New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-19
WHAT is SAFE sPEED'

Speed probably caused the New
Haven Railroad accident ut Greens
Farms. The train was going at about
a mile a minute-behind the schedule,
as is usual when such things happen
and that probably had a good deal 10
do with the breaking Of part OF the
running gear, which, according TO the
latest theory, brought about the de-
railment. 1t was speed also when
caused the two more serious accidents
which occurred on the same road re-
Gently at Westport and Bridgeport
speed and the sending Of swift en-
presses through crossovers. The New
Haven Railroad long enjoyed a good
reputation for freedom from accidents
II has In recent years increased the
speed Of It's expresses and limited
trains. An unusual number Of serious
accidents has followed. This may be
q mere coincidence. Again, the recent
disasters may be due to the operation
Of faster trains on tracks congested
with traffic. the present general con-
gestion being reflected In the shortage
of freight cars throughout the county.
Congestion of traffic causes delays,
with consequent speeding to make up
for time thus lost, and compels more
use Of crossovers than is usual. 1t is
remembered that an especially large
number Of railroad accidents occurred
throughout the country In 1906 and
1907, when the railroads were greatly
overburdened with freight traffic.
The railroad men and public author
tiles should determine what Is the
cause Of the present series Of frequent
accidents and take effective measures
for the protection of passengers. The
country is now entering upon period
Of business activity when the railroads
will be strained to handle the freight
coming to them. What is needed is a
programme which will make travelling
Just as safe as II was during the last
few years, when many freight cars were
idle. 1t will not do to assume the
helpless attitude which the New Haven
road assumed after the Westport acct
dent, when it put all the blame upon
the engineer who didn't obey orders,
accepting no responsibility for its own
failure to compel him to obey orders
or to make 1t impossible for him to dis
obey them, and which it now seems
ready to assume in taking the ground
that the breaking Of running gear is
one Of those things that 1t is impossible
to guard against. The public gave the
railroad its franchise and pays it hand
somely to provide safe transit, and it is
its business to do so.
AS for speed, 1t has been tacitly adj
mitted by two Of the most important
railroads, operating two Of the fastest
trains in the country, that II is not al
ways safe to run trains as fast as they
can be made to go. The New York
Central and Pennsylvania roads length
ened by two hours the schedule time Of
their two fast trains to Chicago, for the
winter at least, thus recognizing that
there are conditions under which the
highest speed is dangerous. What is
needed is some determination as to the
conditions under which high speed is
safe. What conditions Of track and
way and equipment are necessary to
make rate Of fifty or sixty miles An
hour feasible, and do the roads which
attempt to run trains at such speed
always live up to them? Apparently
they do not for the crossovers of so
rich and generally well equipped rail-
road as the New Haven have been pro-
nounced by experts to be unsafe and
the railroad itself seems to concede
that they are, for II is replacing them
with longer ones. Railroads which are
taking chances with high speed under
present conditions ought to follow the
example which the New York Central
and Pennsylvania railroads set with
regard TO their Chicago flyers"