The second of two vessels built for Furness, Withy & Co. Ltd for the Liverpool-Halifax-St. John, New Brunswick service. They were found to be too large for this service with far too much passenger accommodation. Lamport & Holts subsequently purchased both vessels for the new  New York-Brazil-River Plate service. This service proved highly successful, so much so, that the V-class of passenger ships were ordered.

New York 29 D^bre 1903
We have arrived safely. It is very cold. We can't forward an address as we don't know yet how we'll organise ourselves. Perhaps we will go further down south where it is warmer because we are really feeling the cold badly.
We travelled on the Byron 25 days from Santos to New York.
We'll write to you once we have settled.                                                                      L. J Bischez

It seems a long time, 25 days Santos-New York. Presumably the  Byron called and loaded at other ports on the way north. One feels for them, travelling from Brazil to a New York winter! On the 30^th Dec 1903 temperatures were between 30°F (-1°C) and 21°F (-6°C) !