While thinking about scary places, I remembered the RMS Queen Mary. When I think of the word “ocean liner,” usually something along the lines of the Love Boat comes to mind. But apparently, there are some disturbing happenings going on in the Queen Mary.
The RMS Queen Mary sailed the North Atlantic for 31 years (1936 until 1967). Like the RMS Queen Elizabeth, her running mate, the Queen Mary helped transport troops during World War II. She was the third largest ocean liner in the world and at times, could carry as many as 16,000 men to war. In 1942, a tragedy occurred when the Queen Mary accidentally sank her escort ship, the HMS Curacoa, in which 338 were killed. Because the Queen Mary was vulnerable to U-Boat attacks, she was under strict orders to stop for no reason, so she could not try to rescue any survivors. The ship nearly capsized in 1942 when hit by a rogue wave near Scotland. This story is said to have been the inspiration for one of my favorite ‘70s disaster movies, The Poseidon Adventure.
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After the war ended, the Queen Mary was spiffed up to do what she was designed for – be a luxury ocean liner. She sailed the ocean until 1967, when she was retired to Long Beach, California to serve as a tourist attraction. The Queen Mary is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and celebrated her 70th anniversary in 2006.
But, many believe the Queen Mary has some unpaid guests that permanently reside there. While she was an active ocean liner, there were no reports of ghosts, but since settling in Long Beach, there have been plenty. Tourists have reported hearing children cry in the nursery room and splashing sounds in a pool that has been drained for years. John Pedder, an 18 year old fireman, was killed by a watertight door in the engine room and it is said that his ghost haunts the Queen Mary.
All in all, experts believe that up to 150 spirits haunt the Queen Mary. Crew members have reported seeing ghosts of former crew members as well as seeing a woman in a white evening gown and a man in a 1930’s style suit.
Of course, these reports have made the ocean liner all the more famous and now paranormal tours are conducted. The ship has been featured on “Ghost Hunters” and “Most Haunted,” while also featured on the paranormal radio show “Coast to Coast AM.” In 1998, an episode of “X-Files” was filmed on the Queen Mary.