Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-30
RAILROAD RACES IN ENGLAND.
Fast Runs in That Country and the
United States.

Fast Runs I'm That Country and the
United States.
From the Railroad Gazette
The principal newspapers Of this country
have, of course, been greatly interested
In these reports and have commented upon
them at length. The most noticeable fea-
ture of their comments Is the anxiety man.
ifested to show that this excellent record
Of the English roads is no great shakes
after all; that they have not beaten US,
and, anyway, If they have, we can turn
around and beat them If we have a mind
to. There Is no occasion for this anxiety
For the entire run there is nothing in
American records with which to make
fair comparison, but this lack Is for we'll
known reasons, which are not discreditable
The fast trip made by the New York Cen
trail on September IA, 1891, was over
course Of 104 miles shorter, and the train
was, without doubt, considerably heavier.
Moreover, only one trial was made at that
time, the object of the experiment being
accomplished the first day. It was not an
attempt to make the very highest speed
possible. The regular runs of the empire
state express over the Central are subject
to similar qualifying conditions. The ex-
position flyer of 1893 is the only regular
train that has ever been run in America
which could be compared with the English
runs for so great distance as $40 miles,
but the exposition flyer was heavy train,
much of the time over two hundred and
thirty-six tons, exclusive of the engine
The fast run from Jacksonville, Fla, to
Washington on August &c. 1894 forty-
BILE performance for the roads which made
it. is not to be compared with trips over
double track lines perfectly signaled.
If there were any legitimate reason for
N-,Fo I1kr It'll
road men. newspapers or betting men con-
corning the speed record, 1t would be
found, Of course. mainly in the differences
in the construction or management of the
locomotives. All other conditions are
either such as cannot be changed or else
are mere questions of money. An Illus
tratfon Of this is seen In the fact that the
most favorable course for fast running in
America, the New York Central, is ham,
pered by a whole mile in Syracuse, where
the speed has to be reduced to eight miles
an hour, not to mention several other SIM
liar hindrances Of less consequence. The
bearing Of cost Is seen in the statement
that the London and Northwestern made
all other passenger trains clear the Scotch
express fifteen minutes and suspended
night freight trains entirely. If this latter
statement Is even partly true it means a
heavy loss. To compare locomotives we
must have full details, weight of train,
ETC.. and the profile of the whole line The
best speed mentioned in the English report
thirty-two miles at seventy-four miles an
hour, falls considerably short of the record
made by the Camden and Atlantic on April
p last from Camden to Atlantic City N.
]. This Atlantic City run was made by an
engine with 7S-inch driving wheels. If our
American editors who are inclined to feel
chagrined at the new English records wish
to compare mere speed figures they should
emphasize this performance. The whole
run of $50 miles was made in 45 ga min
utes, equal to 1646 miles an hour, and a
distance of 49S miles was covered in 371a
minutes, or at the rate Of 1911 miles an
hour