Baltimore Mail Line History and Ephemera
The Baltimore Mail Line (Baltimore Mail Steamship Company) was primarily a mail service that also carried a limited number of passengers (passenger capacity was about 80 Tourist Class). They operated regular weekly service between the US Ports of Baltimore and Norfolk to the European Ports of Le Havre, France, and Hamburg, Germany.
Their Fleet of Five ships, all built in 1918 as freighters of the Eclipse Class were rebuilt into 83-passenger / cargo combination transatlantic ships for the newly-formed Baltimore Mail Line. The Fleet, capable of a speed of 16 knots, consisted of the City of Baltimore, City of Norfolk, City of Havre, City of Hamburg and City of Newport News. The single class liners offered staterooms with outside exposure, hot running water, and Simmons beds.
In 1935, the Baltimore Mail Line offered fares to London or Hamburg for $90 one way or $171 round trip.
They were in operation for a relatively short time from 1930 to 1937. The assets of the Baltimore Mail Line were transferred to the Panama Pacific Line in 1938.
Baltimore Mail Line Ephemera in Date Order
1930s Brochure - Baltimore Mail Line Outstanding Travel Value
1930s Brochure offers extraordinary interior and exterior views (including passengers) of their transatlantic steamships of the Baltimore Mail Line with routes between Baltimore, Norfolk, Havre and Hamburg.
1932-01-29 SS City of Hamburg Passenger List
- Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
- Date of Departure: 29 January 1932
- Route: Hamburg to Norfolk and Baltimore via Le Havre
- Commander: Captain John F. Jensen
1932 Brochure - Baltimore Mail Line Passenger Information
Rare Passenger Booklet from Baltimore Mail Line covers everything that their patrons would need to know about their voyage. Unlike many of the passenger steamship lines, the Baltimore Mail Line printed the Information for Passengers separate from the Passenger Lists.
1932-06-24 SS City Of Hamburg Passenger List
- Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
- Date of Departure: 24 June 1932
- Route: Hamburg and Le Havre to Norfolk and Baltimore
- Commander: Captain John F. Jensen
1934-03-17 SS City of Hamburg Passenger List
- Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
- Date of Departure: 17 March 1934
- Route: Hamburg and Le Havre to Norfolk and Baltimore
- Commander: Joseph Epps Lee, Lt. Cmdr., U.S.N.R.
1934-11-24 SS City of Hamburg Passenger List
- Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
- Date of Departure: 24 November 1934
- Route: Bremen to Norfolk and Baltimore via Le Havre
- Commander: Captain Joseph E. Lee
1935-01-12 SS City Of Newport News Passenger List
- Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
- Date of Departure: 12 January 1935
- Route: Hamburg and Le Havre to Norfolk and Baltimore
- Commander: Captain Robert H. Wright
1936 Brochure - Baltimore Mail Line to Europe
Baltimore Mail Line utilizes one-class liners. You can go anywhere onboard without worrying about class restrictions. Decks, lounges, dining saloon— there is no class distinction. Passenger accommodations throughout are of a single high standard.
1936-07-11 SS City of Norfolk Passenger List
- Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
- Date of Departure: 11 July 1936
- Route: Hamburg and Southampton to Norfolk and Baltimore
- Commander: Captain Reginald Rose, Lt. Cmdr., U.S.N.R
1937-07-24 SS City Of Baltimore Passenger List
- Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
- Date of Departure: 24 July 1937
- Route: Hamburg and Southampton to Norfolk and Baltimore
- Commander: Captain F. E. Cross, Lt. Cmdr., U.S.N.R
1937-08-15 SS City of Norfolk Passenger List
- Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
- Date of Departure: 15 August 1937
- Route: Bremen to Norfolk and Baltimore via Le Havre
- Commander: Captain Reginald Rose, Lt. Cmdr. USNR
1938-04-11 SS City of Newport News Passenger List
- Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
- Date of Departure: 11 April 1938
- Route: Bremen to Norfolk and Baltimore via Southampton
- Commander: Captain Robert H. Wright, Lt. Cmdr., U.S.N.R
- Note: Annotated by the original owner (passenger)
