S.S. Westphalia (1), Hamburg America Line

The steamship Westphalia (1) was built of iron with 3 decks and hurricane deck; the latter afforded a fine promenade for the passengers. She had a straight bow and was originally fitted with 1 funnel. Her engine was of the inverted type, with 2 cylinders. She was a single screw steamer with a service speed of about 12 knots. She was originally built with passenger accommodation for about 90 first class-, 130 second class-, and 520 third class (steerage) passengers, but carried quite larger numbers on some occasions, as can be seen from the reports above. She had a crew of about 120 persons.

She was rebuilt 1877/78 and fitted with new compounded engines and boilers by Blohm & Voss at Hamburg. After her rebuild her measurement was listed as 4,500 tons gross. Her accommodation appears to have been altered to accommodate about 170 saloon passengers, and about 700 passengers in the steerage. Her second cabin, which was formerly on the deck below the main saloon, was now placed on the main deck, and a tremendous iron windlass had been added to the other steam appliances of the vessel. She had two large iron troughs leading down her sides for the purpose of heaving the ashes. The saloon was refitted and re-furnished and re-upholstered. A number of minor improvements were made. The smoking-rooms were in the house on the hurricane deck. Both side-lights had been placed in little houses well forward, and could be lighted or trimmed from the inside without removing them from their positions. A bridge for the lookout ran between the two light houses, and the main bridge was further aft. The Captain's rooms were just aft of the latter. The Westphalia was brig-rigged with double topsail yards, and after the rebuild she had two large smoke-stacks which were painted black as can be seen on the photograph below. With her new machinery she made 13½ miles an hour without canvas.

S/S Westphalia after rebuilding in 1878 [from an old booklet] Support Norway Heritage: Purchase a copy

Westphalia (1), Hamburg America Line steamship at Hamburg post 1878 Support Norway Heritage: Purchase a copy