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Masts - Titanic was rigged
with two pole masts spaced about 600 feet apart. These masts were made of steel, except
for a 15-foot teak section at the top of each mast. The tops of the masts stood
approximately 205 feet above the maximum load line, a height necessary to accommodate the
Marconi aerial wires. This ensured that at its lowest point, the aerial would be at least
35 feet above the top of the funnels and away from constant contact with the corrosive
funnel gases. Unlike the masts in sailing vessels whose primary purpose was to carry sail,
the primary purpose of Titanic’s masts was to provide support for a derrick
and rigging for cargo handling, and secondarily, to carry the Marconi aerial aloft.
Titanic’s masts, like those on most passenger liners of the
period, were a departure from the masts on sailing vessels which were commonly constructed
as distinct, independent sections termed lower masts, topmasts and upper topmasts. In the
case of the Olympic-class ships, however, the lower masts and topmasts were made in one
single section . .
. (continued) |
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Image above, Longitudinal Section Through Nos. 1 & 2 Boiler Casing
- A section showing the lower portion of the No. 3 Funnel. In this view, the upper portion
of the uptakes for Nos. 1 and 2 Boiler Rooms is shown coming together beneath the funnel.
Part of the support structure beneath the funnel is visible, transmitting the weight of
this structure to the deck beams on the Middle Deck (F) as well as to the bottom structure
through WTB J. Ladders and platforms within the fidley trunks are shown, as are the doors
leading from the boiler rooms into the working crew passageway on the Upper Deck (E). The Shipbuilder / Author’s collection
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Funnels - The No. 4 Funnel acted as
a ventilator for the exhaust of air from the galleys on D Deck, the 1st Class Smoke Room,
the B Deck à la carte Restaurant, the various pantries, the Turbine Engine Room,
the 1st Class Smoke Room fireplace, the hospitals on D Deck, numerous lavatories and other
accommodations. The ventilating fans that fed into the No. 4 Funnel were located in the
fan room forward of the turbine engine casing on the Boat Deck, and within the funnel
itself. At two places in its height the funnel was partially plated across horizontally to
prevent rain from falling into the space below. Gutters directed the water to a drain
leading to the deck outside.
The four funnels were painted in the standard “White Star Buff”
color with black toppings. The black paint was to hide the residue that came with
coal-fired furnaces. Each funnel had an elliptical cross section that measured 24'-6"
x 19' externally, with an aft rake of 2 inches per foot, or about 80°. Their average
height above the level of the furnace bars (firebars) was 150 feet. . . (continued) |
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Rigging
- Galvanized steel wire rope, abbreviated “GSWR” on rigging plans, was used for
all stays and shrouds. Wire rope was immensely strong compared to manila or hemp, and
provided far greater strength while permitting a significant reduction in diameter. At one
time all ropes were made of natural (plant) fiber which was teased out and spun into
suitable form by hand or machine. Natural-fiber rope includes hemp, manila, coir and
sisal, but since the introduction of iron and particularly mild steel in shipbuilding,
rope made of this latter material rapidly superseded all others, even for lines that have
to run through pulleys or around winch drums. Steel, when drawn into wire, can be twisted
into rope identical in appearance to rope made of natural fibers, albeit with far greater
strength and durability. Wire ropes were made in various lengths; other ropes were
generally made in lengths of about 112 fathoms . . . (continued) |
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Other topics in this chapter: Foremast - Mainmast
- Lightning conductors |
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