Transition

[Colin Burt]

An interesting question came up on the cargo schooner thread and I wanted to throw out there on its own thread.
What year did steam carry more cargo then sail? My guess would some time in the late 1870 but that is no more then a complete guess.
A couple related questions, would be the same thing about the change from steam to diesel, and also what year were there more steam ships built then sailing ships?

[Peerie Maa]

One hell of a difficult question to answer. Many hundred of tons of cargo were carried coast-wise under sail until well into the twentieth century.

Need more definition in the question?

[Colin Burt]

I would say that anyone who has any information rephrase the question in any way that makes it fit. Such as limiting it to only deep sea, to one country, or to one trade.

[Richard Jones]

German U-boats pretty much wiped out the last of the sail cargo ships in WW1. Sitting ducks. Nothing but steam after that except for some small coastal trade.

[Colin Burt]

German U-boats pretty much wiped out the last of the sail cargo ships in WW1. Sitting ducks. Nothing but steam after that except for some small coastal trade.

I would assume that Steam was already the majority by then anyway.

Though the war certainly dramatically reduced the number sailing vessels there certainly was a small number a vessels operation deep sea up until WWII. There were even a few built in the 20s.

[Colin Burt]

Found this little tid bit, 1884 was the first year that the the gross registered tonnage of steamers first exceeded sailing ships in on the American side of the great lakes, they were likely carrying more before then as they could make more trips a season.
It is a very specific geographic area but one in which I would think that given the local conditions would have been one of the earlier ones in which Steam took over.