The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-31
FASTEST MILE EVERM MADE
A TRAIN SPEEDS AT NINETY
MILES AN HOUR.

over ninety miles per hour, is the fastest
run ever made by a railroad train. This
unparalleled feat was accomplished yester-
day on the Bound Brook railroad, between
Neshaminy Falls and Langhorne. by Engine
No. 206, drawing two ordinary coaches and
President McLeod's private car Reading,
which is equal to two coaches in
weight Other miles were reeled
off with speed as astonishing as this crack
mile and at the end of the ''fiy" the worlds
record was broken. From this out all
records must date from the memorable
Bound Brook fight. The fastest mile was
scored in SO As seconds. The fastest five
miles in 9 minutes &c 4-6 seconds. The fast
est ten miles in Z minutes 10 seconds,
averaging 43 seconds per mile.
The occasion for this race against time
grew out of some good-natured chatting
that took place at Judge Green's dinner to
the Farmers Club on August 20, at Easton.
Mr. William NJ. SIngerly was telling Mr..
Mcleod, president of the Reading Rail
road Company, that for thirteen years he
had been making it a diversion to time fast
railroad trains, and that he had rarely
Travelled faster than so seconds.
Mr.. Singerly said that the best he had
timed was As seconds. Mr.. Singerly travels
frequently between Philadelphia and Elk
ton, Md. and he has informed engineers.on
Philadelphia. Wilmington and Baltimore
and the Baltimore and Ohio roads that he
would give S25 for mile better than IS Sc
conds
Mr. Mcleod quietly replied that he could
do better than As seconds, and Mr.. Singerly
said he would be pleased to see it done. AS
a result of this conversation tho following
letter was received on Tuesday:
No. 227 SOUTH FOURTH STREET PHILA-
DELHHIA, Aug. 25.-My Dear Mr.. Singerly:
l shall be ready to show you fast mile at
half past l on Thursday of this week. Will
that time suit your convenience: II 80
please meet me at Ninth and Green at that
hour, bringing Mr.. Norris and any friends
you may wish to invite with you.
Yours truly,
A. A. MCLEOD.
lfr. William N. Singerly.
This invitation was promptly accepted,
and at the appointed time a train consist
ing of an engine and three cars rolled out
of the station at Ninth and Green streets.
The engine was No. 206. of the Wootten
pattern, burning anthracite coal. 1t be-
longs TO class ID, 80. IL has feet S-inch
driving wheels, and is one of the ordinary
patterns Of fast engines in use on the Phila-
delphia and Reading railroad and the
Bound Brook railroad to New York. 1t was
built in the Reading shops. and stands to-
day as q triumph of the skill of American
mechanics. The locomotive was handled
by Engineer John Hogan, and the fires were
looked after by Oscar Teshner.
The train drawn by this engine cons
prised two ordinary day coaches, Nos. 65S
and 306, and the handsome car Reading,
which is used by President Mcleod as his
private car. Its weight IS almost about
that of the two ordinary coaches, so that
fho in
When Conductor William Morgan
pulled the bell cord there were aboard the
train, in addition to President A. A. Nc
Leod, |. A. Sweigard general superintend-
ent Of the Philadelphia and Reading rail-
road; q. d. Whitcomb. superintendent of
the Philadelphia aud New York divi ion;
G. G.. Steffey. general road foreman of en-
gines, and <. c. Tomlinson, treinmaster OF
the Philadelphia and New York division.
Accompanying Mr.. Singerly were B. A.
Van Schaick, merchant, and John Norris
and James s. Chambers, Jr., of the
Record.
AS the train steamed slowly up Ninth
street to the Germantown branch, thence
across country from Wayne to Tabor, and
up the North Pennsylvania line to Jenkin-
town, where it gracefully turned to the
race-track leading through q modern gar
den as beautiful as the Biblical Eden, it
was readily seen that the railroad en-
ployes had been apprised of the great trial
heat to come.
The most minute details of preparation
had been taken. Ahead ran the quick
gated New York express. patroling the
line OF the road on each side were section
hands. ready to pick even a hairpin of the
rails; in the signal towers were the clever
operators lntently noting progress upon the
Click OF the WIRE, and as the train passed
each cross-road, where hagman was sta
toned, big red flag was raised across the
track as warning to any train
that might R Sattempt to follow.
Thus policed, the race against time
began. As precautionary measure new
orake"shoes had been placed on the wheels
OF the cars, so that the train might be
readily stopped. While the cars rolled
along there was general comment upon the
magnificent condition of the roadway. The
rails are the heaviest-90 pounds to the
yard-that can be found on any railroad on
the continent. The tracks are heavily bal
lasted with stone, and it was reasonably ex~
pected that fast mile might be looked for
II no hinderance arose.
Mind your eye." was the quiet remark
dropped after passing Jenkintown, and
Engineer Hogan let her out lust little.
The run to Bethayres showed the possible
Ties, and the wheels passed the milepost be-
Eono JenKlntownat a speed of so seconds
NSh OIS idCo DeRdu. Inc lrSC nile post at
hydal was passed in 45 seconds, but when
40 was announced for the second mile,
tnere was loud whistle of surprise.
49, The following mile showed "A seconds.
Inc next three miles from Bethayres 10
Somerton were of a cheering sort, aud the
iron horse had climbed good heavy grade
"nlle reducing the record for miles
4, Ihere Yves rush past Somerton, and for
tne next four miles the ties looked like
continuous layer of planks, the telegraph
poles were beginning to resemble a fine
sootn comb, and the rails from the rear rs-
semoled great red streak. A flash of gilt
showed on the station, and it took a onIck
eye to read the word SOmertop. The mile
leading up to this point showed 42,3 sec
onds gait.
Inc next was reduced to a 49.2 seconds.
S ele1 AZ seconds mile; and as beautiful
Neshaminy was brought into view the
speed was increased q trihe apparently.
Dut TWO seconds were knocked off the mile.
aho the crowd of excursionists cheered the
IRAN that rushed past this famous SPOT at a
~ seconds per mile clip
4, IL need not be wondered at that men at
the stations held their hats to their heads
shc women bent low to keep their skirts
TTGwn wnen this wheeled cyclone passed.
IA me IRON horse was now truly on Its mettle.
~ snorted through the hills Of Bucks county
az Il proud of its work, aud as it straight
eneu out toward beautiful Langhorne. three
Hll'es away, it showed the possibilities of
american railroading.