New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-08
FAST TRIMS.

Up to the present summer, the fastest time made
by any railroad train in the world for an equal
distance was supposed TO be that of the Flying
ScOtchman," which made the run from London 10
Edinburgh in nine hours. The distance is 3o2 1-2
miles, and the average speed was as 3-5 miles per
hour, including stops. This time was cut by the
Flying Scotchman" itself to eight hours and a
half month ago. The London and Northwestern,
the rival road, reduced its time TO the same figure
Then the Great Northern sent the FLYING Scotch
man" through in eight hours, and the London
and Northwestern has made the same time,
and has saved half dozen minutes OIL IT, As the
latter route is q few miles lOnger-just 400-the
average rate OF speed is trile greater than that
made by the Great Northern. The average, ex-
Guiding stops was about SO 1-2 miles per hour,
but this is not, Of course, fair comparison The
stops must be taken into account and they reduce
the average speed to fifty miles an hour.
This is undoubtedly the fastest time made any
where for an equal distance but it does not
represent very great increase in speed, after
all The Railroad Gazette in the course Of
some interesting comments on this subject, draws
attention to the fact that the highest speeds
attained by passenger trains forty years ago are
seldom surpassed to-day. The fact is, that while
many railroad improvements tend to an increase
of speed, there are many and powerful causes
steadily at work against il. The multiplication Of
railroads and the increase in traffic add greatly TO
the causes of delay. Every new junction and
crossing which bring the train to a stand-stil or
slacken its speed mean loss OF time. In this
country especially, both locomotives and cars have
gained enormously in weight The engines are moro
powerful, more durable and less likely TO break
down, but they are also much heavier. The de-
mand for increased comfort and even luxury, as
we'll as security, for passengers has caused a
steady increase in the weight of cars Now that
the American must not only be able TO sleep in
comfort on the rail, but to enjoy an elaborate
dinner while in full motion, the frst-class Ameri-
can passenger train has come TO be something
like hotel ON wheels. The number of passengers is
SO small in comparison to the space given up TO
them and the number Of attendants is 80 large,
that, as The Gazette" says, the task Of running a
fast and profitable passenger train becomes al
most impossible II it had not been for the
introduction of continuous brakes the increased
weight and number Of trains would probably have
caused an dctual reduction in the rate Of speed.
| The best method Of securing higher average OF
speed for long distances plainly consists in avoid
ing unnecessary stops and checks TO the speed Of
the train Improved signals, which can be clearly
seen OF a distance, interloclsed with the switches
| and managed on the block system, would do
much in this direction. With such safeguards
| trains could run 90 full speed, where now they
must often slacSen their rate because Of the lack
Of perfect signals As rule, tho fastest trains
already have them. When they come into more
general use forty miles an hour, including stops,