The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-19

A Great Achievements IN Engiand-F0ur Hum
dred Miles in 445 Minutes.

dred Miles in 445 Minutes.
Baltimore Sun.
Trains of the Great Northern and the West
Coast railway companies ran q race between
London and Edinburgh Monday, which, accord
ing TO the New York Illness description, broke
the worlds record for high speed. The distance
between the two cities is 400 miles. and the time
consumed, exclusive of stops. was seven hours
and twenty-five minutes, the average speed be-
ing over ffty-three and a half miles an hour.
For SO long q run this was unprece.
dented. The Baltimore g. Ohio between
this city and Washington frequently
makes the forty miles in forty-fve
minutes, a speed of nearly 53i miles an hour.
but this r6n Is hardly to be compared with the
feat of Monday. The victorious train. the West
Coast. which included four passenger cars
Weighing twenty tons each, the whole weighing
132 tons, ran from London to Crewe. 15S miles,
without o stop, in two hours and ffty-eight
minutes. Part of this distance was traversed at
the rate OF ~ miles an hour. Beyond Crewe a
speed OF from 70 to 40 miles was kept mp for ten
miles, and the 81 miles between Crewe and
the former place there was Q stop Of five
minutes to change engines, and at tho latter
q stop OF twenty minutes for luncheon. After
passing Preston heavy grades were encountered,
and the five aud one-half miles to Sharp Sum-
NIT were run at the low rate of thirty. seven and
oue-half miles an hour: but. the Summit being
passed. Q mile a minute was the common rate,
though seventy-two was made on down grades.
Aa;S G9sli 8 so sa. os engine s.D m Tsa shA& fss i .sai1 n,i 10,
from Carlisle to Edinburgh were msde in l04
minutes. over q rise of 1,015 feet. At several
places on the route between the English and the
Scotch CAPITALS severe grades necessitated slow
movement. but. including these, an average
rate Of ffty-three and one-half miles an hour
was made, and the West Coast train
ran into the station At Edinburgh seven
minutes ahead OF its rival. Tho Flying Scotch
man. Competing English roads cut time. not
rates. The summer traffic northwsrdf from Lon
don 10 valuable. and the West Coast railroad,
having beaten the Great Northern in this trial
of speed. will hope cow to break the monopoly
Of the fast PASSENGER traffic the latter company
has hitherto enjoyed. In June the schedule time
between London and Edinburgh was nine
hours. This has been reduced by successive
cuts TO eight hours, and there 10 said TO be a
prospect of its being reduced To seven and
one-haIf hours. The sensations of q person
going at q rate of seventy-fve miles an hour
are described "a somewhat novel. but not I'M
pleasant. There are no moro shaking and
iostline than at lower speeds. The noise of q
train passing in the opposite direction 10 said,
however, TO be something fearful. resembling 4
volley Of musketry. Tunnels are recognized by
the cyash and roar heard when they are trav-
ersed, and by the shower of sparks seen against
the black background. AS regards danger.
there is no more OF it, it IL held. at fast than at
slow speeds. especially on English roads. where
the road-bed is good and the track is secured
against trespassers. In view of the trepidation
wv WhhSA 1tt ~
Washington in the early days Of railroading
used to regard q speed of thirteen
miles an hour. the uonchalauce or the traveller
of to-day at speeds from three to five times az
great is worth noting. We get used to a great
many things which at one stage OF our develop
ment we should have considered impossible. IL
It be asked why the English roads so greatly ex-
eel, as . rule. the American roads in speed. the
answer Is not far to seek. A great deal more
money is spent on the English road per mile
than on the Neutrality-suspicious. fse or six
times as much. The grades are made as easy
as possible. the road bed is solidly con-
structed and tracks are commonly inclosed
on both sides. 80 that tramps
and animals with difficulty gain access to them.
The companies are not permitted TO cross roads
and streets at grade. They must pass above or
below throughfares In such q way IS 10 prevent
risk of loss of life. The expense is, OF course,
very great, and heavier than our roads through
thinly-settled regions could tesr. but the beDe-
fit is found in the greater speed. comfort and
safety Of travel. We are improving fast in this
matter. In the older parts OF the country.
where the traffic is large and remunerative. the
railroads are constantly adding to their psrfec-
tons. aud here and there the traveller finds bits
of road that may challenge comparison with the
best English roads.