SS City of Montreal

Last updated
SS City of Montreal, before her refit in 1876
Name
1867 - City Of Montreal
Namesake
Montreal
Owner
* 1871: Tod & Macgregor * 1872-87: Inman Line *
Port of registry
Liverpool
Route
Trans-Atlantic route
Ordered
1871
Builder
Tod & Macgregor, Partick, Glasgow
Yard number
148
Launched
20th September 1871
Christened
-Unknown-
Completed
-Unknown-
Maiden voyage
February 8th 1872
Fate
Caught fire, August 10th 1887
General characteristics
Type
Ocean liner
Gross registered tons
4,451 grt
Length
-Unknown-
Beam
-Unknown-
Depth
-Unknown-
Propulsion
* 2-cylinder beam engine * single screw City Of Montreal (With 1 Funnel).jpg
SS City of Montreal, before her refit in 1876
Name1867 - City Of Montreal
Namesake Montreal
Owner* 1871: Tod & Macgregor * 1872–87: Inman Line *
Port of registry Liverpool
Route Trans-Atlantic route
Ordered1871
Builder Tod & Macgregor, Partick, Glasgow
Yard number148
Launched20th September 1871
Christened-Unknown-
Completed-Unknown-
Maiden voyageFebruary 8th 1872
FateCaught fire, August 10th 1887
General characteristics
Type Ocean liner
Gross registered tons4,451 grt
Length-Unknown-
Beam-Unknown-
Depth-Unknown-
Propulsion* 2-cylinder beam engine * single screw

SS City of Montreal was a british passenger steamship, built for the Inman line in 1871 by Tod & Macgregor, Glasgow, Scotland. [1]

Contents

Construction

She was ordered by Inman line in 1871, and took about 1 year to finish. She was launched September 20th 1871, and finished in 1872. She was built to compete against the White Star Line's ships [2]

Service (1872–1876)

After getting their new steamer, the Inman line had her sail on the Trans-Atlantic route, going from Liverpool to Queenstown and then heading to New York. City of Montreal's maiden voyage was uneventful, but it was found that the ship was slow and coal consuming. She would go on 7 more voyages before being brought back to Tod & Macgregor for a refit. [3]

Being refit and her life after refitting

She was sent back to Tod & Macgregor, with the Inman line hoping that her refit would be well spent money. And it was. She went 12 knots after the refit. She would go on for another 50 voyages over 12 years before on her 51rst voyage she would burst into flames and sink. [4]

City Of Montreal after her 1876 refit (with 1 extra funnel) SS City Of Montreal After 1876 Refit.jpg
City Of Montreal after her 1876 refit (with 1 extra funnel)

Sinking and rescue

On August 10th, 1887 the ship, heading back to Liverpool from New York, at around 9:20 PM caught fire and started to burn. The ship was loaded with 8,000 bales of American cotton, which is probably what started the fire, possibly when an oil lamp fell and broke onto the cotton. As the ship burned, the crew began hastily lowering lifeboats, however it was stormy when she did begin to burn, so the lifeboats all got ither separated when lowered or smashed to pieces when landing in the choppy water. 1 lifeboat that got separated, along with its 13 passengers, disappeared. The lifeboat was found later on. At around 2:00 PM the next morning the foremost mast was seen going under. The ship most likely sank round that morning. All crew and passengers were rescued by the steamship " SS York City ". [5]

City Of Montreal burning | artists interpretations BurningMontreal.jpg
MontrealBurning.jpg
City Of Montreal burning | artists interpretations

References

  1. "Tod and McGregor - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  2. "City of Montreal". www.gregormacgregor.com. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  3. "City of Montreal, Inman Line". www.norwayheritage.com. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  4. "City of Montreal, Inman Line". www.norwayheritage.com. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  5. "City of Montreal, Inman Line". www.norwayheritage.com. Retrieved 2025-07-08.