some life jackets and an oil can with the name stenciled. If planes hadn't improved the transatlantic travel times, who knows how much faster the ships would have been! Thanks for your quirky, in-depth tours of these fine old ships!

[@JohnHartzogzog79]

Very interesting. I crossed the Atlantic aboard her in 1956. (I was born 1n 1957, so I don't exactly have any recollections). More interestingly, one of my Naval Architecture professors at the Naval Academy was at Gibbs &Cox when she was designed. He spent a fair amount of time discussing her (military) design characteristics. Her design is probably closer to Forrestal than New Jersey in many ways. Btw, 240 and 224 rpm for the shafts. As I recall. He talked a lot about how limiting shaft designs were becoming. I enjoy your quite factual videos.

[@ronjones1077]

This ship is as important as the Queen Mary and more important than the QE2. This needs to be restored as a museum, business center, hotel etc. Thank you for these videos!

[@deadmanhiking9260]

I worked on this ship as a first class bell boy for 3 north Atlantic crossings in the winter, Bremerhaven, Le Havre and Southhampton, I was in college and able to get thru the catch 22 that kept people out of the NMU.

[@danfruzzetti7604]

this is super cool to see! thanks! note, an order of magnitude is times ten-ish, like "add another decimal place." 208 to 240 is a jump but an order of magnitude would be like going from 200k to 2m horsepower.

[@nnoddy8161]

Great video, thanks for uploading. I am interested in Ryans opinion, especially given his experience on the following: 1. the overall condition of the United States 2. the cost and feasibility of ever being able to have it preserved as a 'working' museum 3. overall value of preserving her 4. alternatives in terms of 'virtual' preservation (ie; expenditure of $$ to record, video, photograph) prior to scrapping

[@middleclassthrash]

This.

[@boyo2012]

100%

[@garymartin9777]

The last hull survey found it to be in quite good condition. The cost of preserving the old lady is astronomical which is why Norwegian Cruise lines dumped her. Hate to say it but her destiny is razor blades. Other than as a curiosity there is no value in preserving her.

[@sydney4814]

I mistook what you were asking with that first question lol, I was like "that's a bit outta Ryan's purview lmao)

[@rotwang2000]

@@garymartin9777 Other preserved liners are in a precarious situation, costs are high and even those that make money aren't always kept in good condition. Liners are all but extinct, replaced by more cost effective cruise ships. None of the preserved liners were in the same state as the United States is now. Like my uncle used to say "Dynamite it all and build a new one."

[@alanjameson8664]

Yes, interesting; it IS in better condition than I would have expected.

[@andrzejpaczynski8533]

From a graduate (1977) of Gdańsk University of Technology, Shipbuilding, Engines and Engine Rooms, thank you for the (excellent) video. Nominal RPM of shafts = 180. From my own research in the eighties of the previous century...

[@SgtE5]

According to , John R. Cain ( Fomer president of Newport News Ship Builders) in April 1978, he stated that the ship reached a top speed of 38.32 kts at 160 shaft rpm at nearly 232,000 hp during initial sea trials.

[@MisterLongShot_Official]

Sheeeew those props must be AGGRESSIVE indeed if that RPM is accurate.

[@zxggwrt]

Wow! That is flying for a ship.

[@DeliciousCornbread]

That's roughly 44 mph / 71kph (In case anyone was wondering). Which is absolutely moving for a ship this size.

[@SgtE5]

@@DeliciousCornbread indeed..

[@scottgibson6735]

Oh,I’m still hoping for antigravity ships,powered,by vacuum energy.I just hope.. They arrive,before.Indie

[@WaltScrivens]

My father was VP of Manufacturing for the Auth Electric Company who furnished some form of annunciator system for the SS United States. He was aboard for the sea trials. As an eight year old at the time, I don’t remember much more, but the ship has a special significance for me.

[@rossreed9974]

Live near Philly & have been to the Big J a couple of times... Very proud of your work Ryan & crew, to keep her alive. Loved very much seeing this video and hope that one day the SSUS will welcome folks back aboard for tours. Thank you sir!

[@gwheyduke]

I've always been fond of the SS United States. My mom took my sisters on a trip to London from NYC back in the 1960's on her. Whenshe was berthed in Norfolk I visited several times, you could go go in on certain days and buy things like life preservers, plates, chairs and silverware etc. I picked up a half dozen orange kapok life preservers with "United States" stenciled on them. They were $5 bucks each.

[@charlieross-BRM]

My father arrived in North America via SS United States. My whole time growing up there was a deck of playing cards in the china cabinet with this big ship on them. That's as far as my 8 year old mind went with it. Years later my dad explained that voyage was full of trades men from post war UK coming to jobs in aviation waiting for them in the U.S. and Canada. Otherwise I'd be speaking with a heavy Glasgow accent instead of like a Canuck. So many of them were the draftsmen and machinists from companies like Rolls Royce (dad), A.V. Roe, deHavilland, etc. that played their part in the aerospace technology boom.

[@ethrilpalpatine6159]

Thank you for sharing. I was totally taken in to the rumors that she had one foot in the grave. From this video, I actually think she could be brought back to life again, not just as a museum ship but as a fully functioning liner. I was certain, the engines would have been virtually destroyed by scrapers in Ukraine and Turkey but that certainly isn't the case. And you're right, she's very similar to the Wisconsin's engine room layout. Although a lot more room. I know they've talked about $1 billion to bring her back but with all of the passenger areas gutted, ready for a new life, I can't help wondering if it wasn't possible. Thank you again for spending time on her.

[@SteamCrane]

12:47 - The twist on that propeller screams *speed*! Awesome!

[@gsp0113]

I have absolutely loved these videos you've been doing aboard the United States. Great content. I've lived in Philadelphia and the environs for decades now and that ship, for those who know of her, is a monumental presence, just waiting for its next stage -- whether that be restoration or scrap. It will be a sad, sad day if it's not the former.

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

Thank you, Ryan. She is truly one of the greatest ships ever built. In a country with as many billionaires as we have, it is a national disgrace that this magnificent ship has been neglected for so long. Many here in the US love the money that our country allows them to make and amass, but do any have the imagination, patriotism, or courage to put that money into restoring and preserving this priceless and iconic piece of our history? America's billionaires: you should be ashamed of yourselves. Come on. There's still time. Man up and help us save this ship.

[@221b-l3t]

Yeah isn't throwing half a yacht worth of money at this some good PR. Why tax us, we do good stuff, see? They should definetly sell merch, say flakes of old paint. I estimate there are 1- 5 million ocean liner nerds on Earth, depending on what you class as a liner nerd. So if we all pitch in a little... I bought a model of HMS Victory at her gift shop and I love the idea that the money went to her restoration. I can claim one billionth of the financing for her current refit. Practically caulking the decks myself haha.

[@delawaresurf5422]

Are you kidding? The cost would be astronomical for a museum. Asbestos abatement (I see lagging on steam lines still) lead paint, retrofit of the common hotel services? Hull rework. Yea the big u is a treasure but it’s been talked about since mid 1970s when I tried to board it as a cadet in Norfolk (if I recall location correctly).

[@keithalaird]

One piece of engineering trivia I remembered from engineering school. Marine boilers are selected differently for merchant ships and warships. Merchant ships are selected for best efficiency at full speed, as most merchant ships travel at close their maximum speed to get to their destination as quickly as possible. Warships are usually selected with their most economical operation at about 75% of full speed. The assumption being that most of the time, they will be running at this speed unless they are in actual combat. Naval ship boilers are also usually types that are designed to have a quicker response to load changes, especially ramping up quickly.

[@dakotaman408]

Awesome video. Impressed that engine room is in such good shape. US carriers of the era had 7 burner super heated boilers @1200psi. Also, Engine room layout is similar to NIMITZ class in respect to two shafts per space

[@darthrex354]

So the mention of "1.2 curators" makes me feel like we need a listing of conversions for all of the SI units (Semanski International units).

[@kentfrohock402]

Like Henry the 8th. Foot, etc

[@skovner]

@@kentfrohock402 Look up the Harvard Bridge connecting Cambridge and Boston, and how it is measured in "Smoots". (I remember walking over it long before the internet and wondering about the units)

[@VOOODOOO37]

glad you are providing videos of that ship, I have followed it for years. Not sure what the future holds, it looks beyond restoration stage for any public display

[@beornthebear.8220]

I came back to the US on this ship from England in 1969. It was fun. It was also very big; when I first saw it, the chimneys took me aback, and the horns made me jump even if I knew the second they would go off.

[@CreedFamily07]

Yup, 'Shaft Alley' is the right name. I did some electrical work in the starboard shaft alley on my first ship, USS LaSalle.

[@ronstucker3550]

A friends father worked for Gibbs and Cox on Broadway in lower Manhattan in the 50's through the 90's last working on Arleigh Burke Destroyers. I remember him always talking about the SS United States and what a great ship she was. He used to see Mr. Gibbs in the office and I was told by him that when the United States would come into port the ship would sound it's horn when it passed the office. Mr Gibbs would always be in contact with the Capt. going over the performance of the ship during the crossing. Now remember this ship was his Baby. I myself had the Revel model and the hull was flat not much below the waterline. This is while my Queen Mary model showed total keel up and propellers.I found out from my friends dad why this was. It was because in the 60's the Hull design and propeller design was Classified at the time.

[@s0nnyburnett]

Are you sure you didn't just get a waterline model

[@ronstucker3550]

@@s0nnyburnett That was the only model available then I'm talking 1965 ,66 I was around 9 or 10 years old. My Dad was helping me build models from around age 7. Much later a model with the entire below the waterline model was offered BUT according to my friends Dad it wasn't actual to the real ship.(He saw and worked on the actual ships drawings). He was one of the hundreds of draftsmen working at G&C Manhattan.P/S He owned and built one of the later models and I asked him how his had the screws and he said it doesn't match the actual.

[@ronstucker3550]

@@s0nnyburnett that was all that was sold in the early 60's

[@arthouston7361]

As a former Philly broadcaster who often saw the ship as I drove along Delaware Ave (I can't bring myself to say, "Columbus Blvd") I often wondered what it was like inside. I am as old as the ship, too. Thanks for the look that I wanted.

[@gunnergoz]

Thanks for showing us one of my favorite ships, ever. Such a beauty! Hope she's refurbished and preserved before its too late. On an unrelated note, when are you going to visit NS Savannah, the only US civilian nuclear powered ship?

[@pauld6967]

I second that request.

[@danielsmullen3223]

I had been told for ages that the ship was not just gutted, but dangerously decrepit and derelict condition. I'm really surprised to see how good it looks in there.

[@lmo1960]

The people who said it was in decrepit shape were misinformed or lying. The truth has always been readily available for those who sought it out from legitimate sources.

[@ryano.5149]

@@lmo1960 The Conservancy I think catches a lot of flack, but they are doing exactly what they said they'd do: keep the SS United States out of the scrapyard! ...and the fact that there she still sits, the proverbial lady in waiting, is no small success in itself.

[@michaelimbesi2314]

We here at G&C are pretty good at what we do.

[@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24]

@@ryano.5149 It is a pile of scrap though and unlikely to be restored or made I to anything. A hotel is the only realistic option but needs total interior rebuild.

[@ryano.5149]

@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 Unlikely, but not impossible. Her asbestos was abated, so that is a major win right there. She's got good bones. All it will take is a solid plan and money...lots and lots...and lots and lots and LOTS of money. But it's not outright impossible.

[@wfoj21]

Yes that is a shaft alley. USS Forrestal was laid down 30 months after SS US was, 13 months after SS US was launched. USS Ranger was laid down 4 months before Forrestal was launched - all 3 same shipyard of Newport News. Boilers- you did not show or describe = NJ boilers are 2 furnaces - M type with controlled superheat. - US warships with 1200 PSI boilers were 1 furnace, D type - Superheat was NOT Controller. NJ- 2nd furnace - that side was to provide the superheat - that could operate with NO superheat - have 2nd side burners off. - Insufficient show to determine if SS United States was M or D boiler. Wow to the burner size difference - what is the comparison of the the boiler air intake - between outer casing -and furnace outside- perhaps that is larger. Great video and visit - thanks.

[@corndog1980]

Is the ship going to be saved? I hope so, that represents our great country, United States!!

[@timgernold1715]

I was a nuclear mechanic in Main Machinery Room #1 on the USS Enterprise. Longest propeller shaft in the world for #1 prop. Reduction gears were near the forward most aircraft elevator. We were told that from the time the reduction gears start turning that the shaft would twist 1.5times before the prop would start turning. Shaft Alley Patrol was the most dreaded watch station. If I recall correctly, there were 9 different compartments we had to check over the length of the shaft and going from the main deck down to where the shaft alley was the equivalent of climbing an 8 story building. Had to check each compartment every hour. We were also told the propeller shafts were hollow and filled with sand to try to cut down on vibrations

[@kimmer6]

Remember the sign ''Longest shaft, best screw?''. I was an Engineer from GE's Marine Department in San Francisco. We were at Alameda NAS doing work in each machinery room, maybe 1982, 1983. My legs never forgave me for climbing and descending ladders for 6 weeks. The main headache was the 4 Alfa reactor feed pump turbine and gearbox. I also went to Idaho Falls to A1W to investigate the screw up on the newly cast and machined feed pump replacement turbine cases. Somewhere I heard that the #1 shaft twisted 3-1/4 turns between the gearbox and thrust bearing to the propeller at Flank Speed. Imagine if that snapped.

[@dreadpenguinlord340]

This is remarkable, thanks. For a long time I was under the impression that this ship was simply awaiting scrap. It's great to find out that there are still plans to preserve this vessel :)

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

Anyone who loves ships loves the SS United States, great video !!

[@moosecat]

Great video, Ryan. I would love to see "the Big U" preserved, but I think it'd be amazing to see her restored, and do at least one more trans-Atlantic run in both directions. However, this time, full speed ahead on all boilers...one for the record books.

[@NickRatnieks]

In 1966 my family moved to Southsea, Portsmouth with a great vantage point out to sea of Spithead for the entry and exit point to Southampton Water. We could see all the big Cunarders, La France, the Union Castle liners and other ships like the Nieuw Amsterdam and Canberra plus some smaller liners . Of course, we also saw the SS United States. It was not long before most of these ships disappeared and they no longer exist- other than the Queen Mary and the United States. It would be criminal if the SS United States was not preserved and found a new role as it is such a remarkable ship. Always great to watch this channel.

[@phillanassa759]

I don't know how true it is, however in my research I read that SS United States used the same power plant as the Forrestal class carriers did by design. In this way if the federal government had to take over the ship as a troop transport any Navy engine crew familiar with the Forestal class carriers could operate the ship with ease It's interesting that the build plate indicates that it's an Iowa type. Perhaps the Iowa engines were upgraded to be used in the forrestal class carrier? Personally... I was on board USS Nimitz. Nuclear power keeps the steam via 4 A4W Westinghouse reactors. This creates steam and the steam is used to turn the turbines. The Nimitz class carriers were in order of magnitude faster than SS United States. Where is United States could reach around 44 miles an hour, it's pretty much an open secret that Nimitz Class carriers are capable of over that speed. I've personally seen the carrier do almost 30 miles an hour in reverse. I was told that Nimitz was capable of more than 50 mph. Is it true? I choose to believe it. When we had to get from point A to point B, Nimitz could do it in a ridiculously short time period.

[@EricCoop]

The plant looks remarkable. I am also pleasantly surprised as well. Thought it was gutted too.

[@J-1410]

For all the videos on it, this one is the most surprising as most say its gutted and has no chance yet this shows basically a ship that is half ways through a remodel. It doesn't look great on the outside, but inside it looks way better than expected.

[@burroaks7]

super awesome SS United States needs some love

[@hylndrfan]

Thanks for the little spotlite on a ship of the US Merchant Marine. An almost forgotten service crucial in every war we fought. Proud to have served both in the Navy and Merchant Marine.

[@joemamaluc312]

13 years ago, I was working in New Jersey and flying into Philadelphia every week. I drove on the Walt Whittman bridge over the Delaware river and saw the ship which looked like a ghost ship. I got interested in it, and after that joined the conservatory for a while and read up on the history. I purchased some memorabilia from the initial sale when it came out of mothballs in the early 80's. Unfortunately for this ship it has been towed across the world to Ukraine for asbestos removal and Turkey for interior demo and paint removal. Most of the reason the ship looks like it does. Its came close to being scrapped several times and was bailed out by a philanthropist who as far as I know still foots most of the bill for the docking, which is in the thousands every month. It could have held a place like the Queen Mary in California if it wasn't for the US Navy keeping the ship on the Top Secret list for more years than it should have because of the boilers in the ship. There were many Ideas converting it to a new style liner like the ships used today for cruise ships, but that was nixed because its too small. A museum was suggested with a hotel in the ship but the investors dropped out. People were figuring it would be in the hundreds of millions to make an attraction out of the ship, but the return on investment is not there. I don't know what will happen to her, I hope she is preserved, but every year doing anything to her as far as restoring, or exhibiting just gets more expensive. A side note you can go to google earth and see the actual deck. They let the google people travel around the deck and video it. pretty cool. Its just north of the Walt Whitman bridge.

[@georgescott7556]

what a gorgous ship!! i hope they start restoring her soon!! watching from missoura!!

[@frankbodenschatz173]

Same here George!

[@rogersmith7396]

Cut them a check for $300 million and its a done deal. Oh wait, inflation?

[@Neutercane]

Again, thanks for your coverage of the SS United States. I'd heard that much of the ship had been stripped, but it looks pretty good, all things considered. Great video and keep up the good work!

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

Having been fascinated by this ship from my childhood, it is a tremendous joy for me to see its engine rooms in your video. Thank you!

[@larryambuehl4986]

I was on the United State in the early 90’s as it was being prepared for crossing the pacific for refurbishment. One of our jobs was to hydro test the bunker fuel tanks to make sure they were water tight for the crossing. I remember we filled the tanks with water and then installed a manometer to put a small head pressure on them. We crawled below the deck plates to observe how tight they were and the water was gushing from a lot of seams. It was funny because more seams were leaking then were tight. As far as I remember they were towing it to Finland or somewhere in Europe to bring it back to its old glory. I do remember the tug that was going to two it was the largest tug I had ever seen. Thanks for the video as I love a good engine room.🥸

[@chrisrasmussen3822]

I remember when it came. I didn't live to far away at the time. I RET Navy and have been very interested in the this ship for most of my life. I been in a shaft ally in a Victory ship. I been to sea on the same restored Victory ship. The engineering spaces are ovens. Each engineering station has a huge ventilations grate top and bottom and the huge amount of air that blows down will rip off jackets and shorts off if not fully buttoned and or zipped up. You dart between the stations so you don't roast on the engineering floor. I was a communications type in the USN

[@pauldormont4470]

Your humor is not wasted on me, Ryan. Keep it up.

[@jmikeperkins]

Wonderful video. I have seen some other videos where people get into the engine room of the SS United States, but you are the first person to actually show and explain the operation of the engines, reduction gear etc. I really like the view up the escape hatch into the base of the funnel. The ship is much more intact that one is led to believe. I sure hope this historic ship can be turned into a museum. Please keep exploring this amazing ship.

[@FarlandHowe]

I sailed on her to Britain and back in very early 1953. I sailed with my family. I was 6 years old at the time. It breaks my heart to see her looking so rough. She was so beautiful back then.

[@Bobm-kz5gp]

I went through USAF basic and weapon’s mechanic school with Pete Symanski . Sorry about the spelling, we met one day at DaNang one day, Pete had to bail out of a C-119 over the South China Sea shortly after takeoff with a runaway prop. Any relation to you? Pete was a good guy, quiet and smart!

[@ashleydog45]

Something you might have already covered, but how the Navy and tradition made the types of ships be called what they are called. It's easy with submarines and carriers but destroyers are usually in the heat of all of the battles. So, battleship? Battleships do so much destruction with their big guns, destroyers? I'm just saying it would be interesting to learn how everything from canvas to steam to modern propulsion ships got their namesake. Thanks Ryan for doing what you do so us civilian land lubbers can learn about those great ships and people who ran them.

[@everettputerbaugh3996]

Drachinifel is a wonderful resource that has been on this channel. Torpedo Boat Destroyers were built to run down and destroy the little torpedo boats that were the bane of larger ships who were unable to defend against the fast boats. Today their functions looks more like a light cruiser, smaller and cheaper than a cruiser, with less capabilities.

[@boyo2012]

This is amazing! Keep it up, Ryan and crew!!

[@NathanOkun]

The propellor shaft looks like a straghterned miniature of the 27 km underground Large Hadron Collider in France and Switzerland.

[@keithpatterson6365]

Yes I have aboard USS Coral Sea CV43. And yes we called it a shaft alley. Dont forget about the "Jacking Gear". Your videos are amazing . Thanks.

[@edstenson7764]

Wow! Thank you! A lot of. People would love to see and. Tour the ship before it’s too late.

[@markmark2080]

Back in the 1960s I recall the wonder of first going down in 'The Hole' fresh out of boot camp and before 'A' school to stand 'introduction' watches... Time spent in the machinery spaces of two following WW2 era ships are special memories for this old 'gear head', also, visiting in the engine room of the Queen Mary some 40 years ago was a thrill...

[@tombowers3681]

when I was a volunteer on SS John W Brown, many years ago, the chief Engineer there had been SS United States final Chief engineer as well. He called her "the U" and told us that they only went fast enough to make the record, but she would have gone faster. Interesting talking to him as he didn't seem to have a fondness for the ship but was obviously proud of it. For years the Brown used the life vests from the United states for it's Chesapeake cruise passengers

[@Gadget0343]

Very cool! When I originally came to the USA, it was on THIS ship.

[@twoznek9666]

Appreciate how you give shout outs to other ships. I so wish she could be refurbished and run again. Sad that didn’t work out.

[@gregmerritt4278]

Ryan. As always thank you for posting a great video on the Big U. I hope she will be restored for all to see

[@ginog5037]

Great video Ryan, she is still beautiful and in pretty good shape considering. Hopefully she will be rescued and restored someday...

[@nickmerrick18]

Was hoping for a look at the condensers. That was my trade way back when. Long live steam!

[@TLO129]

Ive heard the ship is in terrible condition, this confirms it, thank you

[@joshuahsonjh]

Hey we saw her on the live stream when The New Jersey was taking her trip to go into dry dock! Ha and now I get recommended this video. I'm glad to see the SS United States is still strong.

[@markhayes100]

I remember seeing the United States for the first time from the deck of a US Lines container ship when she was tied up near Baltimore In January of 1983. I was just a kid on my first commercial ship as a cadet engineer. Even on a rainy evening the sight of her gave me goosebumps. It’s sad to see her in this state, I would have loved to spend some time making her fly across the ocean. I did get the chance to get the SS American Liberty up to her top speed of 25 knots off the coast of California a few weeks later. She only had 28,000 SHP but it was an awesome experience for a 21 year old.

[@njseashorechas2698]

Fascinating, Thanks Ryan! You have the best job ever!

[@chrislinsley143]

Thank you Ryan, I appreciate that you came across the river to give us this glimpse into the engineering spaces of S.S. United States, very informative! I am also very much interested in the information added by the folks commenting. I am also a merchant mariner and have experienced several shaft alleys some of which resemble the one you showed on the United States, others far roomier, not “alley” like at all. I would be interested in seeing the steering gear of the United States as well. I do remember seeing a plaque on a reduction gear housing like the other fellow said it had max input rpm from the high & low pressure turbines and the resulting output rpm.

[@john_nip_nop]

Good video - glad you got access. You mentioned Navy Enginemen would recognize the burner setup in the boiler room. In US Navy, Engineman rating would repair and operate combustion engines, diesel or gasoline power (in WWII they were Motor Machinist Mate - Motor Mack.) In the Fireroom (boiler room) of a steam ship there would be (WWII) Boilermakers and Water Tenders, which were combined to Boiler Tender rating later. The Engine Room with reciprocating engines or turbines would have Machinist Mates at the steam throttles.

[@darylsmioth1904]

I've been fascinated and consumed my entire life about trains. I bet this guy in the clip has been fascinated by battleships the same way I have been fascinated by trains. I believe we are born this way to a certain degree.

[@1down4upworkshop61]

I live in Philly and have been fascinated by this ship for years ... I wish I was able to tour this ship. I've done countless tours on the New Jersey, most recently while participating in the Fallen Heroes Wreath Motorcycle Ride. Last I read about the SS United States was that she will be towed back to NY and refitted as an attraction of some sort. I wish that it was possible for for that to happen here in Philly ...

[@argentum530]

Well Done! Another great video and a good account of history, thanks for all you folks do in support of the Iowa Class and History.

[@steveskouson9620]

...1.2 curators of space. Ryan, that one got me! I've been impressed. steve