Steam Ship Gallery

Arrival of "The Great Britain" Steam-Ship at New York, 1845. Creator: Unknown

Arrival of "The Great Britain" Steam-Ship at New York, 1845. The SS Great Britain steamship, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was the longest passenger ship in the world from 1845 to 1854. Here we see '...the leviathan vessel passing Fort Hamilton and the Narrows. In the foreground are the crowd of spectators, and the battery of enormous guns....On Monday, the Great Britain was opened to the public at the rate of 25 cents a-head, and 12 cents extra to the engine-room; and thousands poured into New York to see the "big ship"'. She sailed from Bristol to New York '...against foul winds and cross seas, in 14 days, or 354 hours, giving an average speed for the whole voyage of somewhat more than 9 1/4 knots or nautical miles (which is equal to 10 3/4 statute miles) per hour'. From "Illustrated London News", 1845, Vol VII.

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The London Bridge Steam Wharf, 1844. Creator: Unknown

The London Bridge Steam Wharf, 1844. Steamships on the River Thames: The spirited scene represented in the engraving - the Steam Packet Wharf at London-bridge - may be regarded as the main focus of this extensive means of transit. The number of arrivals and departures at this spot during the day, is truly astonishing; and at the present high steam season, is a constant source of attraction. The vessels are of all degrees of tonnage; and from thence and the adjoining Fresh Wharf, and Cox and Hammond's Quays, steamers start for Greenwich, Woolwich, Sheerness, Gravesend, Herne Bay, Margate, Deal and Dover, Calais, Boulogne, and Ostend, and other places. Although the width of the river is here nearly 700 feet, the constant arrivals and departures occupy a considerable portion of this extent'. From "Illustrated London News", 1844, Vol I

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The Mail Packet from Alexandria, off Marseilles - the Indian Mail on board, 1844

The Mail Packet from Alexandria, off Marseilles - the Indian Mail on board, 1844. Postal service between Britain and India: The India Mail - comprehending all the mails from the departments of the East - is made up at Bombay. It consists of bundles of letters, so packed, in strong iron boxes...these boxes are stamped with a crown, and the words, "GENERAL POST OFFICE - INDIA MAIL." The boxes, sealed and numbered, are put on board a powerful steamer, and sent direct to Suez, at the head of the Red Sea; then they are transmitted across the Desert in light carts, to Cairo, where they are shipped on the canal, and towed, or steamed, according to circumstances, to Alexandria, and thence across the Mediterranean. From "Illustrated London News", 1844, Vol I

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