1840 – 1880 / Samuel Cunard’s pioneering vessel, the Britannia was the very first ship of the Cunard Line.
Daniel Othfors
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1850 – 1854 / A ship of the ill-fated Collins Line, the Arctic sank after a collision in foggy weather in 1854, with great loss of life.
1856 – 1872 / Although her career was not very dramatic, the Persia is noteworthy for being Cunard’s first iron-hulled ship.
1860 – 1888 / Unique in almost every respect, the brainchild of Isambard Kingdom Brunel was too far ahead of her time, and never quite found success.
1865 – 1895 / Also known as Atlantique and Amerique / An early vessel of the CGT, this French paddle-wheeler was eventually refitted with a single propeller.
1867 – 1902 / Also known as Waesland / Catching up with modern technology of the time, the Cunard Line launched the Russia as their first ship built with a propeller rather than paddle wheels.
1871 – 1896 / Built as one of the finest ships on the North Atlantic of her time, the Oceanic is particularly noteworthy for being the first steamship of the White Star Line.
1872 – 1899 / An early vessel in the White Star fleet, the first Adriatic was also the company’s first winner of the Blue Riband.
1875 – 1950 / Also known as Ottawa, Gul Djemal and Gulcemal / A rare speed queen of the White Star Line, the Germanic had an unusually long career and survived two world wars.
1883 – 1911 / Also known as Ville de New York and La Normandie / Although never a record-breaker, the Normandie made the CGT competitive in terms of speed. She remained with the French Line for her entire career until she was cut up.