Alaska (1881)

Later names:
Magallanes (1897) (used under charter only)


Builder:
John Elder & Company
Govan, Glasgow, Scotland
Ordered:
N/A
Keel Laid:
N/A
Year Built:
1881
Launched:
July 15, 1881
Type:
Passenger
Completed:


October 1881
Fate:
Scrapped at Preston, England in 1902.


Owner
Liverpool & Great Western Steamship Company Ltd.
(Guion Line)
Liverpool, England


Dimensions, machinery and performance

Length:
520'
Engines:
1 three cylinder compound by Elder
Beam:
50'
Boilers:
9 fire tube type
Draft:
38' (depth)
Shafts:
1
Gross Tons:
6,932
HP:
8,300 IHP
DWT:
N/A
Speed:
16 knots
Crew:
N/A
Funnels:
2
Passengers:
1,350
Masts:
4 (rigged for sail)


History
July 13, 1881:
First launch attempt, ship slid half way down the ways and stopped. Finally launched two
days later.

Oct. 30, 1881:
Maiden voyage Liverpool - Queenstown - New York.
Apr. 16, 1882:
Won Blue Riband (westbound) on voyage 7 days, 6 hours, 20 minuets average speed of
16.7 knots (taken from the White Star Line's Germanic). Held the record with improved
time of 6 days, 23 hours, 48 minuets average speed of 17.5 knots until Apr. 19, 1884
when her record was bested by the Oregon, another Guion liner.

June 6, 1882:
Won the Blue Riband (eastbound) on voyage 6 days, 22 hours 20 average speed
16.7 knots (taken from Arizona, another Guion liner). Held the record with improved time
of 6 days, 18 hours, 37 minuets average speed of 17.1 knots until Apr. 5, 1882 when
her record was bested by Oregon, another Guion liner.

May 1894:
Laid up in Gareloch.
1897:
Chartered by Compañía Trasatlántica Española, S.A, Barcelona, Spain and renamed
Magallanes, used as troop transport during Spanish-American War.

1898:
Laid up in the Clyde.
1899:
Sold for scrap, soon resold and used as an accommodations ship in Barrow-in-Furness.
1902:
Scrapped at Preston, England.


Builder's Data
Page published Apr. 18, 2010