The
R101 and R100 dispensed with existing designs and both ships designers
added new passenger accommodation within the body of the airship.
All previous commercial passenger ships had extended the lower
command gondola with the accommodation behind the main cabin.
In 1926, the original design of the R101 showed a ship with seven
engine cars and a long external passenger accommodation behind
the command gondola, very similar to the configuration of the
R36. However, to include accommodation for the proposed 100 passengers,
the design was altered.
It
was decided to adopt a two deck approach to the ship. The upper
would contain the main passenger accommodation, public spaces,
lounge, dining room and promenades. The lower deck would contain
the smoking room and washrooms and the crew's quarters. There
were many design changes to the R101's interior; some of the original
drawings show a three deck ship, with the promenade decks on the
upper level.
The
Main Lounge
The colour scheme was white panels with gold inlay. The curtains
on to the promenade deck were of fine Cambridge blue. The
seating arrangements were of small tables, and the chairs
were constructed of upholstered green cane wicker. At each
side of the left hand side of the lounge were writing desks
running alongside the wall. The ship had provided R101 headed
stationery. On the walls were paintings, however we have not
been able to ascertain what they depicted at the present time.
Another
close up shot of the lounge showing the entrance to the
promenade deck. Three steps led up to the deck. The curtains
would be drawn closed at night in order to give those on
the Promenade Deck a better view of the ground without light
pollution from the lounge. The cushions on the side chairs
were inflated with air to save weight.
The Dinning Room
The dining room was able to seat 50 people in one sitting.
A dumb waiter hoisted the food up from the galley below to
the dining room. There was also a wireless set fitted in the
wall to provide music to diners whilst they ate.
The
Promenade Decks
The promenade decks had deck chairs and a safety rail with
a foot rest. The design followed very traditional nautical
designs and almost felt as if passengers were on the deck
of a ship. Deck chairs were provided as seen here.
The
promenade decks were on both sides of the lounge, and also
ran along the side of the dining room. Even though early
designs suggested that they would both be interlinked, there
was no door between each section of the promenade decks.
The
original windows were made of glass but were removed and
replaced by light weight cellon safety glass.
A second set of windows and promenade ran along the corridor
on the starboard side of the passenger accommodation near
the sleeping quarters.
Seen here on the left are both the port, and very rare starboard
side promenades. The starboard side promenade can be seen,
with the two gentlement leaning on the railing. This promenade
was opposite to the port side of the ship where the dining
room was, and also had simliar window / railing layout.
These
windows were removed in September 1930 as part of the weight
saving programme. Few photographs of the ship exist with
the second set of windows removed.
The
Corridors
One of the two corridors leading from the lounge. The set
of steps seen here lead over a main ring girder. In the distance
is the staircase to the lower deck. To the right would have
been the main washrooms for passengers.
The
walls were made of fine 2mm thick spruce cladding on main
pillars and stretched doped double thickness white painted
cloth on the wall spaces. The lines on the pillar inlays
were painted gold, as were the edges to the cloth panels.
To the left of the photo you can make out the writing desk
attached to the wall.
Seen here is the main corridor to the sleeping cabins, with
the view out towards the starboard promenade deck as seen
above.
The
sleeping arrangements were in the form of bunks. Even though
they may seem spartan, the cabins were warmed by a heating
vent driven from the main radiator which could be heated
or cooled by being lowered out of the ship.
Each cabin had a main "porthole" electric light,
fitted to the wall with a small blind which could be drawn
over it. This continued the nautical influence. A small
reading light was also provided above each bunk.
A
small luggage stool would be provided for cabin bags and
a small rug would be on the floor. Each cabin had a notice
regarding the protocols of airship life, including details
for summoning a steward.
Some
50 cabins were constructed in formations of single, twin
and four berth arrangements.
A
very rare shot of a two berth passenger cabin.
Washroom
facilities were available close by. These had aluminium
sinks with long half length mirrors suspended on two wires
in front of the basins.
Toilets
were on the lower deck.
Below
Decks - Crew's Quarters
The crew's sleeping quarters were in the lower deck of the
ship. The crew had a series of sets of sleeping accommodations
and as seen here, were comfortable compared to those of the
Zeppelins, in which it was not uncommon for the crew to sleep
in hammocks. The R101 crew had a large mess hall for their
private space. This contained a large table with bench seating.
The
lower deck also contained the cargo hold into which the
luggage and stores could be hoisted through the cargo hatch
using the winch.
The Galley
All of the utensils were made of light aluminium. The galley
was well fitted out with an all electric oven, a vegetable
steamer and ample space for the chef.
The
Smoking Room
A unique example of design. The R101 was fitted with a smoking
room on the lower deck able to seat 24 people. The floor and
ceiling were made of light asbestos with a thin sheet of metal
on the floor. The walls were the same construction as the
rest of the ship, being made of cloth. The smoking room was
not considered a hazard to the ship as all precautions had
been taken with materials in construction. This is where you
could retire after dinner and enjoy a cigar and postprandial
drink.
Lower
deck corridor.
The corridor from the nose of the ship to the passenger accommodation
was constructed of a similar material to the corridors above
in the upper deck. This meant that the passengers entering
the ship would see a long white and gold "panelled"
corridor to the lower deck accommodation and a stair case
up to the main cabins. The corridor had wooden doors on each
side to the crews quarters, the cargo room, the wireless room,
the galley, the smoking room and the toilets.
There
were small windows in the lower deck corridor near the wireless
room and the chart room. Lower windows were also in the
crew room.
