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The R.M.S. Abyssinia

by John MacFarlane 2020

The R.M.S. Abyssinia

The R.M.S. Abyssinia (Photo from the collection of the City of Vancouver Archives AM54-S4-SGN_307.)

Originally constructed for the Cunard Line for service on their North Atlantic routes she was given up to the builders in 1880 and then sold on to the Guion Line. In 1887 she was chartered to the CPR until 1890 when she was returned to the Guion Line. She arrived in Vancouver on June 14, 1887 after a voyage of 13 days and 14 hours from Yokohama Japan. She carried 22 first class passengers with 80 Chinese steerage class passengers. She also carried mail, tea and silk. She operated a fast route across the North Pacific from Vancouver to Yokohama. She carried freight as well as passengers. Tea and silk were among the valuable items worth the cost of freight and calling for fast service. She was never intended for long–term service but filled a gap in the fleet until purpose–designed Empress ships could be constructed. On December 18, 1891 she burned at sea.

The R.M.S. Abyssinia

The R.M.S. Abyssinia (Photo from the collection of the City of Vancouver Archives AM54-S4-Bo_P132.)

The Royal Mail Ship Abyssinia was built in Glasgow Scotland, 1870, by J. & G. Thomson. She was 363’ x 42’ x 34’ steel hulled 3651gt 2346nt. She was powered by a steam engine by J. Jones & Son driving one screw but was also rigged to carry sails. She was re–engined with a compound engine in 1882.


To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John (2020) The R.M.S. Abyssinia. Nauticapedia.ca 2020. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Abyssinia.php

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Site News: December 21, 2024

The vessel database has been updated and is now holding 94,824 vessel histories (with 16,274 images and 13,929 records of ship wrecks and marine disasters).

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