The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-15
FAST RAILROAD TIME.
SOME OF THE BEST RUNS EVER
MADE m THIS COUNTRY.
Tho Fastest Record on an American Road
A Burst Il Speed-A Remarkable Long
Distance Run from New York to san
Francisco.


Francisco
The liyeliest interest was manifested by
railroad men in the recent account OK the
race between the Flying Scotchman" and
tho West Coast Flyer from London to
Edinburgh. in which 400 miles were covered
By the winner in seven hours and twenty-five
minutes This was an average OF something
over fifty three and one half miles an hour.
There was 4 general joggngo Of memories and
overhaulng of the records of fast railroad
trains on American lines And much COM
fort was found by many in going over those
records.
The best run on record in this country
which can be fairly compared with the En-
/ glish run was made over the West Shore road,
from Buffalo 10 New York, on July Q, 1885,,
when A2G miles were covered in hours and
q minutes Quite large number OF railroad
men. including officials Of the Baltimore and
/ Ohio, Wabash, Grond Trunk and West Shore
roads, happened at Buffalo together en- route
for New York. IL was decided 10 see how
| quickly they could move over the new road.
AT the start the railroad mon had their
watches out, and soon the mile posts were
lying past every - seconds. That speed was
held so steadily that the greater part Of the
ran was made at the rate Of 45 seconds 70 the
miie, or from 20 to S. miles an hour From
East Buffalo to Gonesee Junction, 81 miles,
took j6 minutes from East Buffalo 20 New
ark, % 1 miles, q minutes, from Albany 10
Gcnesce Junction, 1858 miles, 80 minutes.
Tie o. minutes 20 Newark included stops OF
minutes, making the actual running time
for the g3.4 miles, - minutes From Newark
10 Frankfort. where the conditions for run
ming were not so good rs before, the run Of
Jos. 3 miles was made in I3 minutes, inciud-
ing II minutes for stops From East Buffalo
- Frankfort, POP miles, the time was 24O
minutes. of which 3j minutes were consumed
in stops.
On Oct. 8, 1855 over the same road,
burst of speed was tried for II miles, be-
tween Genesce Junction and East Buffalo 70
satisfy Superintendent j. +. Laying, who was
on the train. The run occupied 3l2 seconds,
an average rate Of - miles an hour. Three
of tho miles were made at the rate Of 50 miles
an hour, one at - and one at -.
On the New York Central road n news
paper train with two cars, weighing 20 TONS
hauled into Syracuse, Sunday morning, Aug
5. 1886. at 10 o'clock AN hour late. The train
was booked 70 60 from New York to Buff
falo in o. hours. Orders came 10 try 10
make uD the time on the further run of l4S1
miles t. Buffalo John W. Cool, one OF the
best engineers on the road, mounted his cab,
bound to obey the order He started out at
81 miles an hour At the end Of the three
4 m II1fr
and then to ~ He stopped at Rochester
for water. and slowed up after passing Crit
tenden. His average speed from Syracuse
10 Rochester was 81 miles per hour; from
Rochester to Buffalo % = miles per hour,
and from Syracuse 70 Buffalo, $50 miles an
hour. The run of l4S7 miles was made IN
l36 minutes.
The most remarkable long distance run on
record was when the Jarrett-Palmer comui-
nation went from New York 10 San Fran
cisco in half tine, OF 81 days Their train
left tue Pennsylvania station in Jersey City
ut l2:53on themoruing OF June 1, 1876 They
were not TO make stop until they reached
Pittsburg. An engine and baggage car, on
the approach of the special 20 Harrisburg,
got uD q speed OF about fifty miles and passed
mails 10 the special by running along an adj
Joining track for several miles, while the
mail BAGS were thrown from train 10 train.
The run 10 Pittsburg, 1881 miles, took 10
hours and minutes, an ayeragoof 49, miles
an hour, Notwithstanding the Aleshanies.
From Pitrsburg 70 Chicago, 1853 miles took
II hours and minutes, am average OF ~
miles. including p stops and ! change Of
engines From Chicago 70 Council Bluffs,
49l miles, took ~ hours, an average
Of 49G miles, although there was Il
record for part Of this journey OF
G22 miles. Over the Union Pacific
the run Of l.O32S miles from Omaha 20
Ogden was made in 81 hours aud Il minutes.
az an average of II miles and a maximum of
- miles an hour. The brakes became worn
at Ogden anrhand brakes had 10 be used,
retardng the onward journey somewhat, Us
the men feared they migls lose control Of the
train. San Francisco was safely reached at
1881 on June T. quito in time for the dinner
that had been ordered for the company for
that day. The last stage Of the journey was
run at an average of 81 miles During the
entire run 20 engine were used, there were
- stops, and the running time for j,3l3l
miles was 81 hours Il minutes an average of
40 miles an lour New York Times