The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-07-12
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The Fastest Scheduled Train In America
Runs From Philadelphia to the Sea via
the Readings Royal Route.

Runs From Philadelphia to the Sea via
the Reading's Royal Route.
That there is a streak of sporting blood"
in the veins of the most sedate among us is
evidenced by the universal interest man.
ifested in railway speeds and the delight
with which the average man halls each sue
cessive triumph Of the locomotive over the
com bined elem ents of time and distance.
The much.vaunted Flying Scotchmsn"
express train between London and Edin-
burgh, in Great Britain, is still regarded
! by many persons rs the fastest regularly
scheduled train in the world. This, how
ever, is mistake, the speed of the
"Scotchmsn'' having been exceled by
several railroads in this country, notably
by the New York Central, whose Empire
State Express between New York and
Buffalo has, until within few days,
claimed the title of the fastest regular train
in the world. This celebrated train runs
from New York to Buffalo, distance OF
440 miles, in eight hours and forty minutes,
which is at the rate of seventy-one seconds
at each mile, or fifty and two-third miles
per hour. Deducting all stops the
average running time Of this train is fifty
two and twelve one-hundredths miles per
hour.
Now, however, comes new claimant for
high speed honors. II has been discovered
that the Reading Railroads $50 p. m
train from Philadelphia to Atlantic City,
known as the Seventy Minute Flyer" is
actually the fastest regularly scheduled pas
senger train in the world. The distance
from Chestnut street wharf to the Camden
terminus of the railroad is about mile and
half, and the ferry boat trip and transfer
of the passengers from the boat to the cars
occupies ten minutes. This leaves sixty
minutes for the rail ride, and that is pre-
cisely the time allowed by the schedule to
cover the fifty five and half miles which
intervene between the Camden depot and
the station in Atlantic City. A little fgur
ing will show that this is a speed of sixty.
five seconds to the mile, or rate of fifty.
five and half miles per hour, beating the
former record six seconds per mile and al
most five miles per hour.
1t should be understood that this refers
to the speed of regularly scheduled trains
over the entire length of their scheduled
runs, and not to mere phenomenal bursts
of speed or stretches of fast running to
make up for lost time or delays. The rate
OF ffty-fve and half miles per hour is
exceeded every day on the Reading rail-
road, and possibly on some other lines, but
on no railroad in the world, so far as
known, is there train run from end to
end of its route at so great an average speed
as that of the Seventy Minute Flyer"
When the latter was established it was
not with the purpose of breaking record,
but the officials we're confident of their
ability to run train safely and promptly
in the specified time, or less if required. 1t
was determined, however. to limit the train
to six cars in order to insure quickness.
This was found to be impracticable, and for
more than week the train has been carry
ing eight cars, including one or more heavy
Pullmans, and making schedule time on
every trip.
President Mcleod can now congratulate
himself that his road holds the worlds
record" for the fastest mile (39 seconds,
as timed August q, 1891, by President Nc
Leod, Mr.. William M. Singerly, of the
Philadelphia Record and others), and also
has upon its time table the fastest regular
train in the world.