The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-09-06
ovER a NILE A MINUTE.
FROM PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YORK ON
ONE OF THE FASTEST GF TRAINS.
Phil. Times. Aug. IL.

minutes with single stop, while the re-
turn is six minutes less, including two I
stops. This gives a rate, in going, Of near
ly so miles, and in returning Of slightly
more than so miles an hour. surprising that ,
of the celebrated Queens mail between
London and Holvhead, where the run of
264 miles occupies hours. Alta o'clock
Friday morning. when q Times man, by
Philadelphia depot, the steam gauge marked
-sse r---- -a----A IS still rising ~ Precisely
five minutes later the bell clinked over the
engineers head, and almost simultaneously
be gave clutch of the lever, and the train
of four cars was off. It stopped at Ger
rnantown Junction 13 minutes later. AS
soon as the engine got clear of the suburbs
she shrieked and bounded away at great
er speed. About 20 minutes later it wound
its way through Bristol, and in still less
time the iron bridge over the Delaware was
sighted and Trenton was bisected at the
same moderate speed which had been ad-
hered to through Philadelphia. But it was
necessary TO DO better in order to reach
Jersey City, nearly go miles away, at the
appointed minute. Trenton was hardly
passed when the engineer touched up his
steed. Between the first two mile posts |
noted, the distance was passed in 81 sec |
onds; the next in little less, and the third |
in precisely go. Hurrah The train was |
spinning along at the rate OF mile min |
nte. And yet everything proceeded with |
so much smoothness that it was impossible
to appreciate the amazing swiftness
| There was no unusual jolting and in the
cars the passengers were smoking, doing
or reading, just as though it was an ordi-
nary train in which they were riding.
! Just beyond Princeton the speed rose to
o rate of mile in 5S seconds and continued
it without dimunition, except slight
"slowing up" at Monmouth Junction, I'M
ill New Brunswick was in view. AS soon
as the town was left behind the engine was
at it again, and in the neighborhood of
Menlo Park the speed became prodigious,
as if the locomotive was snorting defiance
to the wonderful Edison in his laboratory
| under the bill
/ In this neighborhood Conductor slance,
with watch in hand, carefully timed the
train for three miles The first was passed
in 54 seconds the second in SO, and the
third in 80. The last was 72 miles an hour.
The puffs from the engine had become a
continuous shuddering roar; the driving
wheels were spinning around 400 times a
minute "a half dozen times seccnd-with
! oneht TO shatter their whizzing perlpheries
10 atoms. The day hot one and the air
was at dead calm. but it rushed throngh
the narrow door in front of the engine like
a tornado. Small bridges were thundered
over so quickly that they gave single
rumble as they whisked out of sight be-
, hind: the express train coming from the
onnosite direction flashed by like meteor
in single puff of hot air; you might yell
= to the engineer, two feet distant and yet
he would only see your lips move, without
hearing anything above the deafening roal
: OF the engine, which drowns everything,
:, excepting the shrek of the whistle. All
- the time the fireman steadily shovels in Goa
or climbs around the engine with oil can II
hand. his clothing flnttering so fiereely II
| the wind that It seems in danger Of being
blown off. The engineer with his hans
q upon the lever watches, with cat-like Wig
. ilanee. the rails sweeping under his wheels
a- The whole train is constantly. under hi
d ave. and he never allows his attention to 3
r diverted for an instant.
d On Saturday morning, as the train wa
10 approaching New Brunswick, and befor
is ;ts speed had diminished, Ed. Osmund, th
y. enpineer, felt sudden thump beneath hin
n II was repeated instantly and then his er
at tire side of the cab flew off as it from
be .hnnderbolt. But the veteran knew wht
m vas coming when be heard The first thuml
Q, and With one hound he threw himse
n astride the boiler. shut of steam and a.
q n,;ed the automatic air brake. This sto1
safl ned the train with such suddenhess as
81 most to throw the passengers of their sea
ill but no one was hurt, and the slight scrat'
ar Of the engineers nose and the blow upt
of his arm did not prevent bis running back
be Philadelphia in the evening. This is t
oh ouly accident which the fast trait, has
.v- countered since it began running on the
or Of July last. '2'' s'' ~ -''
,ss. i AS proof of the ease with which the Z
or traordiuary speed is maintained, It may
the said that the train gees into Jersey "
inc depot frequently ahead of it's schedule tin
mas On Friday the passengers began steppi
du-, off Just minute and half before the tr
owe was due. OF the 20 trips from West n
i'll adelpbia 10 New York, 25 were made
, he time connection. The traiH boat has d
and missed only twice. Once was on aceo'
oftbe accident mentioned and the OF
was 10 minute deteHtion caused by an
cursion train getting In the way =
!. ~ ae other delays were just two inmates aPis
occasioned By the draw in the river.
az return trip fails oftener, It being Difficult
~ cet. away from jersey City at the 81
moment, while the rnn is harder, includ
.hsd more mp grade. 'aJs 2ts4 ~ 'sss.3'.''.,l9
's.s The train generally consists of fou
~ Ave cars, including 9 palace one, sad q
- ages about 800 passengers day. lt is
~ der tie charge OF Louis Silance, an exE
- enced conductor, while the tive engine
~ which alternately dothe work. are rus
y y - the veterans Edward OsmuDd,i whe
Ssoo been on the road 81 years and has ham
1s' an engine 16 years, and Frank Peae
lon& soually skilled and careful. y @
7 be IT, IN. .ao;..sr sbova that raany a mile
lFeos ! been made in 40 seconds, which is st
rate Of 75 miles an hour. Going casts
the train makes one ard in returning
stops. The diving wheels of the ems
..s ..ss. are only Ave feet in diameter. but dt
- the present q eek this vii lbe increas