Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-12-10
The Big Hrain ON tne Mississippi Val
ley Road.

The Big Irain on tne Mississippi Val.
ley Road.
The recent feat of hauling 150 loaded
freight cars with a single engine over the
Mississippi Valley railroad having caused
considerable comment among railroad
men, an APPEAL reporter last night hunt
ed up Mai. II. Burke, general superin-
tendent OF the line, and vino made the
trip on the big train, to see what add-
tional facts could be learned about what is
Justly considered one of the greatest
achievements in railroading. Maj. Burke
found at the Peabody, and, in answer
ie reporters questions, made, in sub
stance, the following statement: The
tain left Wilson with sixty-two cars and
pulled into LsPlace with l57 cars, inolud-
ing the cabooses. Here drizzllng rain set
in, and fourteen cars were switched out,
leaving 142 cars, with which the engine
went into the depot at New Orleans. The
quickest run was from Pecan Grove to
New Orleans, seventeen miles, i'll fifty
eight minutes, and the total running time
between Wilson and New Orleans was
twelve hours and forty-fiv minutes. Much
delay was experienced in meeting ard
passing trains at stations. and frequently the
engine had to be cut loose and run for
water, as the tender did not hold enough
to make the run between water stations.
1no SIillc Iuu Wdb lldN6 NlJuOub 6iHksO
mishsp, beyond the breaking of a coupling
pin or two, there not even being hot-box.
There was absolutely no detention beyond
the passing of trsins, which, under the
circumstances, was veiy slow and tedious
work. Four trains were passed at Lapl lac,
where there was a dotention of three
hours, the big train having, in railroad
parlance, to 'saw by.' The train was
drawn by engine No. 81, ten-wheeler,
with six drivers feet S inches in diam
eter, with 1S-inch cylinders, 2I foot stroke,
and weighs about 30 tons, under the
charge of Engineer Hefeli and Conductor
j. K. Merritt, with whom we're Mai. Nj.
Burke, General Superintendent of the
Mississippi Valley Railroad, Chief of
transportation Marshall and Master
Ssii-ohanic Ed. Anderson. The loaded cara
were msde up Ct LA cars of cotton, 10 of
oak slaves and of various merchandise.
In the cotton cars there were no IeWer
than 1927 bales. The cars themselves
averaged weight of "a 900 pounds, max
a total of l, 644 SSl pounds and the freight
amounted to s, ,442, S37 pounds, making the
net weight drawn by the engine up to the
enormous figure of 1927 sos pounds.
The cars averaged a length of "a
feet, and the full length of the train was
so feet over mile, exclusive of 425 feet of
slack, and Maj. Burke sent to New Orleans
for Mr. b. d. Barrows, the freight clerk of
the railroad, TO 90 to Wilson and take
charge of the way bills Of the train and
come down with it, so that he can to-day
fun Inish full details of the freight it carried.
The ears making up the train were not
picked, but gathered from sll points and
Unfortunately.
Maj. Burke rode the entire way with the
engineer on the locomotive, but says he
would not take the same trip sgsin for
good round sum, unless soma other rosd
beats his record, which is hardly probable.
1t was certainly a great achievement, and
Maj. Burke deserves credit for having per-
formed feat, which will create a stir in
railroad circles all over the country.