The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-07-24
SCHEDULED TOO SLOW
The Pennsylvania Special Can Easily
Beat Its Regular Time.

In a recent interview General Pas
senger Agent E. A. Ford, of the
Pennsylvania lines, predicted the
establishment of 18-hour trains be-
tween Chicago and New York. When
the time between those points was re-
duced to "a hours several years ago, it
established a speed record which at
tracted considerable attention. A
further reduction of the time to 20
hours when The Pennsylvania Special
was placed in service about month
ago inaugurated a new era in rapid
transit, and the experience in hand
ling the 2O-hour trains during the
past thirty days has demonstrated
that 1S-hour trains between Chicago
and New York are not only poSSibil-
ity, but that the time can be cut to 16
hours on the Pennsylvania lines, if
necessary. This will be taking one
third off the 24-hour run considered
remarkable only few years ago.
Mr.. Ford IS prediction was no doubt
based on his knowledge OF the time
The Pennsylvania Special can easily
make when required to cover delays
and keep within its schedule. A few
days ago this train made run from
Alliance to Pittsburgh, eighty-three
and two-tenthS miles, in exactly one
hour and thirty minutes, an average
Of ffty-fve and three-tenth miles per
hour for the entire distance. 1t was
S:52 p. M, when Conductor E. W.
Davis signaled Engineman w. Nc
Bride to 90 ahead at Alliance. He
opened the throttle on class EZ engine
No. at that time, and after the
train had run seven miles it struck a
72-miles an hour gait. This speed
was attained near Garfield notwith-
standing stiff upgrade was encount-
cred before reaching that point.
After going around sharp curves east
of Salem and up another steep grade
near Leetonia the Pennsylvania
Special moved along at the rate of 81
miles an hour, making that time near
New Waterford. At Enon the pace
was 10 miles an hour; near New Cali
lee on an upgrade the wheels were
grinding out So miles an hour. Near
Homewood they spun along at &C.
mile an hour gait. After observing
slow orders at that point and Ken
wood and several other points the
train was rushing along at &c miles an
hour at Baden, which was increased
to SO miles an hour at LeetSdale. Be-
fore Allegheny was reached it was
making rs miles an hour, but upon
nearing the yards and the outer depot
it slowed down, and rolled into Pitts
burgh Union Station at 1922 p. m,
Just one hour and a half after leaving
Alliance, during which the train made
up twenty-fOur minutes on its
scheduled time, covering the distance
at an average speed of tifty-tive and
three-tenth miles per hour. At that
speed the run from Chicago to New
York can be made in about 16 hours.
The fact that during the run from
Alliance to Pittsburg the train en-
countered numoer of up-gradeS and
slow orders, conditions which would
offset any obstacles on other portions
of the route, indicates that the
Pennsylvania can put on something
better than 18-hour trains between
Chicago and New York, and keep
within the schedule without any
particular preparation or effort. 1t is
a common thing for The Pennsylvania
Special to glide along at an average
speed of mile minute.