did you know that the actual Titanic's fourth funnel is a dummy smokestack?
By mazdakid
@mazdakid (347)
Philippines
November 19, 2008 9:25am CST
sorry if this topic veers away from Titanic's love story, but did you know that the actual ship's fourth funnel (smokestack), the one at the rear, is not a real exhaust pipe and is just a dummy smokestack?
the ship only has three propellers (if you notice the red sign beside Rose when she was about to jump ship: "NOTICE: This ship has triple screws. Keep away from blades"), and hence, there are only three engines. the first three smokestacks are the real funnels. the fourth one was installed so that the ship would look more powerful.
and in James Cameron's movie, i was very impressed that he did not leave that info out. the fourth funnel had little black smoke since it was just an extra vent for the three main smokestacks. other Titanic movies before James Cameron's seem to erroneously show four fully-functioning smokestacks, and that probably drew a lot of flak from historians and keen movie watchers.
pretty neat, huh? =)
4 responses
@karamellized (680)
• Philippines
26 Nov 08
I have learned about this during the time when Titanic in the movie was such a hit and most of the channels were featuring its behind the scenes shots.
The production team of the movie was very brilliant and I have to commend them. 
@mazdakid (347)
• Philippines
30 Nov 08
hi karamellized! yup, the production team was very very good and i also commend them for the quality of the fiction and non-fiction in the movie, and for their sticking to facts about the ship so that no misinformation would be taught to those who are unaware.
and speaking of misinformation, i still laugh whenever i remember the time when i heard that my seatmates in the cinema were saying that "Oh! So that's why the Titanic sank! The men on the bridge and crow's nest were too busy watching Jack and Rose kissing that they didn't see the iceberg on time!" Hahahaha!
@Irving400 (1)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Yeah it is True. Titanic only has 3 funnels. The fourth one was put there, to make the ship look more powerful.
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
19 Nov 08
How did you find that out? Interesting discussion to bring up.
@mazdakid (347)
• Philippines
19 Nov 08
the geek (non-pejorative version of the term) within me decided to research more about the Titanic after i watched it at the cinema several years ago. i researched from the encyclopaedia in my house, at bookstores where they allowed reading, and from reliable sources from the internet. i was fascinated with the Titanic, that's why i found such interesting tidbits.
and did you know that the Titanic had two sister ships? There was the Olympic, the Titanic and the Britannic (supposed to be called "Gigantic", but was later renamed as Britannic).
The Olympic was the only ship to have survived until its scrapping at an old age. The Britannic was converted into a hospital ship even before she was launched as an ocean liner, and was sunk by a mine during the war.
but, ya know, sometimes i kinda hate it when i get fascinated at the love story between Jack and Rose, and at the same time, i get fascinated at the technical and historical details about that ship. hehehe.
@jlovesbsb (243)
• United States
20 Nov 08
WoW!
i would have never noticed that.
Thanks....i think.
Well, what can i say. You learn something everyday.
Thanks for sharing that information.
