Inman Line's Elegant Record Breakers

City of Paris, launched in 1888, sailed under the Red Ensign for the Inman Line and twice won Blue Riband as the fastest ship on the north Atlantic route from 1889 to 1891 and again from 1892 to 1893.  With her sister ship City of New York she was a worthy rival of the White Star Line’s Teutonic and Majestic.  These two ships were the first twin-screw express liners.

Steaming past Bishop Rock.  1:1250 model of City of Paris by Albatros.  Bishop Rock Lighthouse model by Coastlines.

The City liners were a blend of classic features and revolutionary new technologies.  At a length of 590 feet and 10,499 gross tons, the ships were the largest commercial in the world when they entered service (after the Great Eastern was scrapped in 1887, although her record-breaking size would not be challenged until 1899). They were among the first passenger liners with electric lights throughout, to utilize all steel construction, and to be powered by advanced triple-expansion reciprocating engines.

Power was supplied by two triple expansion engines of 9,000 indicated horsepower each that were placed in separate compartments. While the engines for the two sisters were identical, City of Paris produced 1,500 more horsepower.  Single screw liners were prone to shaft failure that forced them to return to port using auxiliary sails.   Twin-screws allowed a vessel to continue under steam in the event an engine or propeller was damaged.  If the rudder was disabled, a twin-screw ship can still maneuver with its engines.

City of Paris quayside.  The racing yacht lines are very evident here.

City of New York and City of Paris remain among the most beautiful liners.  The pleasing exterior lines were coupled with posh public rooms.  The luxuries of hot and cold water, electric ventilation, and electric lighting were brand new in 1888.  First class public rooms, such as the library and smoking room, were fitted with walnut panels and the dining salon had a massive dome that provided a natural light to the passengers.

City of Paris  began her maiden voyage on 3 April 1889. A month later, she won the Blue Riband with an average speed of 19.95 knots on the first westbound voyage under 6 days. She proved to be consistently faster than her sister.

City of Paris passes HAPAG's Augusta Victoria.

In her first year of service, City of Paris suffered a spectacular engine failure that briefly raised doubts about the safety of twin-screw vessels.  The engineers had not properly synchronized the engines and one started to tear itself apart under no-load conditions.  Valves and bearings broke and the engine room began to flood.  The stricken vessel did not sink but had to be towed to port.  The accident was highly unusual and rarely to be repeated.  Once repaired, City of Paris sailed without trouble. 

In 1893 the Inman Line was taken over by the International Navigation’s American Line (later to be absorbed into Morgan’s IMM).   Now sailing for American owners desiring a mail contract, the American Line sought to change the ships registry to New York.  However, under US law, only vessels built in the United States could be registered as American vessels.  After political wrangling, Congress waived this requirement for Inman's two record breakers and enacted a mail subsidy. Under this legislation, International Navigation was required to build two similar ships in the US and make all four twin screw liners available to the government in the event of a crisis.

One of the most elegant designs indeed.

Once transferred to American registry, the ship was renamed Paris and her sister New York (the same vessel that nearly collided with Titanic in Southampton).  transferred to US registry when the Inman Line was merged into the American Line. Alongside the new American built St Louis and St Paul the ships maintained a profitable New York to Southampton service.  Although by this time the Blue Riband belonged to Cunard’s Campania and thus denying America the honor of holding the speed record.

During the Spanish-American War, Paris requisitioned by the US Navy as the auxiliary cruiser USS Yale.  After Paris returned to commercial service, she was seriously damaged in 1899 when she grounded on the Manacles off of the British coast. Rebuilt and renamed Philadelphia, she sailed for the American Line until requisitioned again during World War I as the transport Harrisburg. After the war, she continued with the American Line until 1920 and was scrapped in 1923 after being sold to cash-strapped Italian ship owners.

SS City of Paris (1888-1923) 10,499 GRT, 560 feet long, 63 feet wide.  Two triple expansion reciprocating engines geared to twin screw.  Service speed 20 knots.  As built accommodation for 1,740 passengers (540 First-Class, 200 Second-Class, 1,000 Third-Class).