SS Oregon (1883)

Guion's Oregon of 1883
History
United Kingdom
Name	Oregon
Namesake	Oregon
Operator	1883–1884 Guion Line 1884–1886 Cunard Line
Builder	John Elder & Company, in Govan, Scotland
Launched	23 June 1883
In service	1883
Out of service	1886
Fate	Sank in 1886 after a collision with a schooner 18 nautical miles (33 km) South of Long Island, New York
General characteristics
Class and type	Steam passenger ship
Tonnage	7,375 GRT
Length	521 ft (159 m)
Beam	54 ft (16 m)
Propulsion	Compound steam engine geared to single screw
Sail plan	Four masts with emergency sails
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity	1,432 passengers in three classes

SS Oregon was a record-breaking British passenger liner that won the Blue Riband for the Guion Line as the fastest liner on the Atlantic in 1884. She was sold to the Cunard Line after a few voyages and continued to improve her passage times for her new owner. In 1885, Oregon was chartered to the Royal Navy as an auxiliary cruiser, and her success in this role resulted in the Admiralty subsidizing suitable ships for quick conversion in the event of a crisis. She returned to Cunard service in November 1885 and four months later collided with a schooner while approaching New York. Virtually all persons on board were rescued before Oregon sank. Her wreck, 18 miles south of Long Island, remains a popular diving site.^[1]