The S.S. Chickahominy, Part II

            LAUNCHES AND TRIAL TRIPS

THE S.S. Chickahominy went on her trial trip off the Hartlepool coast on the 4th inst She is the second of a group of three steamers built at the Middleton Shipyard West Hartlepool by Messrs. Furness, Withy, and Co., Limited for the Chesapeake and Ohio Steamship Company and is fit not only for general cargo, but especially for the carriage of live cattle from the United States to this country. Two whole decks, almost from stem to stern are given up to the accommodation of live cattle and numerous improvements are provided for their safety and comparative comfort whilst on the voyage, the arrangements for ventilation and for the rapid supply of fresh water deserving especial mention. The vessel is provided with main engines and boilers from the Central Marine Engine works West  Hartlepool, the cylinders being 28 in., 431 1/2 in., and 72in. in diameter by 48 in. stroke. The boilers are two large double-ended boilers working at 160 lb. per square inch, made on the plan universally adopted at the Central Engine Works, with welded and flanged shellplates. The trial trip took place on a most unfavourable day, there being a heavy sea running and much wind, which prevented anything like a test being made of the speed of the vessel.

-Engineering, Nov. 17, 1893

The S.S. Chickahominy, Part I

From the Clyde to the James . . .

"The new steamship line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Newport News to Liverpool commenced its service September 9. An English company called the Chesapeake and Ohio Steamship Company Limited was organised through the efforts of officers of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company establish this line with a capital of $1,000,000 and $750,000 in five per cent debentures and the railroad company subscribed for $600,000 of the stock The contracts were let in 1892 for building six vessels for the line. Three of the ships Appomattox, Greenbrier, and Chickahominy are all being built at West Hartlepool They are 345 ft in length with cargo capacity 5,000 tons measurement and fittings for 550 head of cattle. The other three ships were built at Linthouse on Clyde and are named Rappahannock, Shenandoah, and Kanawha. They are 370 ft in length with cargo capacity of 6,785 tons measurement each and fittings for 770 head of cattle each. The Rappahannock is ready for service and the Appomattox is booked to sail from England in a few days. The six ships are expected to make weekly sailings from Newport News. This will allow six weeks for the round trip including the taking on and discharging of cargo. It is very probable that other ships will be added to the fleet but no arrangement has been made as yet for them. "

 -Railway News vol. 60, published 1893.