The British India liner GOLCONDA in Albert Edward Dock, North Shields in 1888.
A ship with an interesting history (details from 'B.I.', Laxon & Perry/WSS)
1888, 6037grt, 422ft. x 48.1ft, barquentine-rigged steamer
William Doxford, Sunderland (166)
Doxford laid her down 'on spec' at a time of a lean order book and intended her to be a showpiece vessel to demonstrate their abilities, while being the largest yet built by this famous shipyard. They allocated the name NULLI SECONDA to her. During construction, interest was show by Canadian Pacific, sufficient to change her name to TRANSPACIFIC, but this fell through after she was launched under this name. British India then took her and allocated the name DURBHUNGA before having her completed as GOLCONDA ... so four names before her trials voyage! She was registered in September 1888 so this photo is presumably taken soon after her delivery, or perhaps a call during trials. She was the largest vessel to dock here on the Tyne.
She was a popular ship on the Calcutta service, although prone to roll due to round bilges and a complete lack of water ballast tanks! Her passenger capacity was limited to 80 1st. and 28 2nd. class but she was a well-liked vessel. She served as a Boer War transport and from 1915 as an Indian Expeditionary Force transport. Her end came on 03/06/1916 when she hit a mine off Aldeburgh while running from Middlesbrough to London, and sank with the loss of 19 of her crew.