Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-12-07
RAILROADS OF EUROPE.
Great Speed of the Fastest English
Trains.

-
trains is greater than that of quickest
American trains. Probably the Lon.
don d. North western runs faster trains
than any other company in the world.
In the height OF the travel season il
runs train between London and Edin-
burgh. $40 miles, in seven and three
quarter hours, nearly fifty miles an
hour for the entire run; part Of The
| trip Is done at the rate of a mile a
minute. The road Is so we'll ballasted
and the cars are so constructed that
there Is little jostlng. and the noise of
train In motion does not seriously in
terfere with conversation in ordinary
tones of voice. English trains make
fast time partly because they never
cross on level; nor are the rOadways
for vehicles drawn by horses ever
built on level with railroads. hey
either pass under the road or on a
bridge or arch over the rails. There
Is never any necessity In England for
the familiar sign in America, Look
out for the locomotive when the bel
rings" ~
In the matter of handling pas =
sengers' baggage on railways there
England since the writer's last visit.
three years ago. IL you are in London
and about to proceed To your steamer
at Liverpool, the London & North
western will give you check for your
trunk at their station in Eus.on Square.
forward il to Liverpool, place 1t on
board the steamer. and # you dom re :
qure the trunk in the state-room you
need never give it a thought until your
arrival in New York.
When travelling by rail in England
you are not only looked after by the
officials with great care (for you are
under parental government but
by law you are not allowed to be care
less; in fact ii is a criminal act to in
jure yourself, even by accident In
many cases you are locked in the
coaches SO that you cannot leave tho
train while it IS in motion. but il the
door should DO unlocked, and you
jump out before the proper time, or il
you attempt to board train after II
has started, you are arrested and liable
to a heavy fine.
Some Of the English railway cars
are lighted by gas. others by oil. The
lamps are dropped through and de-
pend from the roof, and are lighted
and controlled from the top, as there
is no way for an official to enter the
car while the train is in motion. II
you wish to darken the car. there Is
very good and simple arrangement-a
small dark shade or curtain which
slips under the lamp and shuts out
nearly all of the light.
Ii is long but comparatively easy
railway journey now between Paris
important cities between the two
places are Vienna and Munich. The
train is called the Orient EXPRESS
it is composed of saloon, dining and
sleeping care. and makes very fast
time. 1t corresponds with our limited
express and to secure a place you
must "book" in advance.
The new railway station at Frank
fort. Saxony, of glass and iron. was
opened for business last month. having
been in course OF constructor for sew
eral years. 1t is the largest and the
handsomest railway station in the
world, and all the novel and modern
ideas having been brought to bear IN
its erection. it is better suited for its
purpose than any other. The Grand
Central Depot in New York is small
by comparison with tn new station,
and as for beauty. the Frankfort sta
ton is far superior.
In the United States, IL you arrive
at q station five or ten minutes before
the hour announced for the departure
Of train you are in ample time. but
the case Is different in Europe. There
is usually trouble and delay IN getting
seats and nearly ALWAYS confusion.
There are three different classes of
carriages. there is a smoking carriage
to each class, furthermore. only ladies
or ladies accompanied by male escorts
are allowed in some carriages. The
trouble of getting your baggage
checked. that il il the line furnishes
checks at all, is very great In the
printed announcements of some roads
the company adv SEES passengers to 'be
at the station at least half an hour be-
fore the departure Of the train to reg
lister baggage" The baggage, IL it be
trunk. must be weighed. and In
many instances there is an extra
charge.
Some of the carriages on German
trains are supplied with the conven.
fences of travel VIII CHI Americans are
accustomed TO. but iced or any drink
ing water is q commodity unknown on
the steam. cars in Europe. In travel
ing through France you can buy
half. bottle Of red wine at the stations
for few centimes and at stations in
Germany glasses of foaming beer are
brought to you In the Gar for a few PEN
Miss 1t is not the habit with them. as
IL is with Americans. to swallow large
draughts Of iced water on all occasions
II Is we'll that the distances between
cities in Belgium are short. for tho
train service. is very bal aud the cars
are poorly appointed. Railway SER
CO N Germany is far better than in
Belgium, but there is still! room for
Improvement In second-class car
riagrs, upon the uncomfortable aud
hard prolruding ridge which Is placed
around the back OF the car and which is