[4] Her propulsion was provided by triple-expansion engines, allowing her to reach an average speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph), rather slow for the time on the transatlantic route.

[6] The plans of her company were modified and the Haverford finally made her maiden voyage on an experimental basis on the route from Southampton to New York via Cherbourg.

[7] The Haverford and her sister ship, SS Merion were identical in design and named after two suburbs on the Philadelphia Main Line just west of Pennsylvania's largest city.

It was not until January 1915 that she was requisitioned and transformed into a troop transport, initially in order to serve the Dardanelles, which she did until 1916, before returning to the Atlantic.

[7] In 1917, the ship suffered heavy damage in a torpedo attack off the west coast of Ireland by the German U-boat, U-94.

In 1918, after a six-month hiatus for repairs, the ship was again attacked by a German submarine in the North Atlantic Ocean, surviving with far less damage.

[7] Haverford returned to passenger service on the Philadelphia-Liverpool route for the American Line, making her first voyage in June, 1920.

She then returned to the route from Liverpool to Philadelphia for the White Star; a stopover this time being added at Boston.

[17] This service was disturbed by a major incident: on 19 September 1923, Haverford struck the American steamer West Arrow.

[18] In 1924, the liner continued her crossings, but began to experience structural and electrical problems which sent her several times to dry dock.