ps Great Western

Captain of the PS Great Western

1837

James Hosken is appointed Captain of the PS Great Western

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Location: Britain

PS Great Western is Launched

Jul 19, 1837

The PS Great Western is launched in Bristol. She is the largest passenger ship afloat at the time.

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Location: Britain

Fire on PS Great Western

Mar 31, 1838

The PS Great Western begins her maiden voyage from Bristol to New York. A fire broke out in the engine room. The fire was put out, but in the confusion Brunel was injured after falling 20 feet.

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Location: Britain

PS Great Western Leaves for New York

Apr 08, 1838

The PS Great Western sets out from Avonmouth for New York. After the fire many passengers had cancelled their bookings so when she left Avonmouth she had only 7 passengers on board. She becomes the fastest passenger ship to cross the Atlantic travelling at an average of 8.6 Knots.

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Location: Britain

SS Great Britain Runs Ashore

Sep 22, 1846

SS Great Britain runs ashore Dundrum Bay on the north-east coast of Ireland. Measures are put in place to protect her, organised by her designer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, but even with these no other ship would have survived the winter storms. However, her iron hull is so strong that she can endure it ready to be re-floated during the next summer.

The Great Western Steamship Company suspends sailings on both of their ships: SS Great Britain and PS Great Western.

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Location: Ireland

Royal Mail Buys PS Great Western

1847

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company buys PS Great Western to run her as a mail ship delivery mail and passengers to the West Indies.

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Location: Britain

Merchant Naval Ships Are Requisitioned

1856

Merchant naval ships are requisitioned as a troop ships taking soldiers to the Crimean War

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Location: Black sea

PS Great Western is Scrapped

Aug 1856

PS Great Western is sold for scrap and broken up

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Location: Britain