History around Schenectady: New York Central 999

William Buchanan designed this high-wheeled 4-4-0 type, No. 999, for exhibition at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893; the New York Central built her at its West Albany shops. After some preliminary runs, she was tested May 10, 1893, pulling the westbound Empire State Express on a nearly straight stretch of level track between Batavia and Buffalo, New York. Engineer Charles H. Hogan took the bridle off, covering one of the 36 miles of the run in 31.2 seconds —at the rate of 112.5 miles per hour. Never before had mankind traveled so fast. Since then the Pennsylvania Railroad claims to have made 127.1 miles per hour with a 4-4-2 type steam engine, No. 7002, in Ohio on June 11, 1905 —a claim which some experts dispute. The French National Railroads actually attained 207 miles per hour with an electric locomotive March 29, 1955, for an unequalled world's record. But no diesel locomotive has ever approached 999's top speed.