Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-23
KNOCKS THE SPOTS OFF TINE
Union Pacific Engineers Make Another
Fairly Fast Run.
SHOWS UP sKTY-SK MILES AN HOUR
Light md Heavy Passenger Engines
I'm Competition, with Very Little
10 Choose Between Them
in the Results.

Father Time took another shy at some OF
Mr.. McConnel's locomotives, built at the
Omaha shops Of the Union Pacific, yesterday,
but came out second best. Two highly credit
able runs from Sidney into Council Bluffs
over the Nebraska division OF the Overland
Route" were made, four hours lost time be-
ing made up In addition to rather rapid
schedule
The noteworthy feature OF the two runs
was the fact that the passenger train OF
seven heavy cars kept closely behind the
three fast mail cars, which constituted the
first section OF the train and which were
hurried to Council Bluffs In order to save
fine OF $500 by the postal authorities Ever
since the Union Pacific began to allow its
trains to be run at a fast rate of speed there
has been a contention among the engineers
concerning the respective merits OF the 500
class and Of the 800 class OF locomotives
Therefore when Engineer George Vroman
pulled out OF Sidney yesterday morning with
Engine No. S22 and three cars he was in
clined to hurry to support the claims of the
300 class OF engines. And when Engineer
Charley Ell, with the bigger type of engine
NO. 1902. followed ten minutes later with
seven passenger sleepers and coaches, he felt
dike running pretty fast himself in order to
show that the 500 class of engines with
seven cars could keep up with the 500 class
that both trains made remarkably fast time
across the plains OF Nebraska.
'sIXTY-SIX MILES AN HOUR
The eastbound Overland Limited" train
was divided at Sidney into two sections in
order that the mail might be delivered to the
burlington at Council Bluffs on time. The
train was four hours and half late when it
came into Sidney. OF this lost time three
hours and hfty-six minutes were lost by
waiting for the Southern Pacific connection at
Ogden. The rest Of the time was lost on the
Wyoming division OF the Union Pacific by a
hot box. The train was therefore split at
Sidney, and Engineer Vroman pulled out at
1858 a. m with two mail cars and one bag
gage car. The mail arrived at Julesburg at
9:37 a. m. and at North Platte at 1854 a. m
The 1882 miles between Sidney and North
Platte were covered in 116 minutes, including
stop of four minutes at Julesburg to get
the Colorado mail. The actual running time
stop de4gcted, was at the rate of siXty-siX
miles an hour. The mail left North Platte
at IL m, central time, back or engine No
1888, with Engineer Jake Smith in charge II
arrived at Grand Island at 2:07 p. IN. The
distance from North Platte to Grand Island
1875 miles, was covered in 127 minutes, in
cluding stop of six minutes at Kearney for
mail and water AS the mail was nearly or
schedule time at Grand Island freight
engine, No. 1872, and new engineer, Nc
Quaid, were given trial into Council Blufs
They left Grand Island at 2;l6 p. m, Colum
mour at 5:19 D. m, Council Bluffs at 5:4S p
m. and delivered the mail to the Burlington
at $50 p. m, with ten minutes to spare tC
save the company the heavy fine imposed fol
delaying the mail.
SECOND SECTION CAME, TOO.
In the meantime the passenger section Of
the train was not far away. The seven cars
with locomotive No 1902 and Engineer Char
ley Ell left Sidney at 9;0S a. m, ten minutes
behind the first section, required by thu
rules. The arriving time at North Platte
was II rs a. m. The 1892 miles were covered
I'm 1913 minutes, including stops OF three
minutes at Julesburg and of five minutes a
Ogallala for passengers The average time
stops deducted, was GIG miles per hour. Tn,
passenger section left North Platte at 1879
p. M, central time back Of engine No. 140
and Engineer Whitlock, and arrived at Crane
Island at 2:46 p. m. The run of 1875 mile
was made in 143 minutes, including stol
of thirteen minutes at Kearney. This lon
stop was caused by the loading of the scener,
and baggage of a theatrical company. TIL
average Of the run from North Platte t
Grand Island stop deducted was 63.5 mile
per hour. This was the star run of the da
and made a new record for heavy passenge
train with no preparation for fast running
The train left Grand Island at 2:55 p. m
with engine No 1900 and Engineer Michea
Decker, and arrived at Columbus at 35
D. M. having made the 621 miles in fifty
seven minutes. A seven-minute stop at Co
lumbus was made to cut off the dining ca
and for water. The train left Columbus
1853 D. m. and arrived at Fremont at 4:4
D. M. the run of 45.1 miles being made /
forty-five minutes Fremont was left at A
y. m, Valley at 502 p. m, Gilmore at 5:2
y. m. and Council Bluffs was reached q
b:54 d IN.