Evening star., 1933-06-04
De Luxe Railroading and Speed
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

while in 1904 Philadelphia b Read.
ing train travelled at 115.2.
The Royal Scot has one 299 non
stop run Even in this country OF
magnificent distances. stops are usually
more frequent than that. Railroad men
think that a British train does hold
the speed record for sustained fast
fight. Most of the American records
have been over relatively short cts-
tances But the Cheltenham Flyer OF
the Great Western Railway runs II
miles at a fraction over II miles an
hour and has done it at 81 miles. An
other foreign record which ranks high
is that made on the Nord Railway be-
tween Paris and Jeumont at 66 miles
per hour The Sud Express, Paris to
Bordeaux, distance of 365 miles. aver
ages So miles and, in Germany, the ex-
press from Berlin to Hamburg averages
over IS miles. To attain this average
the German train reaches 80 miles an
hour for parts of the journey. These
are all shorter than the New York
Chicago run.
The Royal Scot, the guest train from
England, has small engine compared
with American types, but one powerful
enough to climb more than 1000 feet
over the mountains on her daily jour-
ney. The Scots locomotive weighs 1856
tons. American locomotives weigh up
to 260 tons. Americans are familiar
with the typical engine cow-catcher,
smokestack and headlight. Bl .tish
locomotives do not have these features.
British railroads have no grade cross
ings. Every mile of road either Is on
raised way or a sunken way. 1t is
difficult to get on the track anywhere.
Coaches are luxurious, but look queer
to Americans because they have no
steps. Railway stations have platforms
from which one walks into a separate
compartment Of car on the level.
A New Pullman Exhibit.
A custom followed in America In
early railroading days, but which was
afterward abandoned, is the British
custom of naming locomotives. The
entire trains they haul usually take
the name. The Royal Scot Is an ex-
ample. There is the Coldstream
Guardsman, the Welch Fusilier, the
Black Watch. and the Welsh Guards
man. Many regimental names are
used, but others as well, as witness,
the Sherwood Forester There is a
disposition to renew this practice In
America, reviving such names as the
General, so famous in the Civil War.
Vying with the Royal Scot for at
tention at the Chicago Fair will be q
new Pullman car, type of equipment
which has gone in for names in a big
way. This, the last word in passenger
equipment, is the George M Pullman.
It is built entirely of aluminium,
weighing only about half as much as
the steel Pullman car but having the
same strength, according to tests. The
cost Of haulage is materially reduced
by this weight saving Every luxurious
comfort imaginable has been provided
and the decoration Is conceded to be
superior to that of foreign coaches.
From the cool designs of carpets and
upholstery to the neo-modernistic chairs
and tables and polished metal fittings,
the new car Is something which Amer
lean railroaders may be proud to COM
pare with foreign exhibits. After show
ing at Chicago, the car will be put
into actual service and many others
OF its type will be manufactured.
That America has not lost its interest
IN rallroad1ng has been indicated by
the throngs OF people who have
crowded to see the visiting Royal Scot
Wherever that distinguished train has
stopped. Sir Ronald Lindsay the Brit.
lsh Ambassador. welcomed the train to
washington, but his welcome was nosh-
ing to compare with the 10000 pcop.e
VINO went to see It, It is Doubtful
whether more people ever went down
TO the depot to see the steam cars
come in.