THE SS VIRGINIAN

the following information was taken from the SHIPSLIST-L@rootsweb.com
The "Virginian" was built by A.Stephen & Sons, Glasgow in 1904 for the Allan Line. This was a 10,757 gross ton ship, length overall 538ft x beam 60.3ft, one funnel, two masts, three screws and a speed of 18 knots. There was accommodation for 426-1st, 286-2nd and 1,000-3rd class passengers. Launched on 22/12/1904, she sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to St John NB on 6/4/1905. She commenced her first Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal voyage on 11/5/1905 and her last on this route on 13/5/1914. On 3/6/1914 she was chartered to Canadian Pacific and commenced running between Liverpool, Quebec and Montreal to replace the ill fated "Empress of Ireland". She sailed from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal on 4/9/1914 and was used as a troop transport for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on the return voyage. In Oct.1914 she resumed her normal run for one voyage and was then requisitioned as an Armed Merchant Cruiser. In 1917 she returned to Canadian Pacific and sailed from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal on 16/9/1918. Her last voyage on this route commenced on 6/11/1918 and she was then reconditioned at Glasgow and on 22/2/1920 sailed to Gothenburg where she became the 11,182 ton, Swedish American Line "Drottningholm". She commenced sailing between Gothenburg and New York on 29/5/1920 and in 1922 was fitted with new turbines. In 1925 her accommodation was altered to accommodate 532-cabin and 854-3rd class passengers and in 1930 altered again to carry cabin, tourist and 3rd class. She commenced her last voyage on 7/3/1940 from Gothenburg to New York (arr 16/3, dep 26/3) and Gothenburg and between 1940 - 1946 made many voyages as a mercy ship. On 26/8/1945 she commenced her first voyage from New York to Gothenburg and was then reconditioned and resumed her normal Gothenburg - New York service on 27/3/1946. Her last voyage on this route commenced in Feb.1948 and she was then sold to Home Lines of Panama and renamed "Brasil" On 8/4/1948 she commenced sailing between Genoa and South America and on 1/5/1950 started sailings between Genoa, Naples, Halifax and New York. She started a single New York - Bremen voyage on 28/9/1950 and on 12/5/1951 commenced her last voyage between Piraeus - Malta - Palermo - Naples - Genoa - Cannes - Halifax - New York. In 1951 she was renamed "Homeland", rebuilt to 10,043 tons, accommodation for 96-1st and 846-tourist passengers. On 1/6/1951 she commenced her first voyage from New York to Hamburg, on 16/6/1951 commenced Hamburg - Southampton - Cherbourg - Halifax - New York service and on 1/3/1952 started her last sailing on this route. On 14/3/1952 she commenced a New York - Mediterranean service and on 29/3/1952 commenced sailing between Naples - Genoa - Halifax - New York. She commenced her final voyage on 21/10/1954 when she left Genoa for Naples, Halifax, New York, Naples and Genoa, and in Feb.1955 she was scrapped at Trieste. [North Atlantic Seaway, by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1, p.322] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 25 November 1997]

VIRGINIAN
In 1905 the Virginian of the Allan Line became the first turbine liner. Emigrants in 3rd class were served meals at a table, food was good but they were kept wholly distinct from other classes of passengers. - [E-Mail from Marj Kohli - 10 Mar 1998]

There is a picture of the "Virginian" in the book "Ravenscrag: The Allan
Royal Mail Line" by Appleton. She was launched in 1904 and "The Victorian
and Virginain were 540-foot ships expected to have sufficient power for a
sustained sea speed of 17 knots and, as the first of a new breed of liner,
they excited the attention of the shipping and engineering world.

The contract for both ships was originally placed with Workman, Clark & Co.
of Belfast. When the design change was made in October 1903, however, it
was decided that early delivery was necessary if the full benefits of this
new propulsion system were to be achieved. The contract was therefore
split, the Victorian order remaining at Belfast while the Virginian work
was transfered to Alexander Stephen & Son of Linthouse...." p. 162-3

It goes on to say that in June of 1905 she averaged 17.05 knots across the
Atlantic. However, "..she had one smokestack only, a deficiency known to
deter emigrants in those days of multi-funnelled ocean greyhounds. For the
benefit of apprehensive passengers unversed in the anatomy of the steam
turbine, eulogies on quietness, comfort and speed were crowed by the
surprising assurance that the new liners were also 'odorless'." p. 164

THE IMMIGRATION FROM ENGLAND TO MONTREAL DURING THIS PERIOD

from another posting on the Ships List.........

The "Virginian" was built by A.Stephen & Sons, Glasgow in 1904 for the Allan
Line. This was a 10,757 gross ton ship, length overall 538ft x beam 60.3ft,
one funnel, two masts, three screws and a speed of 18 knots. There was
accommodation for 426-1st, 286-2nd and 1,000-3rd class passengers.
Launched on 22/12/1904, she sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to St
John NB on 6/4/1905. She commenced her first Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal
voyage on 11/5/1905 and her last on this route on 13/5/1914.
On 3/6/1914 she was chartered to Canadian Pacific and commenced running
between Liverpool, Quebec and Montreal to replace the ill fated "Empress of
Ireland". She sailed from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal on 4/9/1914 and
was used as a troop transport for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on the
return voyage. In Oct.1914 she resumed her normal run for one voyage and was
then requisitioned as an Armed Merchant Cruiser. In 1917 she returned to
Canadian Pacific and sailed from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal on
16/9/1918. Her last voyage on this route commenced on 6/11/1918 and she was
then reconditioned at Glasgow and on 22/2/1920 sailed to Gothenburg where
she became the 11,182 ton, Swedish American Line "Drottningholm".
She commenced sailing between Gothenburg and New York on 29/5/1920 and in
1922 was fitted with new turbines. In 1925 her accommodation was altered to
accommodate 532-cabin and 854-3rd class passengers and in 1930 altered again
to carry cabin, tourist and 3rd class. She commenced her last voyage on
7/3/1940 from Gothenburg to New York (arr 16/3, dep 26/3) and Gothenburg and
between 1940 - 1946 made many voyages as a mercy ship. On 26/8/1945 she
commenced her first voyage from New York to Gothenburg and was then
reconditioned and resumed her normal Gothenburg - New York service on
27/3/1946. Her last voyage on this route commenced in Feb.1948 and she was
then sold to Home Lines of Panama and renamed "Brasil"
On 8/4/1948 she commenced sailing between Genoa and South America and on
1/5/1950 started sailings between Genoa, Naples, Halifax and New York. She
started a single New York - Bremen voyage on 28/9/1950 and on 12/5/1951
commenced her last voyage between Piraeus - Malta - Palermo - Naples -
Genoa - Cannes - Halifax - New York.

In 1951 she was renamed "Homeland", rebuilt to 10,043 tons, accommodation
for 96-1st and 846-tourist passengers. On 1/6/1951 she commenced her first
voyage from New York to Hamburg, on 16/6/1951 commenced Hamburg -
Southampton - Cherbourg - Halifax - New York service and on 1/3/1952 started
her last sailing on this route. On 14/3/1952 she commenced a New York -
Mediterranean service and on 29/3/1952 commenced sailing between Naples -
Genoa - Halifax - New York. She commenced her final voyage on 21/10/1954
when she left Genoa for Naples, Halifax, New York, Naples and Genoa, and in
Feb.1955 she was scrapped at Trieste.[North Atlantic Seaway, by
N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.322]