Time for reversing

[Jim Currie]

With any conventional or nuclear steam plant, it would be much the same. The issue in this case isn't the type of engine as it is the means by which they were operated.


We seem to take it for granted that it's possible to run the engines by direct control from the bridge, but this is far from case,. Rudders...yes....engines, not so much. This is why you have an engine room telegraph: The bridge signals it's orders, but it's the snipes down in The Hole who work the controls to stop, go ahead, reverse, of run one shaft ahead with the other being run full astern and so on.

To imagine what this would be like on a car: You operate the steering wheel, but it's the person in the back seat who has his foot on the gas pedel and the brakes, and you tell him what you need him to stomp on, then hope he reacts in time to avoid hitting that telephone pole.

Back in my early days, Michael, there was the old " Us and them thing...engine room oil and bridge water don't mix" thing. The engineers poudly (and rightly) boasted that the ship coud not move without them so they were "in charge". Since then, I have been fortunate to see things progress from then until now, Engineers man a control room and the engines are bridge controlled...by throttle levers etc. Sextants unpacked for he entire voyage.

 

[Cam Houseman]

With any conventional or nuclear steam plant, it would be much the same. The issue in this case isn't the type of engine as it is the means by which they were operated.


We seem to take it for granted that it's possible to run the engines by direct control from the bridge, but this is far from case,. Rudders...yes....engines, not so much. This is why you have an engine room telegraph: The bridge signals it's orders, but it's the snipes down in The Hole who work the controls to stop, go ahead, reverse, of run one shaft ahead with the other being run full astern and so on.

To imagine what this would be like on a car: You operate the steering wheel, but it's the person in the back seat who has his foot on the gas pedel and the brakes, and you tell him what you need him to stomp on, then hope he reacts in time to avoid hitting that telephone pole.

Oh, I get it, thank you Mike!

Imagine how many accidents there would be if that was a law, someone from the backseat operated the pedal

 

[Cam Houseman]

Back in my early days, Michael, there was the old " Us and them thing...engine room oil and bridge water don't mix" thing. The engineers poudly (and rightly) boasted that the ship coud not move without them so they were "in charge". Since then, I have been fortunate to see things progress from then until now, Engineers man a control room and the engines are bridge controlled...by throttle levers etc. Sextants unpacked for he entire voyage.

Hi Jim, what are sextants?

 

[Jim Currie]

Hi Jim, what are sextants?

 

[Cam Houseman]

View attachment 50034

thank you.

 

[Tim Gerard]

Back in my early days, Michael, there was the old " Us and them thing...engine room oil and bridge water don't mix" thing. The engineers poudly (and rightly) boasted that the ship coud not move without them so they were "in charge". Since then, I have been fortunate to see things progress from then until now, Engineers man a control room and the engines are bridge controlled...by throttle levers etc. Sextants unpacked for he entire voyage.

As I understand it, there's some small level of "us and them" that still exists today, particularly on older ships with less automation. Newer ships with more automation (and touchscreens) have less of that and more of a feeling of the bridge and engine crew being one team.

 

[Cam Houseman]

As I understand it, there's some small level of "us and them" that still exists today, particularly on older ships with less automation. Newer ships with more automation (and touchscreens) have less of that and more of a feeling of the bridge and engine crew being one team.

I say the age of the Ocean Liners need to come back. I agree with you on the team thing, all of the officers worked together, and knew each other like their own best friends. Cruise ships these days look ugly, in my opinion. The Ocean liners had craftmanship, they were beautiful. I don't call Cruise ships "she" I call them "it". they're honestly just copy n' pasted, with a bigger slide or bar or two new casinos or something. Not one Ocean Liner was the same, even Titanic an Olympic. The Majestic, the Lusitania, the Aquatania, the Titanic, the Olympic, the Britannic, the Oceanic, the Nomadic, heck, even the SS America were eye appealing. Beautiful. Unique. The trim, the furnishing, the hand carved Grand Staircases, the individual carpeting/linoleums for each room (lets not think about the flaws of the linoleum) the different furniture. That's what made Ocean Liners absolutely amazing. Cruise ships, to me, are just plain ugly, stupid, and are gobbling up resources.

Sorry for my rant, this is just my opinion.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Back in my early days, Michael, there was the old " Us and them thing...engine room oil and bridge water don't mix" thing. The engineers poudly (and rightly) boasted that the ship coud not move without them so they were "in charge". Since then, I have been fortunate to see things progress from then until now, Engineers man a control room and the engines are bridge controlled...by throttle levers etc. Sextants unpacked for he entire voyage.

I still saw some of that during my Navy daze. You don't see it so much anymore since engineers and the people up in the driver's seat are all line officers. Everybody knows who the snipes are but they get a lot more respect.

 

[Jim Currie]

As I understand it, there's some small level of "us and them" that still exists today, particularly on older ships with less automation. Newer ships with more automation (and touchscreens) have less of that and more of a feeling of the bridge and engine crew being one team.

As it should be, Tim. I was lucky to be "at the helm" right up until 2004, so worked with a lot of the teething problems. All tech and no teeth nowadays. Ah well" They call it progress.

 

[Cam Houseman]

As it should be, Tim. I was lucky to be "at the helm" right up until 2004, so worked with a lot of the teething problems. All tech and no teeth nowadays. Ah well" They call it progress.

"Progress" Hmph. I feel very strongly about Ocean liners lol. Good Morning, Y'all

 

[Steven Christian]

As I understand it, there's some small level of "us and them" that still exists today, particularly on older ships with less automation. Newer ships with more automation (and touchscreens) have less of that and more of a feeling of the bridge and engine crew being one team.

"Ships Captains are like children. They want everything their way and right now"....Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott.

 

[Cam Houseman]

"Ships Captains are like children. They want everything their way and right now"....Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott.

nice quote. funny how that's so true