The completion of the City of Berlin in 1875 finally gave the Inman Line the five fast express liners needed for a balanced year-round weekly service.

[1] Her two-cylinder compound steam engine was rated at 4800 indicated horsepower giving her a normal service speed of 15 knots.

[2] In September 1875, City of Berlin won the Blue Riband from Britannic's sister, Germanic with a Queenstown–New York passage of 7 days, 18 hours, 2 minutes (15.21 knots).

[2] Two years later, she suffered shaft trouble on two voyages, arriving in tow, once by the National Line's Egypt and the second behind Inman's City of New York.

[1] On 29 October 1883, she collided with HMS Hawk 47 nautical miles (87 km) north east of the Tuskar Rock.