The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-09
FAST RAILROAD TRAVEL.
Nvmber of High-speed Trains In tn C0unfrY md EArOpe.


 -S
 u.~n.~ os ui~h-speed Trains In this
 Country and Ehrope.
 Scientific American.
 There are some controversies that will not down, and one of the most persistent of these is that relating to inc relative speed of railroad travel here and in Europe. We have been in receipt lately of several letters ask ing us for an expression of opinion on the subject. and we, therefore, think 1t well to state. for the beneft of those who are interested in the question, that in respect of the number and speed of fast express trains our railway ser vice in this country simply cannot compare with that of France and Eng land. We say this with the full knowl- edge that there are few fast expresses that maintain high average speed for long distances in this country-trains which, if the element of total distance be taken into account. as in the case of the Twentieth Century Limited. on the New York Central and Lake Shore lines have no competitor in Europe. There Is also a service of very fast trains running between Philadelphia and Atlantisc City during the summer months, which are scheduled to run at a higher speed than the fastest of what might be called short distance expresses in other countries. But when 1t comes to a broad comparison of fast express service in France and England with that of the United States we may as we'll confess to the uncomfortable fact that our service. taken as a whole and judged merely with regard to its speed. can scercely be entitled to be called first-class. After we have eliminated he average speed of about 54.5 miles an hour between New York and Buffalo; the Twentieth Century Limited. with its average speed of about 50 miles an hour from New York to Chicago. and the service of few fast trains from Phila- delphia to AtlanticCity maintained dur ing summer months, we have mention ed all of the trains that can be pre- sented m comparison with the remar- kabie service that is being run on regular schedule this year on the other side of the Atlantic.
 It was only few years ago that the French railroads took the lead from England by putting into service sew eraI trains that ran at average speeds of from 55 to 60 miles an hour. At the present time there are in France S5 trains that are booked to run at speeds from start to stop of 55 miles m hour
 
 from Paris to Longeau, 7s miles, at sos miles an hour; another is timed to do the distance from Paris to Busigny. 112 1-2 miles. at sos miles an hour; the next fastest run is the 109 miles from Paris to Abbevilie, at 60.2 miles an hour, and the fot sth fastest train runs from Paris to St. ouenting 95 ,1-4 miles, at 60.1 miles per hour. Then follow seven trains, with a timed speed of | trains at from 571 to 57.s miles per hour, and 10 that run at an average speed from 55.5 to 56.5 miles an hour. These runs are made without a stop over distances that will average about 85 miles.
 During the past two years the Eng fish railroads have been building more powerful engines, and the result is seen in greatly accelerated train schedule. They have regained the lead in fast express service by putting in regular service a totai of 53 daily trains scheduled to make a speed of 55 miles an hour and over from start to stop. The fastest run of these is over the A 1-4 miles from Darlington to York at 61.7 an hour; but the most merito- rious are the runs from London to Bath, 1os Is miles, at 6s.4 miles; from London to Bristol. 118 1-2 miles. at 59.2 miles; two trains between London and Exeter, 193 3-4 miles, at 56.7 miles, and three at 55.3 miles an hour. These last named trains are run on the Great Western Railway, on which a train car rying the American mails was recent ly run from Plymouth dock to London, a distance of 246 3-4 miles. at an aver age speed of GA. .49 miles for the whole journey, the last 36 miles being cov- cred at the rate of 79.17 miles an hour. ha AafI haf tv, British Isles include 24 trains with a schedule speed of 55.1 to 55.s miles an hour; 13 trains with a speed of from 56.2 to 56.9 miles an hour; trains of from 57 to SIS miles an hour speed; trains of from 5S.1 to 58.9 miles an hour speed; 8 of from 59. to 59.4 miles. and one of 61.7 miles per hour schedule speed. The average distance of these runs. start to stop, is 101 miles.
 It must be understood that this com parison Is made merely on the basis of the actual number of high speed trains available to the travelling public. No account is taken of train weights. Compared with American train weights these European trains are light; but so are the engines. Moreover, though the trains are lighter their carrying capacity. owing to the lighter construc- tion, is equal to that of our larger and heavier trains, so that the passenger is still the gainer. It would not pay to run so many trains at such high speeds in the United States. for the reason that our latest Pullmans weigh over SO tons, or over two tons to the passenger which, from an engineering point of view. Is an absurd proportion. The only argument in their favor is that such heavy cars are safer in a collision, but would 1t not be saner policy to build our cars lighter. abolish collisions and operate our railroads with the same care that enabled the English roads, in spite of theIr many fast trains, to operate their railroads, as they did the year before last without killing a sim