, 1897-12-24
ANOTHER FAST RUN.
THE MERITS OF HEAVY AND
LIGHT ENGINES PUT TO
THE TEST.
Very Little Difference in the Results
A Speed of More Than 60 Miles an
Hour Attained Across the Plains Of
the Prairie State-Two Sections
Maintain High Speed.

hiSh op''tE
Father Time took another shy a
some of Mr.. McConnell's locomotives
built at the Omaha shops OF the Union
Pacific, yesterday. but came out second
Sidney into Council Bluffs over the Ne,
braska divisinon of the Overland
Route" were made, fom hours lost time
being made up in addition to a 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 a 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 en-
gineers concerning the respective
merits of the 800 class and of the 1900
class of locomotives. Therefore when
Engineer George Norman pulled out of
Sidney yesterday morning with engine
No. 1922 and three cars he was inclined
to hurry to support the claims of the
500 class of engines. And when En-
gineer Charles Ell. with a bigger type
of engine. No. 1902, followed ten min
utes later with seven passenger sleepers
and coaches. he felt like running pretty
fast in order to show that the 1900
class Of engines could keep up with the
500 class engine with three cars. The
result was that both trains made re-
markedly fast time across the plains
of Nebraska.
SIXTY-SIX MILES AN HOUR.
The east-bound Overland Limited"
rain was divided at Sidney into two
sections in order that the mail might
be delivered to the Burlington at Coun-
ell Bluffs on time. The train was four
hours and a half late when it came into
Sidney. OF this lost time three hours
and fifty-six minutes were lost by wait
ing for the Southern Pacific onnec
tons 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 Norman pulled out at S:5S a.
m. with two mail cars and n baggage
car. The mail arrived at Julesburg at
9:3I a. m. and at North Platte at 1854
a. m. The 1882 miles between Sidney
and North Platte were covered in 1l6
minutes. including a stop Of four min
utes at JulesbuTg to get the Colorado
mail. The actual runnig time, stop de-
Quoted, was at the rate OF 66 miles an
hour. The mail left North Platte at
la. M, central time, back of engine
No. SSS, with Engineer Jake Smith in
charge. 1t arrived at Grand Island at
2:07 p. m. The distance from North
Platte to Grand Island, 1875 miles, was
covered in 1877 minutes. including a
stop of six minutes at Kearney for mail
and water. AS the mail was nearly on
schedule time at Grand Island a freight
Engine, No. 792, and a new engineer.
McQuid, were given a trial into Council
Bluffs. They left Grand Island at PIG
p. M. Colombus at 1928 p. m, Fremont
at 4:2S p. m, Gilmore at $40 p. m,
Council Bluffs at 5:4S p. m, and de-
livered the mtil to the Burlington at
$50 p. m, with ten minutes to spare
to save the company the heavy fine
imposed for delaying the mail.
SECOND SECTION CAME. TOO.
In the meantime the passenger sec
ton of the train was not far away. The
seven cars with locomotive No. 1902
and Engineer Charley Ell left Sidney
at 9:0S a. M, ten minutes behind the
first section, as required by the rules.
The arriving time at North Platte was
11:l6 a. m. The 1913 miles were COW
cred in 1913 minutes, including stops of
three minutes at %Julesburg and five
minutes at Ogallala for passengers.
The average time. stops deducted, was
61:6 miles per hour. The passenger
section left North Pl2tte at 1928 p. m,
central time, back OF engine No. 1403
and Engineer Whitlock. and arrived
at Grand Island at 2:46 p. m. The run
of 1875 miles was made in 143 minutes,
including a stop OF thirteen minutes
at Kearney. This long stop was caused
by the loading Of the scenery and bag,
gage Of a theatrical company. The av-
erage of the run from North Platte to
Grand Island, stop deducted, was 63.5
miles per hour. This was the star run
OF the day and made a new record for
a heavy passenger train with no prepar-
alton for fast running. The train left
Grand Island at 2:55 pm. with engin
No. 1900 and Engineer Michael Decker
and arrived at Colombus at 1852 p. m.
having made the 62.1 miles in ffty-sev-
en- minutes. A seven-minute stop at
Colubbus was made to cut off the din
ing car and for water. The train left
Columbus at 1853 p. m. and arrived at
Fremont at 4:44 p. M, the u Of As
miles being made in As minutes. Ere
mont was left at 4:4s p. M, Valley at
500 p. m. Gilmore at s:2s p. m. and