The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-16
Not Restricted as to Speed and
Progress Is Found 10 Be Ex-
tremeiy Comfortable
Uses Steel Rimmed
Wheels.
on RAILROAD
On HIGHWAY

- Hours.
Time, railroad ,spsei % miles an honr, s.
RsPrBLIC SPECIAL
Boston. Mass. Oct. l5-Charles ]. Gid
den. who is making a tour of the world
in an automobile. writes to Il Boston
newspaper a story OF his trip on the rail-
road tracks from Minneapolis to Van
| couyef.
He arrived at the latter place September
L. In part the traveller says:
The automobile. a twenty-four-horse-
power touring car. was transformed from
a road vehiele TO a railway carriage by
removing the rubber-tired wheels and sub
shutting steel-rinned Hanged wheels.
suitable To run upon the tracks. and ny
locking the steering device. The car win
otc' pounds. including the wne.ls. ynicf,
weighed 1.3D pounds.
| Very little encouragement was given
| when i hrst suggested ,,. idea OF .irfv-
ing a road Vehicle upon the tracks NJ 2
Tsii!oad- OThclais OF the railway COM
paNits. experienced autOmObiiists and
FRIENDS sain 1t was Impractical bic. anu
that an experiment would result IN dis
aster.
Colonel Thomas Lowry. president of ;he.
500 Pacific Line. however. thought dif-
frre1ty, ana granted my request for the
U.s. oi iiis road from Minneapolis to POr-
tai Sir Thomas ShsHghnessy president
Of the Canadian Pacific road. did likewise
and this route to the Pacific was cioscu.
RE two roads not only afforded oppor-
tufi,y Tor testing the working Of the mo
tor car on prairie levels. mountain grades
and CURVES but opened Up sp miles of nm
equaied scenic heaUty.
riding upon the smooth rails In the
open with an unotsTructed view. al a
rate of speed warranted by conditions of
grade ana curve. was luxurious. not tire
sorne and without responsibility regarding
fisnt OF way, requiring only close watch
81 ieVet highway crossings.
OFFICIALS KEPT CLOSE WATCH.
The wheels required considerable work
IN htting and adjusting them to the new
quite bring perfection from A mechanical
standpoint. but perseverance, after "6l
miles running on the tracks. conquered
me mechanical difficulties. correcting the
efrcr tnat caused the boxes TO heal.
Alter this fault vas re.nedied. the .sntire
Journey was made without a moments
DELAY We were always on hand at the
meeting points. following accurately the
schedule laid down from time to time by
train dispstchers OF the several divisions.
Some anxiety was felt as to our welfare
by the railroad people. and close watch
was kept upon all our
Vice President Pennington said to Con-
aGctor Horne as we were about to leave
minneapolis: Remember that you are
running a passenger train
Superintendent Huntington said In a low
tone to Mrs Glidden: p not let him run
too fast.
snpsTintendent Tosue of the mechanical
80 miles out OF Minneapolis. and "a mas
ter mechanic from that place to Portal:
then down the hill. the heavy grade OF the
Rockies. We had with us a trsinnlsst.T.
The train d~ispatchers. under orders from
their chiefs. moved us along at the de-
sired speed. enabling uS TO make at night
places having the best hotels. At meet
igK pOtltE oil trains ne nAh .Ira ~ roka
a siding but in many cases. We found
that the trains had taken s siding before
our arrival. thereby giving us a clear
RhILsoap E sGPRpRIsEp.
we were not restricted rs TO speed and
tonnd tsirty-five to forty ni!es an hour
ing motion. For one mile We attained n
speed equal 10 sixty miles an hGu
our average speed vas thirty miles an
hour over plain and mountain. The speei
OF Pacifc Coast trains for the last 1000
miles run Per hour is as follows:
Union Pacific Overland Limited. thirty
one.
Southern Pacific Sunset Limited. thirty.
Canadian Pacific Imperial Limited.
tventy-eight and a half
Great Northern Pacific Limited. twenty
seven ard rhree-duarters.
Northern Pacific Limited. tweuty-Seven
and three-quar1erz.
Santa Fe Limited. twenty-five.
With a clear track / SIN satisfied my car
"SA-d ALahF - July liE an lOAI-
and with car. constructed on lines for
speed 6 much higher average
Departure was fixed FOR September !.
from the 500 Station Minneapolis. Sta
tons a'ong the lire were notified of our
coming.
The ear was equipped with a red flag. .
red and white lantern. torpedcss. Are !
WORKS and other psrapheruaIia used in
~raiiroddinc- Joseph E Horn. wss So
ltc'sd TO take charge of the "!inlit-i.' I'M !
der Who's orders I was TO govern the
rnOEan-pp- NJ VF6 AZ he rz~EIEf-1 ~
strucftons from time TO time from train
dispatciers.
Ar the appointed time the car was back |
ed DOWN from rte shops ia fke station. and
.s lock no a position ready 20 foilow
the express. The passenger list included
Ars William Donaldson. William II
Gtitden, MIR. Thomas. ny engineer and
myself.
nov WE ARE OFF
Big McGul No. -. tira wing niue cars
pulled OUT and we followed. \ crowd. in :
Guiding railroad officials. employees and
friends. gave US a hearty cheer. which
was taken up by persons all along The
line to the end OF tn. yaeI. Tne weather
wss delightful. cool and braeins. after 4
weeks drilling rain
Al the End Of the yard W. hated at =
station called CardcH Junction. snd r.
ccired the first train order ever issued 40
a motor cal carrying passengers. which
- - {
Minneapolis. St. Paul and Saul Ste.
Marie Railway Te,egraphic train order
Ne. Jog. From Minneapolis. Sept=mfer 4.
1874. Received at Csmien place. Horne /
with automobile will run e1Sra from Cam |
den Place 20 Gl-nYOod. VIII MEET train
4. Hepburn conductor. AT Htmel. aud
stock extra koop co-ductor 1t Eden
Is Horne special. Correct. Io:SE. v. 4. E.
Now W. are off, said Mr. Horne ON
went the spark. and the driving wheels
slipped on the rail. finally taking hold.
when we rapidly moved away We were
soon in the open and chasing the express
There vas a slight trernbIe in the car Z
little noise from the clash of the wheels
on the steel rails. out the manner in
which We glued along made us dumb to
sounds and gave an opportunity to notice
everything We passed far and near.
Let her move a little faster il you
wish" said M conductor.
We were then going about thirty miles
an hour A slight pressure OF the &C
ceIerator and we bounded ahead at II hfty-
mile gait, AID caught sight OF the ea-
presz-
Conductor Horne would occasionally
call attention to spot in the rosdbed un-
ergoinE repairs. and we governed our
speed accordingly No hens. dogs cows
sheep. uncomfortable horses to care for:i
no holes in the road. perfectly smooth
sailing.
suddenly. however. while at a speed Of
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