St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-10-20
Eighty Miles an Hour.
REMARKABLE SPEED OF AN EXPRESS
TRAIN.


fFrom the Boston Journal
"A mile Il minute" is phrase often
used to denote great speed, but there
are few persons who realize the
strength of the expression. Such
speed is only attained by the fast eX-
press trains of well-regulated road,
while the ordinary trains average
about thirty miles an hour. But, un-
usual is that speed, it has been exceed
ed hy the Shore Line express on the
Boston and Providence railroad. which.
one day recently, made one of the most
remarkable runs on record. going II
portion of the distance between Boston
and Providence mt the actual rate of
eighty miles an hour. This high rate
of speed was maintained for stretch
of ten miles, and to person seated in
the locomotive the experience was
both novel and eXhilarating. Com
fOrtably ensconced i'll the reclining
chairs of the paTlOr ears or seated in
the ordinary coaches, the passenger is
only conscious of the rapid speed
through the rocking of the car and the
rapidity with which objects along the
route disappear, but, to a person in the
forward part of the train, the sensation
is of IL different nature. The engine
seems to fly through the air, and for
the moment one shares the feeling of
the renowned ''Darius Green with his
"hying machine The engine scarce
ly touches the rails and, in imagina-
ton, glidcs through the air, Il compan-
ion of its feathery denizens, who,
frightened at its approach, fly up
ward and are quickly left behind, I'M
able to keep pace with the astonishing
speed. But these fancies are rndely
shaken by the sudden iOlting of the en-
gine as it crosses Il switch or rounds a
curve, and with Il realizing sense of his
continued soiourn upon the earth one
instinctively grasps the railing for sup
port.
Through the Kindness of Supt. Fol
som and Engineer Burnham, Il journal
reporter was permitted to ride upon
the engine of this, the fastest train on
the road, and n bIief description of the
experience will not come amiss. The
train on this special occasion consisted
of eight ears heavily loaded. The first
contained baggage, and then followed
three parlOr cars and four regular
coaches. AT one o'clock the last bell
sounded, and the reporter, after pro-
ducing his credentials, clambered into
the cab. The steam guage indicated
| 100 pounds, and had there been a ther-
mOmeter the heat would doubtless
have registered an equal number of de
grecs. The reporter was on the point
of removing his Outer garment, but de
sisted when informed by the engineer
that it would be needed. His sugges-
ton was well timed. The train rolled
and then the throttle valve was thrown
half open. The increase of speed was
soon noticeable, and in rapid success
sion RONbury, Boylston, jamaica Plain,
Forest Hills and Mount Hope were left
behind. Along this portion of the
route there is succession of curves
which render quick time an impossi-
bility, but after passing the last men
toned place there is straight stretch
of road over mile in length, and here
the speed was increased. Hyde Park
seven and Il half miles from the start
was passed in twelve minutes, and
then, with no curves for over iiV,
miles, the engine settled down to "a
mile ii minute" From Dedham Road,
to Sharon Heights is grade seven and
il half miles long, rising forty lone feet
to the mile, and as the train toiled III
this inclined plane of nearly three hun
dred feet there was an appreciabl'
slackening of the speed. "You'll see
some fast time now" remarked the en-
gineer, as he opened the throttle valv,
still farther, and, as if in response t,
the word, the engine leaped forward
for its wild race against time.
seemed II gigantic monster endowed
with life. At every pulsation of it,
mighty heart it made renewed cfforu
to escape. We were on the dowI
grade. Objects flew backward Will
T lightning rapidity. We were plungin,
forward into space. TO see an obiec
ahead was to be upon it. Behind wa
the long line of cars Z; beyond d-noth
ing. Occasionally the engine woul,
give lurch as if gathering its fore,
for still gleater speed. But this cOul,
not last long. Eight miles behind IL
was the top of the grade The dis
tance had been traVerSed in six min
utes East FoXbOro, Mansfield an,
Attleboro were left in the distance
We had run thirty three miles in forty
one minutes. lION lutIltt was tltNtl
miles beyond, and in twelve minute
we had reached the round house
Fifty-three and half minutes had flee
and Boston was forty-four miles away
: A delay of minute was caused 10y tn
required stop at the round-house, ant
the train steamed slowly into the PrOvi
dence station, having made the quick
est run on record.
"That's pretty good going" re
marked the engineer as he pushed il
the throttle valve and applied til
brakes did it shake you up much
The reporter could scarcely hear Tia
question 50 intense was the buzzing i
his ears, but after recovering he fOun
himself none the worse for his memo
. rable ride.
''Is there no danger in maintaining
such great speed p he asked of til
= engineer, who was coolly polishing tia
1 brasswork upon the valves.
E "NOt unless something gives way,
D Mr.. Burnham replied, ''for the road
D so well managed that the possibility {
+ an accident is reduced to "A minimum
o The locomotive that draws the caI
e to New London came up at this mo
Il ment, preventing further conversation
Il and, with a parting nod, Enginee
: Burnham backed his engine into tia
o yard to prepare for the return trip.