The sun., 1885-10-22
High Speed on Railways.

Trials OF railroad speed are becom-
ing common, especially on new roads,
as they are supposed to be good ad-
vertisements af the excellence of the
track. One of the fastest runs ever
made in this country was that of july
8, on the West Shore road, where a
party of railroad men, in a train of
two cars and q baggage car, were
hauled from East Buffalo to New York,
423 miles, at an average actual rum
ming time of 59.7 miles an hour. One
| 3 mile stretch was made in the fol-
lowing number of seconds for each
mile; go, 81, SO; 53, SO, So, 81, ,54; 40,
4S, Al, At, 81, so, 43 (the latter be-
ing at the rate of "a miles per hour)
This time was taken with q stop
watch, so that it is absolutely correct.
A run of 2O2 miles was made in exact
ly four hours, which, deducting "a
minutes for arbitrary stops, makes the
actual running time between the two
points 2O6 minntes; which is claimed
to be the best run of the distance ever
made. The distance from East Buffalo
to Newark, 90 miles was made in 80
minutes. This equals, if it does not
surpass, the speed of the "Flying Dutch
man" train on the Great Western Rail-
way of England, which has been con-
sidered the fastest train in the world.
Recently an accident occurred on that
train which resulted in the death OF
the engineer and fireman. At the cor
oner's inquest, testimony was given
as to the speed Of the train, as shown
by the block books OF the different
stations. At Western junction the
rate was 81 miles per hour, while be-
tween Yatton and Bourton a speed of
81 miles per hour was attained. In
view of this speed, and before that on
the West Shore was known, the Rail
way Register inquired; Will the time
ever come here in America when a
journey speed of so miles an hour can
be made? If it does, the traveller will
leave st; Louis at one O'Clock in the
afternoon and be in Chicago for a
seven o'clock supper, He can take
the two o'clock afternoon train out
of New York, and arrive at Chicago
so as to have breakfast before eight
the following morning.
OF course such speed is possible only
to the best of roads and rolling stock,
and even then such a trihe as the break
ing of a bolt, the crumbling of a stone
undepa tie, the loosening OF spike or
little unusual pressure of wind on
the concave side Ola train in rounding
curve, might cause disaster. And
even if accidents are escaped, the wear
and tear of such high speed is greater
than that of the lower rate. One of
the largest railroad capitalists of this
city, commenting upon the frequency
OF these experiments and the tendency
OF employees and young officials to try
them says; ''They are not good rail.
readings, because they are neither nee.
essary nor profitable. They enor.
mously increase the risk OF accident,
and a company which permits them
could not escape heavy damages in
case OF injuries arising from them. II
they advertise the road it is an adver-
tisement of doubtful value, for'while It
proclaims good material well put t9:
gether. it announces wild and ambi-
tious operating" This, he thought,
would tend to divert travel to more
conservative lines, thoughhe admitted
that it might also attract some.-Bos.
ton Daily Advertiser.