The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-06-03
FASTEST RUN ON RECORD.
An Old Engineer Tells of the Great
Time He Made on a Railroad.

Time he MADE on hQ1frOaQ.
Western roads have recently set up so
many claims as to their ability to make
fast runs and break the record. it is
possible the following story, told by an
old engineer. of how he once broke all
records and pulled freight at the rate
of 675 miles an hour, may end the con-
troversy for the time being.
Really, my son." said the engineer,
as he oiled the drivers of the huge To-
comotive he had just backed into the
depot, 1.-The fastest time l ever made
was the fastest run ever made in this
or any other country. was hauling
freight then, and running an old Bald
win mogul. We had started east with
q train of twenty-one cars. and four
Of them were loaded with powder. L
was a 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.bound 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
was just at the entrance to the tunnel.
and as the track was not in very good
shape in the tunnel shut off steam and
eased her up little after getting start
ed down the hill. That was where l
made a 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, and they came down
after US fifty miles an hour. Just about
the middle of the tunnel they struck h'
with terrible force, and then it was tha>
! made the fast run, for you see the
powder exploded and my engine ana
all the cars thit were left shot out oil
the tunnel just like wads out 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 Il kept the rails and shot cut Of the
other cad Of that hole, going at the
rate of CTS miles al hour; in fact, we
went so fast that the watchman did
not see US pass, although he heard the
terrible report, and thought that the
tunnel had caved 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
q few Of the cans kept the track, and
they all had hot boxes and fat wheels
when we finally came TO a stand. IT
was 4:03 when we entered the tunnel.
and allowing a minute from that time
till the explosion took place we ran the
eight miles in just forty-siN seconds,
according to my watch. Old Z! !ost her
side rods and connecting rods, and tvs
If her tires, and had her smokestack
carried off by the wind pressure. but
she was able to pull In on the side track,
and just at that mome-; the operator
received telegram from o. six
miles on the other side of the tunnel.
which read:
"'Caboose No. 6i and two smoking
cars just few by, leaving boards in the
air, which are still falling. Rails are
red-hot from the friction
That, young man, was the fastest
run I ever made, and I don't want to
break the record again" And then.
without even a smile, the old MAJ
crawled up on the cab Of the big ex.
press engine and got ready to pull out
with the limited.-Boston Herald