Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
RIDING ON THE RAIL.
The Possibilities of Increase Of Speed
in Railroad Travel.
SEVERAL NOTABLE FAST TRIPS.
The Greatest Speed Attained on This Side
of the Ocean.
MUCH MORE DANGER AT A RAPID RATE
SEVERAL NOTABLE FAST TRIPS.
MUCH MORE DANGER AT A RAPID RATE
rwRIrrEN For THE n1sp1rcH.1 !

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATcH.1
Those who have watched the progress made
in railroading in America during the past
dozen years, and the comforts that travellers
now enjoy on the rail, need not be told that
all that money and brains can do to increase
speed and safety of travel is being done.
The brainy men Of Drawn, who are build
ing locomotives and equipping passenger
coaches in style not equaled in any land in
the world, are giving much thought and at
tention to fast time on the rail. It is rule
among these men to guard their secrets vel, |,
and they would not consider it professional
to talk to an interviewer, but the editors of
the various journals devoted to railroads,
railroad engineering and locomotives, and
there are a score of them in this country,
have no hesitancy in speaking.
With view to finding out what is being
done in the matter of locomotive engineer
ing to gain great speed the writer called on
few experts the other day. Editor Talbot,
of the Railaody Age, who is known to every
man engaged in railroading from the Allan
tic to the Pacific, was asked if he thought
the maximum of speed had yet been at
tanned. He did not seem to like that ques-
tion exactly, and so the interviewer gave
him another one. 1t was this:
'What is the greatest speed yet attained
by railway trains?'
CONSTANTLY INCREASING.
'Tn the United States the speed attained
by passenger trains has been constantly in
creasing during the last few years, until on
some of our lines having the most perfect
roadbeds, bridges and motive power it has
reached the rate of from 30 to 60 miles an
hour, and in some cases almost 20 miles, not
including stops and for comparatively short
distances on practically straight track. OF
course there are no regular trains which are
run at these speeds, including stops. The
tendency leans toward still greater speed
than has yet been adopted, because of the
necessities of competition and the demands
of the travelling public, which it would seem
can only be satisfied by the substitution of
lightning for steam as a motive power.
Gould people travel with comfort and
safety at 100 miles an hour?"
''No. After a speed of say 40 miles an
hour has been achieved each mile of in
crease adds both to the dangers aud discom-
forts. The greater the speed the greater the
possibility of broken rails, broken wheels
and axles, falling bridges, etc. The various
parts of the locomotive are more liable to
get out of order, and in case of derailment or
collision the results are proportionately dis
astrous. These and other elements of danger
apply to fast running. Some of the discom-
forts which result are the swaying of cars,
the creation of dust and the increased jolt
ing and jarring."
"What progress has been made of late
years in the building of locomotives"
IMPROVED LOCOMOTIVES.
"Recent improvements in locomotive
building, both in the matters of speed and
power, have been very great in the past few
years. Increased experience, inventive
genius, and the skill possessed by the men
who control the motive power department of
our railways, with the unceasing efforts of
our great locomotive builders to provide a
perfect locomotive. have resulted in placing
the American engine ahead of all others
For several years it has been victorious over
all competitors, not only in this country,
but in South America, Cuba, Mexico and
the islands of the Pacific. Every year adds
to its possibilities as to speed, hauling
powers and endurance. A recent trial of
the new Strong locomotive, A. G. Darwin,
furnished most interesting illustration of
the progress constantly being made in these |
respects. 1t may be interesting to know |
what has been accomplished on the other |
side of the ocean. From London to Crewe.
distance of 158 miles, the run is made in |
176 minutes without stopping, stretch of |
521 miles being made in so minutes. the |
speed sometimes reaching 20 miles an hour.
From Carlisle to Edinburgh, 1O1 miles is
made in 105 minutes; from London to |
Grantham, 105 miles, in III minutes, with |
out stopping, and from York to Newcastle,
"a miles, in Sc minutes"
Mr.. n. M. Forney, editor of the Railroad |
and Engineering Journal, when inter- I
viewed, expressed himself as follows
''The details in locomotive building are
the same as they were 20 years ago; the only
difference in the construction of locomotives
now compared with 10 to 20 years ago is that
they are built heavier and more powerful.
As to the question of great speed, about 80
miles an hour has been reached for short
distances, but for short distances only. This
speed is rarely attempted and more rarely
attained.
AVERAGE MAXIMUM SPEED.
"Fifty-four miles an hour may be consid-
cred the average maximum speed for long
and don't think you will find
that more than this speed is registered in
any of the railway guides of this country
If you have proper road to travel on there
is no reason whyit should not be Just as safe
and just as pleasant travelling at 100 miles
an hour as at so or 20; but as to whether
CnlS euOruOus speeu Will ever De reached IS
more than l can answer, nor could any rail-
road man. 1t is not likely to occur for some
time yet, and may therefore be considered
outside the pale of practical discussion for
the present. This is emphaticalIy day of
great achievements when mans ingenuity
and skill are constantly making new con-
luests, and" added the editor with mean
ing nod, "you and will live to see a good
many more triumphs of inventive genius
yet There are Stephensons and Edisons
yet to come. Increased speed, however,
means increased danger all around.
The young and enthusiastic editor of the
locomotive Engineer. who watches the evo-
ution in machinery of all kinds with keen
interest, when asked for his opinion, replied
Is follows:
"The greatest change in the building of
locomotives is in the weight and the in
reased boiler pressure. Some locomotives
,uilt nowadays have boiler pressure of 18O
pounds per square inch. Engines are built
o-day to pull very heavy loads, and while
here is absolutely no change in principle or
letails they are made as strong and heavy
s possible"
"As to the maximum speed?"
THE HIGHEST KNOWN.
''I cannot give you the exact figure for