Train Speeds

[NW Mailing List]

Per the May 1959 Trains (picked at random but far enough  back to be steam):
Norfolk &  Western    25    Powhatan  Arrow    Suffolk        Petersburg    
58.9  mi    53 min    66.7 mph
                                26    Powhatan Arrow    Petersburg   
Suffolk         58.9  mi     54 min    65.4 mph
 
As Harry says, the times were start to stop.  The criteria for  inclusion 
was at least 65 mph, and N&W had, by then, the only listing under  Steam 
Operated.
 
Dave Phelps
 
 
In a message dated 8/2/2010 10:59:12 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org writes:






-----Original  Message-----
From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To:  nw-mailing-list <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Mon, Aug 2, 2010  9:07 am
Subject: Train Speeds


I heard today on a radio news program that 90mph trains have preliminary  
approval for some time in the future in Virginia!  In the heyday of N&W 
 steam operations, what were the average speeds of the Norfolk-Cincinnati 
 trains and those on the Shenandoah Division. Where and what were the top 
 speeds?
 
 ###
 Bernie Hylton
 For many years, TRAINS published a list of the USA's fastest
passenger trains.  N&W's entry was always No. 25 (The Powhatan
Arrow) between Suffolk and Petersburg -- by recollection, it
averaged 62 MPH.  But bear in mind this was the scheduled speed.
The maximum authorized speed, 79 mph, had been established by
the ICC.  N&W attempted to have ICC increase the maximum speed,
but the ICC would not concede.  Remember that a train cannot
pass a station ahead of the scheduled time.  So if a train was
on schedule, there was no need to "make up time".  But if a train
was late, the Poe to Kilby stretch was a good place to do it. In
many instances, the Class J's went over 100 MPH, though N&W was
reluctant to admit it.                      Harry Bundy  
 




________________________________________
NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
To  change your subscription go  to
http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
Browse the  NW-Mailing-List archives  at
http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20100802/9132ac87/attachment.htm>