Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1913 — Speed of American Trains. [ARTICLE]

Speed of American Trains.

“Should passenger train be permitted to. run at a speed of 50 miles an hour?” was asked of Mr. H. W. Belknap, chief of government’s inspectors of safety appliances. “No person in the world,” Mr. Belknap replied, “can give an answer to such a question and make it of general application. Fifty miles on some roads may be safer than 30 miles on other is a matter of roadbed, weight of rails, cars, signals and management. Very few American trains, however, reach an average of 50 miles an hour. The fastest of the extra-fare specials between New York and Chicago average 54 miles for the trip, but at places reach the speed of 85 miles. But those are the most scientifically operated trains in the country. They are operated for speed and for safety, and steel cars give some assurance that the worst thing which can be imagined won’t happen even if a rail gives way or a wheel breaks down in the middle. Steel cars, I want to say, are a great protection to life, as was shown on the Fourth of July, this year, near East Corning, N. Y. A standing train lot one buffet car, seven sleeping cars and two day coaches, all made of wood but one of the coaches, which was the second car from the end of the train, was run into by an express going at a high rate of speed. Thirty-nine passengers were killed and 86 passengers and two employes were Injured. The wooden coach was pounded into splinters. The steel coach was bent at the ends, and after telescoping the sleeper just ahead for two-thirds of its length, was torn from its trucks and turned over. Only two fatalities occurred in this, car. It was placed on new wheels, and was sound enough to be taken to the repair shops. The wooden coach and sleeping car, or what remained of them, were gathered up and destroyed by fire at the side of the track.”