FASTEST TRAINS IN EUROPE AND AMERICA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9065, 10 April 1906, Page 6

FASTEST TRAINS IN EUROPE AND AMERICA.

Mr A. Kramer, C. E., in an article in j ; the .Annalen fur Gewerbe and Bauwesen. ] states that since the fast train trials on ' the Marienfelde-Zossen line, a yteak dea.l is heard about train speeds, but unfortu- . nately those who write often know very little about the subject. There can be no doubt that the present speeds will be still I further increased, not only by steam trains but also by electric. At the present time the "Northern" of France has the fastest (train in Europe. It runs between Paris and Calais, and is hauled by the famous de Glehu fourcylinder compound locomotive, which is now in use on mo3t of the French lines, and has recently also been introduced into England by the Great Western Railway Company. The distance between Paris and Calais is 184.69 miles, and is oov&red by the fastest trains in 3 hours 1 minute. Between Paris and Amiens, where a stop of 1 four minutes is allowed for coaling and watering rhe engine, the average speed is 63.19 miles. Between Amiens and Calais 59.7 miles per hour are maintained. The "Northern" of France is putting in water troughs of the London and North-Western pattern between Paris and Calais, in order to out down still further tihe time now occupied by the trains. The fastest trains in the world at present- are the "Atlantic City Flyers" running between Camden and Atlantic City. The keen competition, between the PhiU-' delphia and Reading, and the Pennsylvania companies gave rise to the speed contests which began in 1899. So far victory lies with the Philadelphia and Reading, whose trains do the trip of 55£ miles at an average speed of 67.96 miles an hour. The Pennsylvania best train travels its 58 miles at-an, average specd f of ,66.92, mitas an hour. The weight of tnese flyers is seldom less than 150 tons, and the average is 200 tons. On certain occasions the Philadelphia and Reading Company's "Flyer" has covered the distance, 55£ miles, in 46£ minutes, which means an average speed of 71.6 miles an norar; for 35 miles- it was. 81£ miles an hour. The foregoing speeds are the more remarkable as at tihe two end&ihe lines inn for an average distance of a mile along the public roads, where the speed has to be reduced to 15 miles per hour; and also as both lines meet outside Camden on a gradient with & system of signals based on the principle "first come, first served." The -world's fastest brain for a distance exceeding 3QO miles is the State Empire Express, wiidb covers the distance.©! 440 miles between New York and Buffalo nn'' 8 hours 15 minutes, equal to an average speed of 53.3 miles per hour. v _ . Trains run from London (King's dross)' to Edinburgh, 393 miles, in 7 hours 45 minutes, average speed 50.57 miles per hour. From London (Euston) to Glasgow, 401 mfles. in 8 hours, average speed 50.1 miles. The "Sud" express from Paris to. Bagonnc, 486 miles, 9 hours 43 ' minutes, average speed 50 miles per hour. For shorter distances than 300 miles, Great Britain has a large number of trains which travel at an average speed of from 55 to 61.7 miles per hour. As regards long runs withlout stop Great Britain takes the pride of place.' For instance, the Great .Western wins trains fromPaddington to Exeter. 193| miles, in 3.30 hours average speed 55.3 miles per hour. The London North- Western, from Euston to Liverpool, 192 miles, in 3.45 hours, average speed 51.1 miles; from Wigan'to Willesden. 188£ miles, in 3.41, hours,, average speed 51. 1 miles ; from Euston to Orewe, 158 miles, in 2.55 hours, average, speed 54.1 miles; and from Willesden to Orewe. 152^ miles, in 2.53 hours., average speed 52.8 miles. The Great Northern runs trains without stop between Wakefield and King's Cross, 175f miles, in 3.1 hours, average speed Ss£ miles; and from King's Cross to Doncaster, 156 miles, in 2.49 hours, average speed 55.3 miles. Germany is still behind France, England and America> as regards train speeds, principally due to the lighter construction of the permanent way, and the economical system of working, as speed means money.