The Hawaiian gazette., 1895-10-11
SPEED Of RAILWAY TRAINS,
America Holds Championship on
Land as Well as Sea.
Empire State Express Travels x36 I-2
Miles in 4O7 Minutes-British
Record Knocked Out

records by rail, was observed by thous-
ands of persons along the line of the
New York Central and Hudson River
Railway recently, says the New York
Tribune. At nearly every station OF
the railroad there was crowd OF peo-
pie waiting to see the flyer go past.
The best locomotives of the railroad
were being used in the race against
time, and 1t attracted unusual in
terest.
The train beat previous records for
sustained speed on railways, both in
this country and in Europe, making
the run Of 1851 miles between New
York and East Buffalo in less than
seven hours. This achievement puts
into the shade the recent performances
on the English and Scotch railways,
and keeps the championship for speed
on land in the United States. The
train on the New York Central and
Hudson River Railroad made an av-
erage speed of sixty-four and one
third miles an hour, after deducting
the time in stops at stations, while
the English record is sixty.three and
miles an hour.
The train was composed Of four
heavy cars, a combination of smoking
and baggage car weighing SO, 40
pounds, two coaches which weighed
81, 40 POUNDS and So, 700
pounds, and a priva'e car, the Mara
quita, weighing 100, 900 pounds. The
weight of the four cars was
35S,310 pounds. The train was like
that of the Empire State express, ex
cept that instead of the drawing room
car used in the regular service there
was private Car OF the same weight
In August, 1883, the Scotch Express
on the London and Northwestern
Railway of England, after a series of
races between that line and the Great
Northern Railway, was run from
London to Edinburgh, 400 miles, in
433 minutes, being an average of 55.4
miles per hour, with a train weighing
ninety tons, exclusive of the locomo-
tive.
After the series of races referred to,
both lines agreed to make regular
of eight and half hours, or
400 miles in $40 minutes
On September IA, 1891, the New
York Central and Hudson River Rail
road startled the world by running a
passenger train from New York to
East Buffalo, 1861 miles, in 4254 min
utes, actual running time, exc usive
Of stops. Including five stops, the
time was 1891 minutes.
This train cons sted Of three cars,
with a total weight of $50 tons, exclu-
sive OF the locomotive.
This experimental run, eclipsiDg
any previous performance, was of
such a character as to receive the
of the press on both
sides of the Atlantic, the English
papers being especially gracious in
their acknowledgements to the Amer
lean railroad. In commenting on the
event, however, a number Of English
papers stated that this was simply
single run, made as an experiment,
but that no American line could run
3 regular train at any such high rate
Of speed, intimating that the physical
condition of American railways was
Iarity of very fast trains.
Within six weeks from the day the
trial run was made, the public was
informed October 26, 1891, of the start
ing of the Empire State Express. 1t
Is acknowledged to be the fastest reg
llar lopg-distance train in the world,
having been in continuous service for
1early four years, and possessing the
record of being eX city on
lime for thirty consecutive days re-
)eatedly, and during one period for
consecutive days.
On May IS, 1898, the New York
Central, in connection with the Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern Rail-
way, placed in service the Exposition
FLYER between New York ami
chicago, making the run of $50 miles
iaily in twenty hours, including eight
tops, an average for the entire dis
ance of forty nine miles an hour, the
Iverage on the New York Central be-
ng fifty-three and three quarter
niles an hour, the average on the
lake Shore and Michigan Southern
,eing forty eight and one-quarter
niles an hour. This train consisted
Il from four to five heavy cars, and
an every day for the lbs days of the
Worlds Fair, making the time with
regularity.
On August %, 1895, the London and
made the run from |
London to Aberdeen, $40 miles, in 5l2 |
minutes, an average of siXty-three |
md one quarter miles an hour. This |
vas the record for trial run up to |
md including August %, 1895, but did |
lot interfere with the New York Cen.
RAILS title to the fastest regular long |
distance train in the world, as it has |
'een agreed between the two English |
interested that regular trains
hall not be run at this speed, aud |
ed to the English trains were not ad-
'ertised to the public and were not |
onsidered by the lines strictly reg
lar trains.
The following telegram, dated Syra-
use, was received at the Grand C-u-
raj s alton: ave made the run from
few York t East Buffalo, 1851 miles,
q 407 minutes. This is -ixty.foura and
miles an hour. We thus
egain the worlds record for long dis
.nce running, and bsv- accomplish
d this magnificent result with a train
81 feet ia length and having a capac
~ for 2lS passengers. Our tram was
lore tb n twice as long and nearly |
vice D. heavy rs the English
AGING tr lin. We put our private ear
u the Empire Stare Express at Buf
.lo, and are now on our way back TO
lew York, wber-, if on time. We will
rive at lois. This round trip run l.