The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-04-23
The Fastest Train in England.

The trains Of Great Britain run, in the esti-
nation Of the British public, far more swiftly
than those Of any other nation; but, at the same
time; there is a general vagueness with regard
TO their actual rate of motion that has great
effect in exaggerating the reports of their
speed. Every one naturally claims that the
train by which he himself frequently travels
is the first in point Of speed. Tho tourist or
the sportsman rushing down to Scotland be-
lieves in the "Flying Scotchman,' the great
ten o'clock morning train from Kings Cross,
which runs into Lincolnshire without stop,
and after allowing thirty minutes at York for
a hasty midday meal, reaches Edinburgh at
seven o'clock, in time for a substantial dinner
at the Northern capital. Another candidate
for the honors Of speed is the Flying Dutch
man." Of Bristol aud Exeter celebrity. II is
broad-guag train and there is = very preva-
lent idea that, no matter how great the speed
OF other lines may .be, the great width that
Brunei introduced enables a higher velocity
10 be obtained on the Great Western than any
where else. A third competitor, with many
partisans is the "Wild Irishman," carrying
tho Holyhead mail, not only for Ireland but
for America, and via San Francisco, for Ho-
nolulu and New Zealand. Thew aguest ideas,
as already said, prevail as to the running speed
Of these trains. The speed Of the Flying
Scotchman is generally assumed to be fifty
miles an hour; the Wild Irishman is credited
with the same rate; but the friends Of the Fly
ing Dutchman maintain that the run from Lon
don to Bristol averages sixty, and that it is far
ahead Of all its rivals in regard 70 speed.
Among such diversities Of opinion, it might
be interesting to give a few particulars Of
these champion trains. The partisans Of the
Wild Irishrnan will be disappointed when they
hear that, whatever may be the result Of the
negotiations now pending, or that may have
been completed between the London and North
western Company and the Poslofice, the Irish
Mail'' cannot even be named in the competition.
The quickest Of the four trains known by this
uame-and it may be noticed that it stops
more Frequently than its three namesakes-
averages lO.G miles an hour; so though, by the
help Of the steamer, the route to Dublin is the
ouickest sea and land journey in the world,
still, as as train, the Wild Irishman is inferior
TO other trains Of the London and Northwestern
Company, which does not pretend to run the
quickest train in England. Bradshaw IS SO
perplexing study to many respons that, IN
order 10 save further trouble, it may be well
to admit that the struggle for the first place
in speed lies between two well known trains,
the FLYING Dutchman Of the Great Western
and the Flying Scotchman Of the Great North
ern, and the competition between them Is ex-
tremely keen.
The Flying Dutchman is broad guage
train. leaving Paddiugtou Station at ii 40 mid
day, and II runs as far as Swindon without
stoppage. 1t is the custom for all Great West
ern trains to come to a halt az this station; and
the Dutchman stops for ten minutes, devoted
TO refreshments, after which It resumes It's
course; and, after mOmentary stay at Bath,
il reaches Bristol at 2.2l, after run OF llS4
miles. Notwithstanding the Importance Of the
CITY of the Avon, only five minutes for rest are
allowed, and at 20 the Dutchman has resumed
his wild career, and is rushiRg at full speed
for Taunton, where there is pause, hardly a
-stoppage, and at four o'clock in the afternoon
the train rolls into Exeter-l93l4 miles from
London. The speed not allowing for stop
pages, must have been 1915 miles per hour.
Tho other train whose claims have to be ex-
amined is the FLYING Scotchman. This is 4
narrow guage train leaving Kings Cross Lon
don. at 10 a. M, en- route for Scotland Its
first start is impressive for It opens with the
longest run without pause in England, and
probably in the world, in the shape Of run to
Grantham in Lincolnshire, distance of los
miles Six minutes are graciously allowed Tor
breathing time, and then the Scotchman takes
wing for York. The speed is as high as ever;
and at the end of ls9 miles-completed in five
the handsomest station in England, that of the
Northeastern Company at York. Even the
FIvipg Scotchman must, like the Flying Dutch
man. stop for refreshments; bnt, as the distance
covered is greater, the pause IS longer. Hall
an hour is allowed the passengers at York, and
at TWENTY-FIVE minutes past two the train once
more makes a start. A respectable run oil
eigbtv-four miles to Newcastle is followed by
a stoppage there for five minutes; and another
pause of the same duration at the old border
town Of Berwick on-Iweed forms me iasl n "a
before. al seven o'clock in the evening, the
Scotchmam runs into the Waverly Station; Ed
ingburgh
The total distance is $685. miles, covered ii
exactly nine hours, including all stoppages
and on applying the same calculation TO the
Scotchman as has been already applied TO the
Great Western train, il will be found that the
Northern trains average running speed IS ex-
actly "A miles an hour.-Erctngs