Duncan Barrett

Susie Miller is a Belfast tour guide whose great-grandfather worked for the company.

Susie Miller is a Belfast tour guide whose great-grandfather worked for the company.

As one of Harland and Wolfe's most experienced engine builders... Tommy Miller is asked to work on the company's latest prestige project, Titanic.

As one of Harland and Wolfe's most experienced engine builders... Tommy Miller is asked to work on the company's latest prestige project, Titanic.

And Tommy's not the only one who feels a surge of pride at the thought of the new Olympic-class vessels. His boss at the shipyard, another Thomas, is the man responsible for designing Titanic and her sisters, giving form to the dream conjured up by Lord Pirrie and Bruce Ismay.

And Tommy's not the only one who feels a surge of pride at the thought of the new Olympic-class vessels. His boss at the shipyard, another Thomas, is the man responsible for designing Titanic and her sisters, giving form to the dream conjured up by Lord Pirrie and Bruce Ismay.

Despite all the fanfare surrounding Titanic's launch, the ship that slides into the Lagen on May 31, 1911, is far from complete. It'll be almost another year before the ship of dreams is ready for her passengers. In the meantime, it's her elder sister, Olympic, that will carry White Star's fortunes across the Atlantic.

Despite all the fanfare surrounding Titanic's launch, the ship that slides into the Lagen on May 31, 1911, is far from complete. It'll be almost another year before the ship of dreams is ready for her passengers. In the meantime, it's her elder sister, Olympic, that will carry White Star's fortunes across the Atlantic.

Just two weeks after Titanic is launched in Belfast Olympics sets off on her maiden voyage to New York. Meanwhile, Titanic is towed to a special fitting out birth to begin her transformation into a floating luxury hotel.

Just two weeks after Titanic is launched in Belfast Olympics sets off on her maiden voyage to New York. Meanwhile, Titanic is towed to a special fitting out birth to begin her transformation into a floating luxury hotel.

Once completed, Titanic is pretty much Olympic 2.0, taking everything that works from her sister ship and then improving it with small adjustments. She's very much the pro version of the new model, or as she's known at the time, Olympic perfected. Strictly speaking, she's also a record breaker, the biggest ship ever manufactured.

Once completed, Titanic is pretty much Olympic 2.0, taking everything that works from her sister ship and then improving it with small adjustments. She's very much the pro version of the new model, or as she's known at the time, Olympic perfected. Strictly speaking, she's also a record breaker, the biggest ship ever manufactured.

But only because minor changes to her layout and interiors add extra weight compared to Olympic, to the tune of about half a percent. Tim Moulton is the author of 101 Things You Thought You Knew About the Titanic But Didn't.

But only because minor changes to her layout and interiors add extra weight compared to Olympic, to the tune of about half a percent. Tim Moulton is the author of 101 Things You Thought You Knew About the Titanic But Didn't.

In the years following the Titanic disaster, the similarity between the two ships will lead to some interesting theories. Even today, some people believe that it's Olympic and not Titanic that ended up at the bottom of the ocean. I love conspiracy theories.

In the years following the Titanic disaster, the similarity between the two ships will lead to some interesting theories. Even today, some people believe that it's Olympic and not Titanic that ended up at the bottom of the ocean. I love conspiracy theories.

Far-fetched it may be, but for those who were familiar with both ships, the similarity between them must have been uncanny. More than two decades after the Titanic disaster, Olympic was still ferrying passengers across the Atlantic.

Far-fetched it may be, but for those who were familiar with both ships, the similarity between them must have been uncanny. More than two decades after the Titanic disaster, Olympic was still ferrying passengers across the Atlantic.

All of Titanic's most iconic design features are shared with her sister ship, including the magnificent grand staircase. Immortalized in James Cameron's 1997 movie, the elegant seven-story staircase runs right through the first-class section of the ship, providing access for White Star's richest passengers to their luxurious dining and smoking rooms.

All of Titanic's most iconic design features are shared with her sister ship, including the magnificent grand staircase. Immortalized in James Cameron's 1997 movie, the elegant seven-story staircase runs right through the first-class section of the ship, providing access for White Star's richest passengers to their luxurious dining and smoking rooms.