Built of steel, Tacoma was known for being one of the fastest and best-designed vessels to operate on Puget Sound.

The engine was a four-cylinder, triple-expansion type, which was designed to extract the maximum energy possible from the steam.

Twin oil-fired Ballin water-tube boilers supplied steam at 250 pounds pressure.

Her reversing power was wonderful and from full ahead to dead stop required seventeen seconds, a feat that was tried several times.

Another point she had, when emergency required a sudden reversal, by a slight change in the rudder she could be held in perfect position until she commenced to gain sternway.

Tacoma's last run on December 15, 1930 marked the real end of commercial passenger activity for steamboats on Puget Sound.

Marine historians Newell and Williamson documented the occasion: The Tacoma and the Indianapolis passed a little south of Three Tree Point.

Departing that last time on her return to Seattle, Tacoma passed the hull of the Greyhound, once the fastest boat on the Sound and now, minus her upper works, engines and sternwheel, in service as a mudscow.

[1] Captain Coffin recalled the Tacoma's later years: When she was put in the excursion business, I got a great surprise as to her sea going abilities in the Strait between Point Wilson and Victoria.

In the fresh southwesters that often occur in summer afternoons, I found her able to meet them all with very little fuss in going or coming either way.

[1]In October 1938, Puget Sound Navigation company sold Tacoma, and a number of other vessels, to Seattle Iron and Metals Corporation, for scrapping.