Newport was originally built as a steam-powered vessel, and used some of the components, including the boiler, from an earlier steamer, the T.M.

[1] Although only a small wooden vessel, Newport, with the aid of an unpowered barge lashed alongside, transported as many as 500 passengers at a time on the short trip across Yaquina Bay.

In 1914, to accommodate anticipated greater patronage of the rail line, Newport was converted to gasoline engine power.

[6] Construction was anticipated to begin soon after February 1908, and would be supervised by George Walker, a well-known boat builder.

[7] Julia Jacobson, wife of one of the owners, spoke the words "I christen thee Newport" as she broke a bottle of wine over the bows.

[10] In mid-June, 1910, passengers arriving at Yaquina City for transport to Newport averaged over 50 daily, an unusually high number for that time of the year.

[11] During peak travel times, generally during the summer vacation seasons, the passenger carrying capacity of Newport was augmented by lashing up alongside the steamer an unpowered barge, the Elk or the Julia.

Elk, a scow with a cabin, was built in 1905 at Toledo, Oregon, was registered as an "unrigged vessel", of 97 gross and 94 net tons, with the official merchant registry number 162693.

[15] Unlike the scow Elk, Julia was built with a river steamboat hull, allowing better speed to be made on excursions.

Grant, had to clear a path through the crowd to allow the disembarking passengers to cross the dock from the steamer to the street.

[16] Grant was charged with interfering with a police officer, and released on $100 cash bail with orders to appear before a justice of the peace the next morning.

[17] The work was done by the Modern Improvement Company, of which George C. Walker, the relief captain of Newport, was a principal until January 2, 1912.

[20] Overcrowded trains on the Southern Pacific line to Yaquina City were reported to be running an average of an hour late.

[20] According to a newspaper report, "throngs, herded like cattle on boats and barges, pass about an hour on a ride of three minus and a half across the bay when compelled to go to restaurants.

Morse, of the gasoline launch Ahwaneda (built in 1912), offered to turn over the proceeds of three or four excursion trips to support the band.

Oscar F. Jacobson travelled to Portland, Oregon where he purchased a 110 horse power Western Standard gasoline engine, which he intended to install in time for the next summer season.

[24] Work on installing the new power plant began on the morning of March 6, 1914, when the steamer arrived at Toledo from Newport.

[24] The new machinery was reported to be able to double the power of the vessel, and "greatly increase her efficiency in transporting the passengers from Yaquina to Newport during the big Summer rushes.

[28] On Thursday, April 2, 1914, the Newport returned to the lower Yaquina Bay from Toledo, under power from the new gasoline engine.

[30] In the parade of boats held on July 4, 1914, Newport and the barge Julia won first prize for decoration.

[34][35] Marshall had been friends with a number of historical figures, including Ulysses S. Grant, whom he had visited in the White House, and generals Hooker and George B.

[36] In June 1920, the rail service to Yaquina City, and the processing of detraining and boarding the Newport, came under newspaper criticism.