books – Old Steam Ships

Welcome to the introductory post of this site! I run a pop culture site called powerpop.blog. I didn’t feel like what I’m going to be talking about really belonged there. I have a huge passion for these ships and would love to learn and grow more in this area. I want to start out with the big 3 Olympic-class ships of the White Star Line in the early 20th Century. That is not to say we won’t be talking about other non-steam ships like the Edmund Fitzgerald and bounce between the two like the RMS Empress of Ireland (often called Canada’s Titanic). There is room for all, but I would like to center it around the old steam ships. This won’t be a blog where I post every day. At first, I will try to make it consistent but not overbearing because I don’t have that kind of time.

My love of old steam ships started with the Titanic when I was a kid in the seventies and eighties. I would also read about the Olympic and Britannic, and how luxurious they were. They were not a huge party boat on water like modern cruise ships. They were refined and a way to get to the New World in style. They were elegant, beautiful, and regal. White Star Line didn’t make most of its money from the rich; it made it with 3rd-class passengers traveling to different countries. It was said that the Titanic’s third class were widely considered to be the equivalent of, or even superior to, second class other ships, it’s second class was like first class on other ships, and its 1st class was magnificent.

We will dive into all three ships, The White Star Line, The Cunard Line, and other ships at that time. What made me love these ships was the classic look that never gets old to me. Also, the interior that they used. Below I’ll drop some pics of the interior the Olympic. When you see the main grand staircase, yes, it’s the Olympic. No known picture exists of Titanic’s grand staircase, but it was said to be nearly identical. There were differences, though, in the ships, and we will get into that as well.