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For sixty-five years, from its creation in 1869, until 1934, when it amalgamated with the Cunard Line, White Star was one of the most important of all transatlantic steamship lines.
Famous (or is that infamous?) today for its Olympic-class vessels, two of which were lost without ever completing a fare-paying voyage, the line also operated numerous Blue Riband-winning steamships, and provided such luxuries as some of the earliest ships to have baths and electricity, as well as swimming pools.
Its second Britannic had the largest reciprocating engines ever made for a steamship, and its Teutonic was the first armed merchant cruiser.
The majority of its ships were built in Belfast, with the line operating from London, Liverpool and Southampton to the USA, Canada, Australasia and South Africa.
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