Great Western

The Great Western was a Navire with vapor, out of wood and of 1.340 barrels, the first builds specifically for the crossing of the Atlantique.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel the fact of building with the shipyards of Bristol-board, in 1837. It is equipped with paddle wheels, propelled by a steam engine, and lays out in the event of failure engine, of gréement of 4 masts.

It seized the first blue Ruban while crossing the Atlantic in 15 days 10 hours 30 minute, that is to say a average Speed of 8,9 node S, against 19 days and 6,7 nodes for the Sirius . Actually, it lost in real-time, because of a fire which immobilizes it 48 hours with Bristol, but carries it in “compensated time”. Its return between New York and Bristol is done even with a day less.

Larger and faster transatlantic ship of the time, it carries out seventy crossings between 1838 and 1844.

It is resold in 1847 with the Royal Mail Steam Packet & Co and still sails during 10 years.

Source

Christian Mars, Steamers of legend , Flammarion, 2003

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