[1][page needed] The ship was built by Fairfield Govan and launched on 12 September 1917.

2, they were the first vessels to offer regular transport between Britain and continental Europe for rail freight vehicles.

They were ordered by the British Army to provide rail freight transport from Richborough harbour to the continent to sustain the war effort.

They had four sets of rails along the train deck and used a link span to load when in harbour.

The new service was inaugurated on 24 April 1924 by Prince George, Duke of Kent.