N&W in 1911--Record run

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
April 9, 1911

MAKES RECORD RUN
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Train No. 1 Comes From Roanoke in Two Hours and Forty-five Minutes
    Train No. 1 made a record run yesterday from Roanoke, arriving here in two hours and forty-five minutes, and the entire train crew are agreed that if the train had not been held back by telegraph orders it would have made the run in two hours and fifteen minutes [In July 1951 the Powhatan Arrow was scheduled for two hours and thirty minutes for the same run.].  Due to a wreck which occurred on the Shenandoah division, the train was delayed until it reached Roanoke two hours and forty-five minutes late.  The regular train leaving Roanoke at 9 o'clock was sent out on time as "first No. 1," to make all stops, and when the train off the Shenandoah pulled into Roanoke at 11:25 it was ordered out for Bluefield, where it was told to catch No. 1, running as "second No. 1," an hour late.  The train started with plenty of speed and a great deal to spare to follow the train which had a five hour schedule and nearly three hours start.  Speeding along the second section made up enough time to arrive in this city thirty minutes late, although it had left Roanoke two hours and forty-five minutes behind schedule.  The distance from Roanoke to Bluefield is a little over 100 miles.
    The only trains which have equaled this record were running as specials over the road, carrying officials of this or other roads.  Passengers on train No. 1 said yesterday that if the regular No. 1 could make such time every day the "Memphis Special" [later the "Tennessean"] would lose all of its present custom [?] along the Norfolk and Western and much more travel would take place between the coalfields and the east.  There are perhaps few slower trains in the country than train No. 1 when it is running on schedule from Philadelphia to Gary [West Virginia] and return.  Hours are spent at various stations so that passengers can admire the scenery and walk around the towns where the train stops for breakfast, dinner and supper, although it carries a dining car.
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Gordon Hamilton
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