T J Potter

History of the S.S. T.J. Potter

The S.S. T. J. Potter was named after the first vice president of the Union Pacific Railway in the west, Thomas J. Potter. She earned a reputation for speed, winning many steamboat races against some of the fastest boats in Puget Sound, only being defeated twice – once by the S.S. Bailey Gatzert and once by the S.S. Greyhound. In 1901 she was rebuilt by C. Carstens and launched from North Yard in Portland. Slightly larger with plush interiors and converted to coal-burning with electric lights, an upper deck of staterooms was added behind the pilot house. Atop her pilot house was placed a light blue dome adding to her luxurious style and popularity as the “favorite” boat among Portlanders. A third rebuild to reduce weight was done in 1906 reducing her from 1,070 tons to 826 tons.

Route: Columbia River and Puget Sound
Built in: Portland, Oregon
Built by: John F. Steffen, master carpenter
Designed by: Captain James W. Troup
Built for: The Oregon Railway & Navigation Co.
Built: 1888
In service: 1888
Out of service: 1917
Fate: 1920 Abandoned Youngs Bay near Astoria, Oregon. In 1925 she was dragged from the boneyard and taken to a mud flat where she was burned for her metal and then broken down for scrap in 1930.
Type: Sidewheeler packet, Passenger ferry
Tonnage: 589.6
Length: 230’ (70m) x 35.1‘ (10.7m) x 10.6’ (3.2m)
Installed power: Non-condensing steam engine with 28” cylinders, 8 foot stroke at #150 psi from a large, locomotive type boiler. The largest fire-box of any steamboat on the Pacific Coast.
Horsepower: Rated 1200
Propulsion: 30 foot paddle-wheels

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