The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-11

General Manager Toucey on Railroad Rae
ing I'm and Continental Travelling.

Mr.. John NJ. Toucey. general manager
of the New York Central and Huds IN
River railroad. is now august 9,h) visit
ing Paris on his return from the Intet-
national Railroad Congress. held in Lon
den on June last. where he represented
the great American railroad company with
when he is connected.
in speaking to a correspondent of the
Herald In connection with the perform
ance Of the East Coast train between
London and Aberdeen. Mr.. ToIcey cx-
pressed no asst )nishment.
The speed is good. without doubt"
said Mr. Toucey, but l should like 20
know the weight of the train. | am GER
tain they have not beaten the New York
Central bn the ms ,aflce mentioned II
would oppear that the train was very
light one compared with the New York
Central trains.
TAKE. for instance, tbs train which
runs daily between New York and Buff
falo, which Is known az the Empire
State. The total weight OF this train IS 2@
tons. including the engine and its four
heavy drawing-roOm cars. The engine It.
self weighs 1900 pounds, and the ten
der when loaded, 5000 pounds. while the
four and frequently five Wagner coaches
run from forty-iive 10 fifty tons each,
think that is far in excess of any w-,sht
they haul in Great Britain at high speed
from my observation.
The schedule speed of the Empire
State is 53ia miles an hour and this speed
is maintained all the way from Sew
York 10 Buffalo. a distance OF Al miles
IL is very rare that this train Is behind
schedule tsnc. any loss Of time occurring
at any point Is usually made up.
This time is inclusive Of all stops.
There is a change of engines at Albany
and Syracus-, which occupies five min
utes each. Then. you must remember,
there is the Albany hill 10 climb, which
means three miles Of ninety-nve-toot
grade 10 the mile. and in addition 10 TINS
the towns through when the train passes
compel us TO reduce the speed 10 eight
miles per hour when within the city
limits Syracuse being noteworthy eA-
ample. II is not unusual for the Empire
State TO make speed OF from seventy
five 10 eighty miles per hour.
In Scotland and England, they ought
10 make good speed. Their road-heds
are well constructed and settled, and
/ am surprised that they do not make
greater speed than they do. especially
when the weight OF the trains they haul
is taken into consideration.
Il am glad TO hear that there IS
movement on some OF the Continental
railroads 10 introduce boyle or four
wheel trucks. Their superiority for
rounding curves for giving smoother
travelling. and Cor saving wear and
tear is so obvious that I am perfectly
Will be no question Of returning to the
old system.
But changes in the old World are
made matters of great consideration and
effort. Why, when 1 was at the con-
gress referred 70, in London there were
some parties who came over from Ameri-
ca TO demonstrate the use of the 'au-
tomato Gould coupler They had trials
in England. but it is considered to be
a question as to whether they Will adopt
the invention, although l. was demon
strated that they could by its means
couple five trains to one In comparison
with the old system in vogue in Eng
land. II is a matter for surprise 10
"A practical American railroad man that
they don't adopt the Improvement even
II il does emanate from the states.
zone other innovation | should like
to see made on this side of the water
which | know would please all American
and a great portion Of native travellers,
and that is the checking Of baggage.
The pleasure and comfort TO the trav-
eller would be incalculable.
Il certainly had n very good run
from Geneva to Paris the other day.
We stopped at a station q think II was
Nfacom and on my inquirlng the cause
OF the delay. the station-master informed
me that the train was so heavy that
they had to cut it up into two sections.
| was in the latter section, and as
we were about half an hour late, the
time was made up on the way. We
ran from forty-fve seconds to forty
nine seconds 10 the kilometre. and when |
we arrived in Paris, we were only ten |
minutes late. II was a pretty good |
run. New York Herald.