r/RMS_Titanic • u/The_Hustle_Mallard • 20d ago

Could Second Class/First Class go through these doors on the C-Deck Promenade?

Gallery image

Gallery image

10 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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2

u/Emperor-_Palpatine 19d ago

I don't think they were unlocked

4

u/1912_boat_man 17d ago

Technically, no, they weren't allowed to. Those doors were the barrier between first and second class.

However, it's difficult to say how well this was actually, physically enforced, since it was one of those rules nobody actually tried to break.

Edit: although, the third door, the one all the way on the starboard side, was likely open to second class. It led to the ships hospital.

3

u/Titanic_Autistic101 16d ago

If I remember well what I read in the "Locked gates" annex of "A centennial Reappraisal" there are testimonies about this kind of door not being locked, except at times of boarding due to the number of people circulating at this moment. Those doors were used for service by the crew, so locking would quickly be a hinderence, and thisbalso explains the notices near them.

I think passengers going out of their classes would be quickly identified anyway (clothing etc.), even more in first class where stewards knew "their" passengers on a very personnal basis.

And, even today, most people don't get past doors saying "private" or "crew only", locked or not.