The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-10-11
PHOTOGRAPHIC FAST TRAIN
IN EXCITING RACE TO SECURE
BIOGRAPH PICTURES.

clai Carrying the Apparatus Both
Running Seventy Miles An Hour
The Burlington and Union Pacific
Railroad companies, in making at
tempts to secure continuous photo
graphic pictures Of trains in rapid mo-
ton, have conducted some interesting
experiments and while both have sue
ceeded, in the case of the one in
catching the Denver fast train" and
the other in "shadowing forth the fine
sweep of the Overland Limited" sue
cess was attained by resort to widely
different methods. The flight of the
Burlington train was caught by an au-
tomato appliance operated by electric
ity, put in motion by the engine com
ing In contact with a wire, while the
Union Pacific Overland was paced by
another train and the picture taken
while both were under speed at sew
enty miles an hour This unique bit of
photography was effected on a stretch
of double track ten miles in length, be-
tween Lockwood and Grand Island, re-
Gently.
The biograph outfit was placed on
the rear platform of special train
pulled by one Of the new compound en-
gines lately acquired by the Union Pa
cific for its passenger service. Only
one coach was attached. Far away to
the west haze like film against the
horizon family proclaimed the coming
ing Of the Limited in it's splendid flight
from the Pacific to the Missouri. The
smoke cloud grew more and more pro-
nounced, trailing backward toward
sunset in long serpentine course,
barely visible above the swells of the
rolling prairie that merge and melt on
the horizon. The engineer, his keen
eyes peering down the long tangent
that stretched away into the far dis
lance, swept down toward the east in
quest of the special engine and car
which he had been advised would pace
him from Lockwood to Grand Island.
Eager and alert eyes were watching
from the special, looking toward the
point where the telegraph poles and the
tracks blended. They knew only too
well the swiftness with which the Linn
tied would be Keeling off the miles be-
hind it, and the engineer of the spe-
cial stood with his hand resting on the
throttle, looking away into the distance
for first glimpse Of the black speck
that would herald the coming of the
Overland Limited.
The black cloud of smoke grows
denser as the train from the west comes
mace to the door. He, too, feels the
thrill that rulsates like an electric cur
rent through the nerves of the engineer.
The fireman is determined it shall be
no fault of his If the race is not won.
He will keep her hot" until the index
pointer on the face of the steam gauge
dances jig
1t is slightly down grade. The for
ward trucks and drivers strike and
pound the switches like trip hammers
as the train rushes madly through the
station obscured in a tawny cloud of
swirling dust. Now the engineer gets
to his feet and drops the lever forward,
at the same time giving the throttle
gentle pull. The terrific pace is eccele-
rated, and the passengers, dimly con-
scious of something thrust their
heads out the windows of the sleepers.
But the special has also gotten under
way. The engineer has been moving
up for the past two or three minutes,
taking a lead he intends to keep If he
has to run the wheels from under
her." He doesn't have to be told that
the man on the engine behind is after
him" He knows 1t. He isn't looking
back. He's getting busy with what Is
in front of him. The fireman glances
furtively to the rear and in a warning
voice calls out in tone of suppressed
alarm TON, she's gainin Give the
mill another notch or they'll be givin'
us the ha, la, in 'steen seconds. Holy
smoke. how that fellow is comm"
Tom grabs the lever, presses the spring
and drops it forward two notches
The great machine, straining every rod
and spoke, leaps like a greyhound
slipped from the leash. The frightful
pace creates a suction that lifts the
gravel from the track beneath, the
swaying engine, and the small pebbles
beat a tattoo against the steel apron
between the tank and deck. Beneath
is heard a sullen, ominous roar, like the
roar of a furnace. 1t is the noise of
wind sweeping through the truck
frames Of the tank.
How much to the good?" asks the
engineer of the fireman, for the Over
land is on his side.
We've got the lead" replies the
grimy son of the shovel, "but it's only
by an eyeid. Say, he's comm like
Satan was after him. The passengers
have caught on there's a race and every
mothers son of EN- has his noddle polk
ed out the windows and they're yelling
like a pack o. Indians" Then he leap
ed to the deck and softly hummed
bar of They're After Me-" as he SHOW
elled a half dozen scoopfuls of coal into
the furnace with nervous energy.
All this time the biograph, recording
with lightning rapdity the speed
of the Overland Limited was working.
Placed on the rear platform of the spe-
cia1 train, the instrument was pointed
back at the speeding engine and train,
the instrument was pointed back at the
speeding engine and train, and the
miles of waving corn that sweep away
in billows of nodding green plumes
bowling to the majesty of the splendid
struggle Of the Titans. Every move
ment Of the 73-inch driving wheels, of