Posted by Scott Andrews on September 27, 1999 at 17:49:10 in 192.11.221.98:
In Reply to: Tramp Steamer posted by Steve on September 24, 1999 at 23:47:31:
:
: Hello all,
: I've seen some pics of Tramp Steamer models on the internet, & I've heard of them, but I don't really know
: what or if these are actually liners. Does anyone know?
:
: many thanks,
: stevo
Steve,
Tramp steamers were generally small cargo vessels which often also had modest accommodations for up to 50 passengers on the largest ones. The term "tramp" as given to these ships stemmed from the fact that while most traded in a particular part of the world, they rarely followed the same itinerary each voyage. Their cargo was often diverse and so were their ports of call, being dictated by the destination of the goods being shipped.
Passengers were carried only as an extra source of revenue. Booking on these ships were generally last minute by people trying to get to out-of -the-way locations not served by the major passenger lines.
These ships came in a number of configurations. Typical in the Titanic's day were ships of around 3000 tons with a single funnel and four masts supporting cargo derricks and having a profile similar to that of the SS Californian.
Scott