The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-10
FAST RUNS MADE IN 1885
A SPEED OF A MILE MINUTE SEW
ERAL TIMES EXCEEDED.
Rivalry Between the Pennsylvania
and Vanderbilt Lines Increasing
-MiscelIaneOus Notes.

The fast runs made recently between Chi
cago and Omaha have awakened railway Of
fcials to the possibilities of modern railroad
ing. Recent performances do not compare
with the records made by the New York
Central, the Lake Shore and the Pennsyl-
vania lines some years ago. In 1884 Cor
nelius Vanderbilt was convinced shat a mile
a minute could be reached with the locomo-
tive of those days, and on one occasion a
special train was started from Chicago and
covered the distance between Cleveland. and
Buffalo in 21S minutes, and on April II, 1895
the run from Erie to Buffalo, nnety-five
miles, was made in ninety-four minutes.
The Exposition flyer on the Lake Shore made
the run between Buffalo and Cleveland,
making three fve-minute stops, in 1870 min
utes, covering the 1S3 miles in 175 minutes
which makes the actual running time faster
than a mile a minute. Creditable as were
the runs over the Chicago & Northwestern
and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy last
week, the average speed was only ffty-two
miles an hour. This is accomplished by the
New York Central daily by the Empire State
express, and for many consecutive miles on
the Pennsylvania a speed of seventy miles
an hour is made with the fast mil trains,
and even with Train IA much of the distance
it is now scheduled sixty-eight miles an
hour. 1t is not an uncommon thing for the
Big -Four to haul it's Knckerbocker ex-
press at a speed of seventy miles an hour
much of the distance between Terre Haute
and Indianapolis and Indianapolis and Cleve-
land, and this with train of seven or eight
cars. Six years ago the New York Central
made two miles minute with a regular
passenger train between Rochester and Buff
falo. In 1895 Lake Shore train made the
run from Chicago to Buffalo, with five cars
all conditions being favorable, covering the
5l0 miles in hours, l minute and seconds
The time the train was in motion an average
speed OF 65.01 miles an hour was maintained
Old-time railroaders relate some fast runs
made on the Bee-line and the Madison &,
Indianapolis road as far back 1885, but
the trains of those days were so much light
er than those now hauled that comparisons
are not so favorable; but the engines GaZelle
and Chief, on the Madison & Indianapolis
frequently made the run from Indianapolis
10 Columbus, forty-one miles, in forty min
utes, making one stop, and the passenger en-
gines Wisconsin and Delaware often made
the run from indianapolis to Union City,
elghty-fve miles, in ninety-five minutes, stop
ping at Anderson, Muncie and Winchester.
LOng-Anticipated consolidation.
The long-anticipated consolidation of the
Cincinnati Northern and the Detroit, Toledo
& Milwaukee has occurred. and Vice Presi-
dent ]. H. Steman is on his way to Toledo
to complete the work. 1t is understood that
the Cincinnati Northern has made a long
time lease of the Detroit, Toledo & Mil
waukee and, according to the plan. Superin-
tendent Flanders. of the Toledo will be put
in active operation of both roads All the
officers of the Detroit Toledo & Milwaukee
will be merged into those of the Cincin-
natl Northern. except some of the smaller
ones. The business will be conducted as of
one road. An effort was made at Toledo
yesterday TO see Superintendent ReardOn
of the Detroit. Toledo q Milwaukee, but it
is understood he has gone West to accept
a position with another road. The head
quarters of the combined roads will either
ally believed General Passenger and Freight
Agent Schndler's jurisdiction will extend
over both roads thus giving him the terri
tory he had before the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
the G. ]. & NJ. The details of the trans
action have not been arranged. but it is
expected they will be before Feb l.