The most perfect locomotive

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

One of the places where N&W engineers would "air" out their engines was  a 
long stretch pf straight track east of Petersburg, Va.  Once as a child,  I was 
riding an eastbound passenger train pulled by a class J and standing in  the 
vestibule of one of the 500 series cars.  I was there to get a better  view and 
to hear the engine blow for the crossings. A trainman passed through  and we 
chatted about various things. I pointed out to me a clue to the ride  of the 
car on our going very fast. He explained that when the car bounce or sway  
changes from side to side to a more up and down movement, it is really going  
fast. I asked him for his guess on our speed and he snapped back, "Over a  
hundred, you can bank on that!" And he smiled!
 
Aubrey  Wiley
Lynchburg,  Va.
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