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SS City of Paris (1866)
Encyclopedia
City of Paris was a British passenger liner operated by the Inman Line
that established that a ship driven by a screw could match the speed of the paddlers on the Atlantic crossing. Built by Tod and Macgregor, she served the Inman Line until 1884 when she was converted to a cargo ship.
commissioned Scotia
, a paddle wheel Blue Riband
holder, it also commissioned China, the first screw steamer in Cunard's express mail service. While China was only a knot slower than Scotia, China's coal consumption was only half of Scotia's while China carried more cargo. Cunard quickly ordered two additional screw steamers to partner the paddlers Scotia and Persia
on the New York express route. Cunard also opened a secondary service for immigrants that directly competed against Inman. Inman countered Cunard by opening its own express service. With City of Paris, Tod and Macgregor started construction of five fast liners for Inman's Liverpool - New York route to rival the Cunard Line's
best. In response, Cunard commissioned its own fast screw express liners, starting with Russia that replaced Persia in 1867.
After entering service in 1866, City of Paris established herself as at least the equal of Cunard's Scotia. Gibbs credits City of Paris herself with the Blue Riband for a November 1866 westbound voyage from Queenstown
to New York at 13.75 knots. However, most nautical historians list Scotia as the record holder for her 1862 voyage at 14.46 knots that Gibbs discounts because Scotia claimed a particularly long track. In a famous February 1868 race, City of Paris and Russia sailed from New York within an hour of each other. The Inman liner claimed 8 days, 19 hours, 23 minutes to Queenstown, while the Cunarder required 42 minutes longer using a slightly different course. In part because of Inman's success with ships such as City of Paris, in 1867 the British Post Office Government awarded the Inman Line with a share of the North Atlantic mail contract. Throughout the 1870s, Inman's express service averaged lower passage times than Cunard's.
After four years of service, City of Paris was lengthened to 397 feet and re-engined with compounds in response to innovative ships built for the White Star Line
. This raised her tonnage to 3100 and her capacity to 150 cabin and 400 steerage. In 1879, she grounded outside of Smithstown while trooping to South Africa. After her return, she was re-engined again. City of Paris was relieved in the express service by City of Chicago in 1883 and sold the next year to French owners who converted her to the cargo ship Tonquin. In March 1885, she sank off of Malaga
after a collision.
Inman Line
The Inman Line which operated from 1850 until its 1893 absorption into American Line, was one of the three largest 19th century British passenger shipping companies on the North Atlantic, along with the White Star Line and Cunard Line...
that established that a ship driven by a screw could match the speed of the paddlers on the Atlantic crossing. Built by Tod and Macgregor, she served the Inman Line until 1884 when she was converted to a cargo ship.
Development and design
By the end of the American Civil War, Inman was the largest passenger steam ship line to America, and was known for its screw propelled ships that were economical, but not especially fast. When in 1862 CunardCunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
commissioned Scotia
RMS Scotia
Scotia was a British passenger liner operated by the Cunard Line that won the Blue Riband in 1863 for the fastest westbound transatlantic voyage. She was the last ocean going paddle steamer and as late as 1874 she made Cunard's second fastest voyage. Laid up in 1876, Scotia was converted to a...
, a paddle wheel Blue Riband
Blue Riband
The Blue Riband is an unofficial accolade given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest speed. The term was borrowed from horse racing and was not widely used until after 1910. Under the unwritten rules, the record is based on average speed...
holder, it also commissioned China, the first screw steamer in Cunard's express mail service. While China was only a knot slower than Scotia, China's coal consumption was only half of Scotia's while China carried more cargo. Cunard quickly ordered two additional screw steamers to partner the paddlers Scotia and Persia
RMS Persia
Persia was a British passenger liner operated by the Cunard Line that won the Blue Riband in 1856 for the fastest westbound transatlantic voyage. She was the first Atlantic record breaker constructed of iron and was the largest ship in the world at the time of her launch...
on the New York express route. Cunard also opened a secondary service for immigrants that directly competed against Inman. Inman countered Cunard by opening its own express service. With City of Paris, Tod and Macgregor started construction of five fast liners for Inman's Liverpool - New York route to rival the Cunard Line's
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
best. In response, Cunard commissioned its own fast screw express liners, starting with Russia that replaced Persia in 1867.
Service history
Cobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
to New York at 13.75 knots. However, most nautical historians list Scotia as the record holder for her 1862 voyage at 14.46 knots that Gibbs discounts because Scotia claimed a particularly long track. In a famous February 1868 race, City of Paris and Russia sailed from New York within an hour of each other. The Inman liner claimed 8 days, 19 hours, 23 minutes to Queenstown, while the Cunarder required 42 minutes longer using a slightly different course. In part because of Inman's success with ships such as City of Paris, in 1867 the British Post Office Government awarded the Inman Line with a share of the North Atlantic mail contract. Throughout the 1870s, Inman's express service averaged lower passage times than Cunard's.
After four years of service, City of Paris was lengthened to 397 feet and re-engined with compounds in response to innovative ships built for the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
. This raised her tonnage to 3100 and her capacity to 150 cabin and 400 steerage. In 1879, she grounded outside of Smithstown while trooping to South Africa. After her return, she was re-engined again. City of Paris was relieved in the express service by City of Chicago in 1883 and sold the next year to French owners who converted her to the cargo ship Tonquin. In March 1885, she sank off of Malaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
after a collision.