Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26

| bne event OF 3 COLLISION or DfeakuoHn, oknOi
wise, however, don't consider there. Is
bit more danger. prefer the fast train !.
the slow one, and there are as many acei
dents or more with slow trains as with las
ones. If a fast train is run on good track
there is practically no danger.
Mr.. G. 81. Prout, editor Of the Rdstrod'
Gazette, is a very conservative man, AM
writes for very critical class of readers
He, therefore, will not vouch for the abso
lutte accuracy of the views given below
though he considers them measureably cor
rect.
SAFETY CONSIDERED.
In reply to the question the editor, afte
referring to formidable looking volume OF
his shelves, replied: 1.-THE fastest trains rur
between Philadelphia and Washington
they run at Az miles an hour, including
four stops. The fastest speed made by
these trains is SO miles an hour. A grea
many trains run as fast as 60 miles an houl
every day for short distances between
stations to make up for lost time. The
fastest English trains make an average
speed of about 80 miles an hour. The Lon
don and Northwestern Railway ran trains
last summer from London to Edinburgh, 8
distance of 400 miles, at speed of 81 miles
an hour, including three stops or 55H miles
an hour exclusive of these stops. This i:
the maximum speed done in regular every
day practice.
"Could people travel in safety at 10t
miles an hour?"
The editor seemed little staggered at the
| question, and after a little thought he re-
| piled with admirable candor, ST DOM
| know. There is no experiment nor any re-
| liable reasoning which would warrant me
in saying whether passenger trains will evel
run 100 miles an hour and carry people
with comfort and safety. 1t is not likely
that everybody would find it comfortable
though it might be perfectly safe. But one
thing is pretty certain-it will not be for
many years yet. do not regard it ply
steal impossibility, however. The dangers
would certainly be increased, but no person
need have any fear of travelling in a train
running at the rate of 80 miles an hour; at
such speed they may be considered reas-
onably safe, provided it is on a frst-class
road. Not only must the track be in good
condition and the rolling stock, bat there
must also be precautions for protecting
trains by proper signals. Most or many of
the accidents which occur can be traced to
defective signaling
HAULING HEAVIER TRAINS.
Every little alteration has been made in
the building of locomotives. The weight
has been very greatly increased within the
last ten years, and they are constantly be-
ing built stronger and more powerful, in
order that they may haul heavier trains at
greater speed. They are also making the boil
ers stronger, so that they can carry higher
steam pressure. An engine and tender to-
day often weighs as much as 70 tons, and
will haul 80 tons of cars and freight"
Mr.. Wellington, editor of the Engineer
ing NeacS, who is very busy man, found
time to reply to my queries as follows:
"As to speed?"
frequently, go miles every day. Up to 60
miles an hour there is no necessary increase
of danger; it is quite as safe as at 30. Ten
or 10 miles an hour is always safer. Low
speed means fewer accidents, and that is the
reason why there are. so few casualties on
the elevated railroads. AS to whether it is
safe to travel at 100 miles an hour answer,
No; it is impossible. With the present
style of cars it would be neither safe DOR
comfortable. There has been no great
change in the building of locomotives since
the days of George Stephenson and the first
railroad between Stockton and Darlington
in the north of England. They are built
pretty much the same way in general de-
sign, and the only serious change is the in
crease in weight. The Strong locomotive is
tive building and attains a high rate of
speed" -
Mr.. Calvin, editor of Railroad Topic,
further supplemented these talks
NEW INVENTIONS. !.
In reply to my question, "What is the
maximum speed ?'' he replied, 40 miles an
hour for short distances, and on good roads.
This may be regarded as the highest point
reached in regular everyday travelling. One
hundred miles an hour will never be
reached. 1 have personal friend who has
been at work during the last few years on
an engine that he is building to run 100
miles an hour, but doubt whether he will
ever succeed. 1t would require to be alto
gether different from those running on the
tracks at the present day. The Strong loco
motive, which has obtained such favorable
comments in so many newspapers, has made
a hrst-rate run only recently. On April 1
the Strong locomotive "A. G. Darwin hauled
the Erie express from Jersey City to Buffalo,
424 miles, in the regular schedule, thus
ordinarily assigned to four different engines.
The train consisted of six cars, including
one Pullman, at the start, which on portions
OF the run was increased to seven or eight
cars.
"On the following day the same engine
returned with still heavier load, making
the run on time. This 1 regard as a re-
performance, and it speaks highly
for the power and endurance Of the Strong
locomotive. The West, however, claims the |
honor of beating this record by still longer
continuous run, made on the Chicago and |
Northwestern Railway. On April 8, an or
dinary engine of the eight-wheel type. draw
ing the special train of DR.. Webb, of the
Wagner Palace Car Company, made the run |
from Chicago to Council Bluffs, distance
Of 49O miles, in 1917 hours, including IS
stops. If l deduct 80 minutes for stops, the
average speed was Az miles an hour, and |
he speed recorder showed speed of 646
miles an hour between Colorado and Nevada. |
/ distance OF seven miles,"