The Manchester Guardian - Monday, December 11, 1911

Pictured above, under the “Shipping, Tours, Cruises. &c.” section of the paper is the White Star Line's schedule of their ships’ services to different ports of call. 

The Olympic’s maiden voyage had been the past June, and this clipping shows her next voyage between Cherbourg and Queenstown to be coming up on Wednesday, December 20. 

May 31, 1911

The launch of the RMS Titanic at Harland and Wolff.

Also today, the RMS Olympic was handed over to White Star Line upon her completion.)

(Cover)

This rare brochure had surfaced to be sold at auction by Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers of Devises, back in October 2018. This brochure gives a fantastic glimpse into the sisters’ interiors and world class furnishings. Visit this site or the sources below for a more in depth look at this beautiful brochure.

 (an advertisement for White Star Line, within the brochure)

(images within the brochure depicting construction at Harland & Wolff in Belfast)

Sources: X X X

HMHS Britannic/RMS Britannic: The Basics

Length:  890 ft 3 in

Breadth: 94 ft.

Draft (or Depth):Depth 64 ft. 6 in.

Tonnage:48,158 gross register tons

Engines: Two four-cylinder triple-expansion reciprocating engines, each producing 16,000 hp (12,000 kW) for outboard wing propellers, one low-pressure turbine producing 18,000 hp (13,000 kW) for the centre propeller

Speed: 23 knots

Builder: Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast, Ireland (Yard no. 433)

Launched: February 26, 1914

In Service: December 23, 1915 - Hospital Ship

Disposition: November 21, 1916 - sunk after hitting a mine in the Agean Sea

Particulars:

Port of Registry: Liverpool, England

Flag of Registry: British

Funnel color: Buff; black top (originally)

Company flag: Red swallow tailed pennant with white star

Signal Letters: J M D K

Wireless call letters: *unable to locate, if known, please let me know

As the 108th anniversary of the Titanic sinking is happening now, I thought it would be helpful to show the difference between the two sisters, as people post pictures they claim are Titanic. (Please note this post pertains to visual differences when looking at photographs. I could get into the nitty gritty about specs and decor and etc, but we would be here all day.)

A Deck Promenade:

(There has been further debate as to the Bruce Ismay fact/myth above.. but the basic information above still applies).

The Bridge:

Olympic's(left) bridge wing caps were even with the side of the ship. Titanic's (right) bridge wing caps were extended just a little beyond the side for better view. Olympic's bridge wings would later be extended during her refit that followed Titanic's sinking. (link)

Another angle, pictured here, shows also the window shape, round on the Titanic (right) and square on Olympic (left). Also notable is the vent placement.

Lifeboats (post Titanic):

Obviously, the rules for the required number of lifeboats changed after the Titanic’s fateful voyage. It quite easy to tell then, by the increased number of lifeboats, that a picture of the Olympic is post-sinking. Please see the below image.

Pictured: 1911 lithographic advert for White Star Line, for Olympic & Titanic.

This advertisement has a cool story. A couple found the poster while renovating their home. It was found on the back of a painting hidden behind a false wall. These posters were withdrawn after the sinking so finding one is rare. Read more at the link above.

RMS Olympic: The Basics

Length: 882.0 ft

Breadth: 92.5 ft.

Draft (or Depth): Draft

Tonnage: 46,359 gross (varied during service life)

Engines: Triple expansion, 2 x 4 cyl. 54" 84" (2) 97" x 75" stroke; Low pressure Parsons turbine. 6,906 n.h.p.

Speed: 21 knots

Builder: Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast, Ireland (Yard no. 400)

Launched: May 30, 1911

Maiden Voyage: June 14, 1911

Disposition: 1937 (Scrapped)

Particulars:

Port of Registry: Liverpool, England

Flag of Registry: British

Funnel color: Buff; black top

Company flag: Red swallow tailed pennant with white star

Signal Letters: H S R P

Wireless call letters: M K G

Details: Steel hull; four funnels, two masts; triple screws; 5 decks amidships; 7 decks at #1 hold; 6 decks in other holds; electric light / refrigeration machinery / submarine signal / wireless

April 24th, 1912, afternoon - As Olympic prepares to leave Southampton on her first voyage following the Titanic disaster, a number of strikers from her boiler rooms leave the vessel at the same berth from which her tragic sister sailed fourteen days ago, Olympic herself now fully loaded with passengers and awaiting signal to cast off.

Forty additional collapsible lifeboats have been added to those twenty already carried aboard the liner, though these are found to be decidedly second-hand, with leaks and holes readily apparent. Further delays as non-union crewmen replace those who have disembarked lead to more unease, and eventually fifty-three in total will leave the ship to face charges of mutiny (they will later be found guilty, though all will be excused under the circumstances).

Olympic's voyage is cancelled after some deliberation, with her passengers hurrying to make other last minute arrangements for their journeys toward New York.

Photo of Olympic off Spithead as tests of Boat #9 are carried out following the Titanic disaster, PA Images/CNE Maritime Museum