The S.S. Sarmatian was photographed docked at the Grand Trunk Railroad docks in Portland, in 1887. The Sarmatian was a three-masted steamship of the “Allan” line, also known as The Montreal Ocean Steamship Company, of Liverpool, England. Owned and operated by the sons of its Scottish founder, Captain Alexander Allan, the Company contracted with the Canadian government to convey mail and passengers between Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.

The Sarmatian made regular trips between Liverpool and Portland from November and April, docking at Quebec during the warmer months. Built-in 1871 at Greenock by Robert Steele & Co, the Sarmatian measured 370 feet in length and had a tonnage of 3647. This photograph was included in an album owned by William S. Edwards, a civil engineer for the City of Portland.