While tripping merrily through the mail, Dennis Collins was overheard
 DC> The German Marienfeld - Berlin line was the site of some record runs
 DC> by Siemens and Halske and AEG in 1902-3 culminating in 210.2Kmhr
 DC> (130.5MPH) on 23/10/1903 (English notation, US 10/23/1903) using
 DC> interurbans. However this was obtained using a specially installed 3
 DC> phase electric system and side mounted bow collectors and was returned
 DC> to DC after the tests. 
Not every day in Normal revenue service.
 DC> The French TGV meets your criteria as it runs on special lightweight
 DC> track (14T axle load from memory) with no freight (except Postal
 DC> trains) and uses 1500V DC on parts of its route, including at least one
 DC> dedicated section. This MUST hold the CURRENT fastest interurban tag
I'll grant you that, however, remember the "Electroliners" were built
in 1941.
 DD> An "Interurban" line is generally a line built to carry people rather
 DD> than  freight (although many, like the North Shore, did run freight
 DD> trains, in fact the North Shore back in the 1920's was one of the
 DD> originators of "Piggyback" {highway trailer on flatcar} service).
 DC> This was common practice in the 1830s! Until trains got too fast, the
 DC> gentry always rode in their own carriages mounted on flats.
 DC> I have plenty of pictures of horse drawn wagons (furniture vans) on
 DC> flats as well.
 
OK, will you accept "one of the originators of "Modern" piggyback service?
:-)
 DD> "Interurbans" usually are built to lighter standards than "Steam"
 
 DD> "bullets" were actually built, they were essentially "MU" ("Multiple
 DD> unit") cars with a driver's cab at each end, a'la the electroliners.
 DC> Now here I draw the line, even though the designers studied the US
 DC> interurbans, I haven't found any evidence of them using the design or
 DC> even the same design principles.
 DC> The Bullet trains have all axles driven, are heavyweights, and run
                            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is exactly what I said. :-( , "MU" (Multiple unit" cars, rather than
a train pulled by a locomotive)
 DC> from high voltages.
 DC> I'll go back and re-read the books I have access to and see what I can
 DC> find. Have you any good references to the North Shore Electroliners?
 DC> Author, title and publisher if possible, I'll try and get them through
 DC> the library.
A couple you may want to look for ......
 "North Shore - America's Fastest Interurban", William D. Middleton,
   Golden West Books
 "First and Fastest" (Magazine), North Shore Interurban Historical Society
   (c/o P.O. Box 346, Chicago, IL 60690)
 "Days Of The North Shore Line" by George V. Campbell, Published by
   "National Bus Trader"
 "North Shore Line Memories", same as above
 "Interurban To Milwaukee", CERA (Central Electric Railfan's Assn) bulletin
   No. 106
 "Route Of The Electroliners" CERA Bulletin No. 107
 "Some Classic Trains" Arthur D. Durban, Kalmbach Publishing Co.
Don
... I know where I am, it's everybody else who's lost.
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