The times., 1901-06-09

Americans and EngIishmen have always
been and probably always viii be the
leaders of the world in all matters per
taining to railways and the speed Of
trains. Between the two countries there
has always existed more or less rivalry
over the speed accomplishments OF their
respective locomotives. and the rivalry
will likely continue as long as it Is pos
sibIe 10 make Improvements Of any char
acter Perhaps Americans, as whole,
give the subject greater attention than
do the British. for we seem TO be inter
ested in all things of the superlauve de-
gree much more deeply than our cousins
Every now and then friendly rivalry
sometimes. however. it is not extremely
friendly breaks out between the various
great railways OF the country, and every
time there is a contest one great record
or more is completely smashed.
One of the greatest. if not the greatest.
runs ever made in the world was accom-
plIshed on the Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern Railroad between Chicago and
Buffalo on October "a, 1895. It seems that
one cause Of this race against time was
a desire to eclipse an English record made
on the 22d of the preceding August be
tween London and Aberdeen. The dis
tance between these two towns is 90 miles
and a train on the London and North
western made the trip at an average speed
OF 6393 miles per hour. The English pub
lie was quite jubiant over the fact that
this trip broke all previous records and
that the worlds record was once more
held in England. But the very next month
q train on the New York Central Road
ran from New York to East Buffalo "a
distance of little over 435 miles, at an
average speed of 6L26 miles per hour. OF
course. this beat the English record, but
it seems that there was objection TO it
from across the water on the ground the
trip was not long enough TO be Classed as
a l0ng-distance run, which should be at
least 500 miles in length So the record
for a run of so miles and over was still
in England. There are few stretches Of
railroad so miles in length in this country
which are perfectly adapted for remark
able runs. There are hills TO mount or
curves to cut around which interfere more
or less with efforts 10 break records. one
of the stretches of road having no such
imDediments is on the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern line between Chicago
and Buffalo. The officers of the road con-
Uluded that they would try TO beat the
long-distance record over this bit of track.
Arrangements for the speed test were
quietly made, for in view of the possibili-
for any premature advertisement. At
$50 o'clock on the morning Of October "A
the train pulled away from the starting
point, which was at Tooth Street, and
plunged into the darkness on what was
to be a remarkable and a record-breaking
trip. 1t goes without saying that the few
est possible number of stops and the few
est possible changes Of engines were ar
ranged for. The train stopped about five
times, at four Of which engines were
changed. In less than eight hours the
train shot into Buffalo with the English
record hanging in tatters on the cow
catcher of the engine. The distance OF
SOL miles had been covered at an aver
age speed of 65.07 miles per hour. During
the trip 2S9.3 miles were made at the rate
Of 65.6S miles per hour, lSl-5 miles at I2S2
miles per hour, So miles at 1232 miles per
hour, Il miles at 45-o6 miles per hour, %
miles at 76-0S miles per hour, % miles at
IS miles per hour, = miles at 1904 miles
per hour. SO miles at 500 miles per hour,
and miles at the rate of S5.4f miles per
hour. During one burst OF speed the train
few over the tracks at the rate OF Sz.5
miles per hour. Although great records
for single miles had been previously made
il is said that never before did a train
reach q speed Of 50 miles an hour and
maintain il for half an hour, s. miles an
hour and hold II for 10 miutes or 80 miles
an hour ana hold Il for or consecutive
miles.
anyone else in the country TWO years ago
viii well remember the great races which
took place for several days between the
burlington and ChlcaSo ana Nofth"sst- tiI
ern roads over their routes between chi
cago and Omaha. The distance between
the two cities is 500 miles IN round NUM-
hers The Northwest aru route IS 1893
miles long, while the Burlington IS 5OJZ
miles The Northwestern tram was Que
TO leave Chicago at 10 clock at niSnt
and 10 arrive in Omaha the next morning
at SIS. The Burlington lett az s-5y III tAe
ulorpipg and arrived in the Nebraska city
al 7:55 the next morning. Thus the two
trains ran at practically the same rate OF
The Burlington train had q little over
ton miles more than the Northwestern 10
run and she used ten minutes more than
The latter TO make Omaha, 50 II would pe
splitting hairs to say which road oDeraI-
,-i the faster train. In the contests Whlcl
took place the trains Of both roads did
such remarkable work that the Govern
rueut mail contract. for which they were
contendiug, was divided between the TWO
lines. il is said that 20 trains on earth
ever made such remarkable runs dahy
and kept up the pace as these trains.
These runs Of about fifty miles an houE
were made without making any allowance
whatever for stOppages, slow downs and
DELAYS Of any kind. This means that the
trains necessarily attained q speed IN some
parts of the routes Of eighty or ninety
or perhaps even hundred miles an houF.
Some have made the claim that the trains
occasionally reached speed Of lZV miles
per hour but there Is no way OF verify
lug this statement, and many are dOuDJ-
fui Of its correctness
Less than three years ago another great
run was made which attracted nuch at
teution, especially in Chicago and the
NVest The Rock Island Road had con
cIuded 10 Increase its service between Chi
e-agO and Denver and two were kept here
in ChicaeO, 50 that the new service couIC
be properly inaugurated in both cities al
the same time. i was decided by th'
officials that one OF the trans g0lhl
should attempt to break the record tim'
10 Denver. This was a magnlhcentl3
equipped train, with q fUll complement o.
sleepers. dining car, buffet smoker, etc
The uasScngers were composed or ROct
Island officials and large party Of news
paper men from Chicago, Denver ana {
number Of other cities along the route
all Of those from a distance having coIn'
10 Chicago especially TO accompany th'
party.
At exactly 230 in the afternoon Of Ma!
: lSFS the train pulled out Of the Rocl
Island station on its way to Denver. IN
Tow seconds the train was well unoer way
and making great time through the city
When once beyond the suburbs fun steam
was turned and the train was soon golui
al The rate Of a mile a minute. Every
thing indicated that Rock Island would b'
reached IN record breaking time.
The passengers began TO wonder wha
was the matter after the train had beer
stopping for several minutes near the 1T
tie station Of Green River. shortly IN
train backed up the tracks, and several o
The PARTY became aware Of the nature o.
tho trouble fOr the first time when the,
looked out Of the window and saw a grea
threp-tOn-and-a-haf engine driving whee
Iyin6 on its side in q wheat field IN
iuornal Of the rear drive wheel on tn
aEfa had broken having begl