413. Express trains are a source of vast expense, directly and indirectly, which can never be repaid by any practicable tariff to be levied upon them. Dr. Lardner, (1850):—
Resolved, That this meeting recommend the adoption of a higher rate of fare upon express passenger trains, corresponding in some degree to the increased cost of such trains.—American Railroad Convention of 1854.
INCREASED COST OF WORKING.
This is due to the extra wear and tear of engines, cars, and road, from increased speed, and also to the delays occasioned to other trains in motion at the same time.
The influence of express trains is felt not only by themselves, but by nearly all the trains upon the road.
Note.—To determine the most economical speed, regard need only be had to the variable elements of cost, namely: cost of power, and maintenance of superstructure, and rolling stock; assuming the power expended as the resistance, and the cost of repairs of machinery and superstructure as the velocity, we form the following table:—
| Velocity in miles per hour. | Resistance in pounds per ton. | Hours con. in going 300 miles. | Product of column 2 × 3. | Cost of repairs. | Result. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8.6 | 30 | 258 | 100 | 358 |
| 15 | 9.3 | 20 | 186 | 150 | 336 |
| 20 | 10.3 | 15 | 154 | 200 | 354 |
| 25 | 11.6 | 12 | 139 | 250 | 389 |
| 30 | 13.3 | 10 | 133 | 300 | 433 |
| 35 | 15.2 | 8.60 | 131 | 350 | 481 |
| 40 | 17.3 | 7.50 | 130 | 400 | 530 |
| 45 | 19.8 | 6.67 | 132 | ||
| 50 | 22.6 | 6 | 136 | ||
| 60 | 29.1 | 5 | 145 | ||
| 100 | 66.5 | 3 | 200 |
The result is found by adding the product of columns 2 and 3, or column 4 to column 5, from which the minimum cost is seen to be produced by a very little more than fifteen miles per hour. The variable (and above assumed) element is the rate of increase of cost of maintenance.
All trains in motion at the same time within a certain distance of the express, must be kept waiting with steam up, or be driven with extra velocities in order to keep out of the way.
Where the time table is so arranged as to call for speed nearly equal to the full capacity of the engine, it is very obvious that the risks of failure in “making time” must be much greater than at reduced rates; and when they do occur, the efforts made to gain time must be correspondingly greater and uncertain. A single example will be sufficient to show this:—