Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-03
sIxTY-Two MILES AN HOUR.
The Southern Pacific Beats all Fast Time
Records

[Ssn Francisco Examiner, December I'd
The Western record on fast railroad time
was smashed all to pieces yesterday Oh the
Southern Pacific Railroad. 1t is doubtful,
too, whether such run, considering all the
circumstances, was ever made in the East.
At 902 A. NJ. special train of two private
cars with Allen Marvel, the newly-elected
President of the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe Railroad A. A. Robinson, Vice
President and General Manager, and other
Santa Fe officials pulled out of Bakersfield
bound for San Francisco.
They were IN charge of James Deitrick,
Superintendent of the Visalia Division of
the Southern Pacific and orders had been
telegrsphed to have the track cleared.
A magnificent locomotive had been
brought into requisition and il moved away
with the two cars like fash. Arriving at
Poso, stop was made for twelve minutes
10 coal and cool box that had become hot
Then the engineer, with his hand on the
throttle, again started the engine, while
the fireman. with shirt collar thrown back
AID his arms barred, began shoyeling in tie
coal.
The train shot away up the track like
black s,reak. At Tulare six minutes
stop was made to give the thirsty engine
drnk, end in amazingly brief time there
after the train had gone far up the San Joa
quin to Fresno.
Then the officials stop fifteen minutes TO
view the varied products exhibited in the re-
ceDticn room OF the new depot Then the
party stepped aboard, and stopped no more
till they got up to MERGED. II was over this
span of the road that much of the fastest
time was made. The telegraph poles
whizzed by so fast that they could not be
counted. and all the surrounding country
was a blur. The cars rocked from side to
side when turn was made, but as most of
the road there is rs straight as q unbarrel,
they moved forward like creased lightning.
st MERGED another drink was given the
locomotive, and in six minutes it was eff
again. Up at Morrano the officials stopped
for two minutes 10 let the down passenger
go by.
AT length the painting engine arrived at
Lathrop, 30 miles from Bakersfield, in The
remarkable time, counting out stoppages,
Of three hours and thirty-two minutes, an
average Of about sixty-two miles an hour.
From there the engine took her time and
made the trip 10 the CITY, ninety miles in
az hour and : half, or at the steady Jog of a
mile minute.
The time fairly startled the Santa Fe
officials. Whether train ever travelled as
fasl rs 9 mile a minute has for long time
been a moo;ed question with leading rail
ROAD officials. The West Shore, Baltimore
aud 0aio and other roads have occasionally
made time approaching it for short dis.
! tances, and some months sgO the Midland
Railroad, in England, made similar time
the story Of which was told in long cable
grams 10 the American newspapers. but it
is believed that no American road has made
such time for so long . distance.
This is the fastest Tup | ever made in
my life said President Marvel, and l
have been on y great many fast trains. too.
/ 1t is simply wonderful. l would not have
| believed il could be d9ne."
| Vice President Robinson said: This
time is fact. Everything considered, it IS
an amazing piece of work. have noted
some of Jay Goulds fast Western trips
with interest, but TIE Southern Pacific has
outdone everything IN this way. The
track was very smooth. else 1t would not
have been possible