Similar to Britannic, the Oregon was owned by the Guion Line, which had been formed by the management of the former Black Star Line. She was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company and launched on the Clyde in 1883. She produced 13 000 horsepower from the most powerful set of marine engines in use at the time. On her first trip she crossed the Atlantic in 7 days, 8 hours and 33 minutes, and on her third homeward voyage reduced this to 6 days, 16 hours and 57 minutes at an average speed of 17.48 knots.

She was to be paid for in instalments but, due to these not being met, she was repossessed by Fairfield Engineering and sold to Cunard. Her best ever speed was 18 knots in August 1884 before being used as an auxiliary cruiser when there was danger of was with Russia in 1885.

In March 1886 she was rammed by an unknown schooner off Fire Island, New York and the North German Lloyd steamer Fulda barely had time to save the 900 people on board before she went down.

Even though she was no longer running the Atlantic it was to be another three years before she lost the Blue Riband.

Click picture for full screen version.