Facts about railways and bridges
August 16, 1888How many miles of railway in the United States? One hundred and fifty thousand six hundred miles, and about half the mileage of the world.
How many have they cost? Nine billion dollars.
How many people are employed by them? More than 1,000,000.
Who built the first locomotive in the United States? Peter Cooper.
How long does a steel rail last with average wear? About eighteen years.
What is the cost of a palace sleeping car? About $15,000 or $17,000 if “vestibuled”.
What is the cost of a high class eight wheel passenger locomotive? About $8500.
What is the longest American railroad tunnel? Hoosac tunnel, or the Fitchburg Railway (47 miles)
What is the highest railroad in the United States? Denver and Rio Grande, Marshall Pass, 10,850 feet.
What is the highest railroad bridge in the United States? Kinzua vinduct, on the Erie road, 805 feet high.
What is the longest railroad bridge span in the United States? Cantileyer span in Poughkeepsie bridge, 548 feet.
What is the longest mileage operated by a single system? Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe system, about 8,000 miles.
What line of railway extends farthest East and West? Canadian Pacific Railway, running from Quebec to the Pacific Ocean.
What road carries the largest number of passengers? Manhattan, Elevated railroad, New York, 525,000 a day, or 191,625,000 yearly.
What is the fastest time that was ever made bt a train? Ninety-two miles in 93 minutes, one mile being made in forty-six seconds, ont he Philadelphia and Reading railroad.
What is the fastest time made between Jersey City and San Francisco? Three days, seven hours, thirty nine minutes and sixteen seconds, Special theatrical train, 1886.
What are the chances of fatal accident in railway travel? One killed in 10,000,000. Statistics show that more are killed by falling out of the windows than in railway accident.
source: The Huntigdon Globe
location: Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
