Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-04
THE EVENING STAR.
......Septembcr 4, 1879.
Keeling Off Miles.

SOME TALL TIME MADE ON PHILADELPHIA ROADS
Speaking OF railroad running" said Engi-
neer Charley Frazier as he rolled up the greasy
sleeves OF his blue jacket, speaking Of rail-
road running; why It's my opinion that no five-
Ieet driving wheel engines can make q mile a
minute" Having delivered himself Of this con-
Nlcslon, the man OF the throttle crossed his legs
ana looked far away thoughtfully, while he
nehtai!y conned over some tall running he had
none linen h he removed his brer pipe from his
mo NOV a. pew out long, thin thread OF smoke
and clinched his opinion with, aNo, I'm be
bowed II they cam"
the rates OF the speed at which frst-class
this side or the water with a creduloIs wink,
ana yet II Is not uncommon for trains RUNNING
right out OF this city to excel In time that made
by the trains which traverse the little island
which trembles every time the English lion
shakes his main and roars. The English lines
are unquestionably superior to American roads
and admit OF greater speed. The roadbeds are
depressed and Enclosed the whole length, and
are perfectly straight, and are almost free of
heavy grades.
opinion, his fellows Of the snorttng iron horse
have hauled him over the Goals, so TO speak ana
swear by the driving wheels OF their engines
that they can run right through his assertion
with string Of facts, and kill 1t so dead that
Frazier himself would not identify it.
"a mile minute is such an ordinary thing
that begin to consider 1t SLOW" says one VINO
Philadelphia depot.
Did you ever hear OF the traln," asked a
reporter OF this fellow, as he leaned out OF his
cab yesterday, that run so fast on the London
and Northwest road that the telegraph
poles looked as close together as the psiings
around small park -
That's an English yarn" said the man in
the box. "and when 1t was told to a Yankee he
capped it In this way:
Down in Bost1ng they run eout a train that
oloWs down brakes about four miles before they
come 10 the station. You can chaw me up IL
they don't fetch up at the station, take In water
let on the passengers and then wait until the
sound OF the whistle catches up with 'em before
they start Off again.
"They do some regular tall running In Eng.
land resumed the engineer, " but when get
outside OF the City limits Will boom this train
engine hump and snort to keep up with me-"
Tie trains which leave the West Philadelphia
depot at ,:35 In the morning and Jersey City at
1855 and 4:05 in the afternoon attain a rate OF
speed at points exceeding that or a mile a min
ute.
On account Of the immense web-work of rails
aid the innumerable crossings and the towns
and hamlets that punctuate the distance be-
tween this city and New York, it is necessary
TO ''slow up" frequently, which detracts from
the time thatm1ght otherwise be accomplished.
ran out train from Jersey City, and at Menlo
Park, the home OF Edison, the conductor, Lewis
Silence, climbed out on the locomotive, and,
with watch In hand, timed the miles as they
were Teeled Off. The first was made In 81 Sec
onds, the next In two seconds less, and the
third In 80 seconds, or three miles In minutes
3S seconds, or at the rate OF 70 miles an hour for
the last mile.
The run from Trenton to New Brunswick, a
distance OF 26 miles, is frequently made IN rs
minutes.
Sometimes our business men, with their
lungs laden with sea afr, are bowled to the city
from Cape May at q rate that would kink their
hair II they were aware OF IL. Those who have
tested the matter have counted seven mile
posts while their watches licked of six min
utes. At one point the schedule time is three
miles In three minutes, and, Notwithstanding
Engineer FraZiers conviction, 1t Is done as slick
as goose grease every time.
This rate Of speed is also maintained on the
BouEd Brook route. An engineer says he runs
locomotive With five-feet wheels and rattleS
over the rails at some points at the rate OF a
mile In s. seconds. "If Charlie Frazier never
rode mile In a minute" says the bronzed
driver, "Iust let him crawl up on the cow
catcher OF that ere engine, and II. I don't
sccot him through the air so fast that he can't
hold his hair on, then I'll give up" With five
feet six inch wheels it Is common on this line to
accomplish mile after mile In IS, So and 80 sec
ondS, and the passengers can scarcely appre-
ciate the fact PhfId. Record.