The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21
THE RAILROAD SPEED QUESTION.
Better limo Made by Passenger Trains on
American Railroads Than on European Lines.

BETTER limo Made by Passenger Trains on
American Railroads Than on European Iines.
The expense of railroad construction for lines
making a feature II not a speciality OF passenger
business Is greater in England than in the United
States, and in many Continental European
countries the railroads II not constructed by the
Government directly have been built under such
ample Governmental guarantee. or with such
abundant Governmental help, that they are
exempted from many OF the annoyanccs which
beset, retard, and embarrass railroad-building
corporations in tho United States. Sotwith-
standing this fact, and notwithstanding the
geographical conditions which are not favorable
to the highest rate OF speed for heavy trains In
this country. the United States stand at the
head Of all nations In respect to quick transit in
the passenger services.
These are the authentic figures OF the fastest
regular passenger trains Of the great European
nations: England. 81 miles an hour; Germany,
90 miles an hour; France, 40 miles an hour;
Belgium, AS miles an hour; Holland. IL miles an
hour; Italy. ~ miles an hour, and Austro-IIun.
gary, Al miles an hour. The American standard
on the trunk lines making a feature OF passenger
traffic IL very much better than this. On the
Pennsylvania there has been a run from
Jersey City to Philadelphia, q distance OF 30
miles, with stop. at the rate Of SO miles an
hour. The New York Central's Empire State
Express had for four years a record OF IA daily
run OF 440 miles in $40. minutes. at the rate OF
81 miles an hour, including four stops and
twcnty-eight slOw-dOwns. In August, 1903, on
the London and Northwestern Railroad. run.
ming between London and Aberdeen, this record
was broken by an English train, which made tho
whole distance, $40 miles. in 5OS minutes. an
average Of G3 miles an hour, the scheduled time
OF the train being So miles an hour. Since tho
American record was beaten by the English
schedule, the time of the Empire State Express
has been quiGkened so that II now makes its
daily run Of 440 miles in 495 minutes, which is ut
the rate OF So miles an hour. including four stops
New York and Washington has been made on the
Pennsylvania In four hours and ten minutes. cx-
elusive of stops, which Ia equivalent to So miles
an hour. On Long Island there Is an authentic
record made in 1885 OF a special train which
ran from Long Island City to Amagansett, lol
miles, in 100 minutes, actual running time, and
on the return the average speed was more than
made the Same eastward run In III minutes,
Including three stops. or 100 minutes actual
running time.
The record OF speed on American roads is
really better than the figures Of time would in
dictate, for American passenger trains are very
mental lines, the burden to he carried being
nearly twice as great. Notwithstanding this
great disadvantage, American lines OF the first
class are ahead of the English lines In respect to
speed, and there Is every present indication that
the American roads Will hold their lead. Tho
distance from New York TO st. Louis Is the same
AZ from Paris TO Vienna. The former trip il
From New York 10 Chicago Is $50 miles; from
Berlin To 81. Petersburg Is tho same distance.
Tho former takes twenty-five hours; the latter
takes furty-iiye.