Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-03-12
sAsresT Run ON Ercosr.
en- Old Engineer Tells Of the CF.As
Time lie Made on a Railroad.

Time lie Made on Railroad.
Western roads have recently set up 50
many claims as to their ability to make
fast runs and break the record. Il is
possible the following story. told by an
eli engineer, OF how he once broke all
records and pulled a freight at the rate
Of Go miles an hour. may end the con
troversy for the time being.
Really. my son" said the engineer
rs he oiled the drivers Of the huge To-
connective he had just hacked into the
depot ''iha fastest time ever made
was the fastest run ever made in this
or any other country. was hauling
freight then. and running an old Bald.
win megul. We had started east with
a train Of tven' y-ore cars, and four
Of them were lyaded with powder |
was little afraid of powder, and was
pleased to note that the cars containing
the explosive was near the rear of the
train. We stopped on siding to let
the west-houHd express pass. and then
pulled out and let her go for all she
was worth. so that we could get over
the tunnel summit. The top Of the hill
gas just at the entrance to the tunnel.
ud as the track was not IN very good
'lape in the tunnel shut off steam and
ascd her up little after getting start
e down the hill. That was where
made mistake, for ten OF the cars had
broken loose. after the engine and first
eleven cars had passed over the sum
nit. and the momentum carried them
over the knuckle, aud they came down
after us fifty miles an hour. Just about
the middle of the tunnel they struck us
with terrible force, and then it was that
] made the fast run. for you see the
powder exploded and my engine and
all the cars that were left shot out Of
the tunnel just like wads cut of big
gun. My breath was fairly taken away
by the speed and had to hold tight TO
the cab to keep from being left behind.
Old II kept the rails and shot out of the
other end OF that hole. going Mt the
rate of 6I5 miles an hour; in fact, we
went SO fast that the Waterman did
NV sec nS pass hithHNSh At HtdAu tHc
terrible report. and thought that the
tunnel had cayed in. When we reached
the little town Of s. we were going
about $50 miles an hour. having lost
some Of our velocity. OF course. only
few of the cars kept the track, and
they all had hot boxes and fat wheels
when we finally came to n stand It
was 1903 when we entered the tunnel
and allowing a minute from that time
TIL the explosion took place we ran the
eight miles in just forty-six seconds,
according to MY watch. Old Il lost her
side rods and connecting rods, and two
OF her tires, and had her smokestack
carried off By the wind pressure. but
the was able to pull in on the side track,
and just at that moment the operator
received a telegram from o., six
miles on the other side of the tunnel,
which read:
Caboose No. Ga and two smoking
cars just flew by. leaving boards in the
sir. which are still falling. Rails are
red-hot from the friction
That. young man. was the fastest
run ever made, and | don't want to
break the record again." And then.
without even a smile. the Old man
crawled up on the cab of the big ex.
press engine and got ready to pull out
with the limited.-Boston Herald.