The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-03
THE HERALD LIGHTNING TRAIN.

AND QUEEN OF TIE ROAD.
No one whose privilege il has not been TO travel
aver the New York central ana Hudson River
Railroad in the fast Grain that conveys the SUNDAY
HERALD 10 anxious and neet-iooied neWsmen
sbrougnout the state can form any adequate idea
,ftne exciting sensation that takes possession OF
me traveller as ne is borne along by powerful
Engines at the rate OF fifty or sixty miles
per hour through gaping tunnels that stand
IN their track 10 swallow them up only 70 dis
charge them again, the good-natured whale
ala a certain ancient surnamed Jonah, twisted
around sharp corners over yawning chasms
(brdged by mans Ingenuity at bound, ana
into and out OF deep cuts In rock ana soil. The
last trip OF the HERALD train, IKE the previous
Dnes, was a complete success. Between one ana
TWO O'Clock on sunday morning a busy scene was
witness ed at the Grand Central depot, IN prepar-
ng for the start. There were gathered IN the
depot q larger number OF passengers than
usual, ana precisely at fifteen minutes before
TWO O'Clock the shrlll voice OF Conductor Lowery
called s'All aboardp' The doors were thrown open
and quickly the eager travellers seized their ef-
iecIs, and, hurrylng into the two passenger
coaches awaiting them, soon all the seats were
occupied, several ladies and children being OF the
party. While all was hustle and excitement
within the depot heavy
TRUCK DRAWN BY SWEATING BAYS,
rushed alongside baggage at the upper end
orthe depot, and instantly burly arms and nimole
legs were called INTO requlsitlon 10 transfer pom
terous bundles OF HERALDs, stil wet from the
press, to the car. Five minutes elapsed ana that
lob was done; but now the brave Nat sawyer, the
fearless guide VINO is to pilot the travellers
through dangers, appears. He mounts the steps
and in an instant Is
THE STRIP OF THE IRON CHARGER,
sounds the command, pulls TIE iron rein that is
lfQhf
rain that is matched beat the wind If possible
daring rush for the cataract OF Niagara. Into
he dark tunnels under Fourth avenue "Natn
irives engine No. 70, and as IL gives 1t the spur
The speed is increased gradually, and build
lngs, telegraph poles, bridges ana station houses
70 staggering tie like q file of
drunken men endeayoring TO keep their
equilibrium. The train dashes around
curves, thunders through excavations IN the
solid rock at the rate or forty miles per hour
and yet the fearless rider NAT" coaxes ''No. 700
TO greater feats OF speed. spuyten Duyvil sud-
denly takes back seat and ravenousy clutches
up bundle or HERALDs that the train men have
thrown out as a peace Offering fer not hating
and saying,
GOOD MORNING, sPITEFUL DEvILr
Nat Sawyei's fireman crowds more "olack da-
monds" into the ravenous throat or "No. TO-"
'tNatn lets on more steam, and the iron monster,
TO snow lis grdtltQQe, increases speed IL
tears away past Yonkers, Hastings, Tarrytown,
Peekskill and other toSns at the rate Of nfty-1ve
miles por hour, leaving the sort or
reminder behind as was thrown out at spuyten
Duyvil. At Poughkeepsie hat is made longer
than usual, are ahead OF time. Engine No.
u.s. commanded by William Casson, is attached.
The bold engineer who, from his lookout In the
"cab,r follows the glare OF his headlight that lllu
inmates valley, river, mansion and mountain.
mounts and we are again or Here the traveller
Is reminded OF Ben F. Taylor's graphic description
Of ''Docr simmons ride death at New Ham
burg in March, 1871, when
Flankel by rugged rock and river,
Death and double siae BY side
See the ponderous creature coming.
sway and swing along the track,
aud wonder as they get nearer and nearer to that
fatal spot whether theirs 1t VIII be 10 span that
bridge IN safety. Again the tram has reached a
Ipeed OF from fifty TO sixty miles per hour, and
daylight begins TO Kiss the brows the grand old
Catskills VIII Casson's obedent servant jars and
shunders, sways and trembles as it BOUNDS
THROUGH TUNNELLED AGES OF CREATION
Jaucily bends Its sinewy attachments around a
curve on the river bank. and then, as 1t were with
lleap "takes' the New Hamburg bridge ard
ands US on the other side or 1.-THE Dead Mans
River" But the speed is increased. VIII Casson
has carried in air over the notion
less wafer and he SHOWS US the
mysteries or the depths OF the earth.
Like the rush OF 'cambrlc needle through
seam" he plunges through the echoing tunnel,
only 10 emerge with his valuable freight OF hu-
manly into the light Of morning, and patter and
,latter his driving Wheels upon vanderoit's peer.
ess steel rails as he heads for Albany, making
ever and anon a squirt ahead at the rate Of sixty
miles an hour. and very little jar being percepti-
ole to the passengers many OF whom siumber
quietly in humphreys sleeper tnat brings up the
rear Yet still the daring VIII is not satisfied.
He is disposed to dispute the right OF Jim Wood
ana his pet engine "No. 10" at the other end OF
the line TO the title or
'KING AND QUEEN OF TIE RoAD,r
and now Is his last chance. He Is to be relieved
1t Albany, where wife awaits him with warm
breakfast and prattllng children with Kisses he
Knows the track can be trusted. Every loot OF
those steel rails is as familiar 10 him as the dar-
ling in his baby cot. He knows old No. 49, and
pulling his lever be gives her the spur and she IS
Oh. Stand ASIDE, gallant Jim Wood tremoe ye
famous No. ITO 0 the "homestretch ~ Will Carson
Is coming with his slnewod being to 'see you and
20 you one better" At Casteton '75u has got
Der WIND, and now comes run OF eignt miles to
East Albany one, two, three, four, five; six
minutes are marked bY your reporters watch
md No. 75'5 shrlll whistle sounds "Dreaks.n
Another minute ana the engine IS az still as a
tombstone. lie has Gone it--egnt miles IN seven
ninutesi The passengers vote VIII Carson a
"brick" and 1851 the champion OF she road for
once.
Here the train was ahead OF time. The engines
we're changed, Edward Chase, with No. $780, being
he relieG Tney both did finely on the TO
syracuse, making spurts OF Jour. five or SIX miles
as many minutes. Between Fort PLAN and st.
townsville six miles were made in less than SIX
frafn nd gvpn alva
inmates ahead OF her schedule time At this
Joint nearly all The pas ,enpers got out to ex-
mine "Jim" Wood and tile Comm0oore's crack
inglne, old NO ITO. They eyed NJ and mis- engine
uriousy; but the gallant wood olleu up, and
eemed to be Obvious 10 the fact that he ana
lis engine were the object OF curiosity. The train
lept on time, ana Wood and No. 10 dld
SOME TALL WHALING" OVER THAT TRACK,