David B. Jones Special
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The David B. Jones Special was a one-time, passenger train operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from Los Angeles, California, to Chicago, Illinois, at the request of David Benton Jones. David B. Jones was suddenly taken ill with cancer{{Cite news| title=Another Speed Record Broken}} at his winter home{{Cite news| title=Zinc Industry Founder Dead...}} "Pepper Hill" in Montecito, California.{{sfn|Wilson|2002|p=13}} This special rushed him to his Chicago physicians and surgeons at an average speed of {{convert|50|mph|0}}.{{cite journal| title=Jones Special Another Notable Santa Fe Run}} This article has 3 paragraphs on the Jones Special; 2 paragraphs on the Scott Special; and 1 paragraph each on the Nellie Bly; B. P. Cheney, Jr; C. P. Huntington; A. R. Peacock; H. P. Lowe; and Charles W. Clark specials. This run was completed three minutes faster than the more famous 1905 Scott Special. Although not part of the speed run, the train continued on to David B. Jones' summer home in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Overall trip summary
The train left La Grande Station at Los Angeles at 11:33 PM May 5, 1923, Pacific Time and arrived in Chicago at 12:50 AM on May 8 Central Time. The {{convert|2232|mi|0|adj=on}} journey was completed "in exactly 47 hours and 27 minutes."{{cite journal| title=Jones Special Another Notable Santa Fe Run}} This should be 47 hours 17 minutes with the two-hour time-zone difference. Some newspapers accounts use the erroneous 27-minute figure; others use the correct 17-minute value. The actual running time was only 44 hours and 51 minutes{{cite journal| title = Jones Special Another Notable Santa Fe Run}} which deducts time spent for stops such as those for coal and water and the 55-minute delay caused by the breakdown of a Union Pacific locomotive ahead of the special at Nebo, California. The running time was therefore three minutes lessBut notice that the Scott Special traveled {{convert|2265|mi|0}} between Los Angeles and Chicago; The Jones Special traveled {{convert|2232|mi|0}} between the same cities. than the Scott Special. Thus, the average speed was {{convert|47|mph|0|abbr=on}} and the average running speed was {{convert|50|mph|0|abbr=on}}. It was "a phenomenal run when compared with the regular Santa Fe limited time of sixty-eight hours and thirty minutes."{{Cite news| title=Life Rests with Speed of Special...}} The $11,000 special thus saved about 20 hours over the time of the regularly scheduled train. ($11,000 is equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|11000|1923|r=-2}}}} in present-day terms.{{Inflation-fn|US}}) "Mr. Jones' daughter, Gwendolyn{{refn|group=note|Actually, her name was Gwenthalyn Jones.{{cite journal| title=Social Register summer 1919}}}} Jones; his brother [Thomas D.], a doctor and two nurses accompanied him on the trip."{{Cite news| title=Record for Rail Speed is Smashed...}}
Speed and time over selected segments
The special train traveled over selected segments as follows:This account has been derived from various newspaper accounts. No comprehensive account has been found.
F. M. Gillette, engineer, and W. L. Evens, fireman on locomotive 1370 ran between Los Angeles and Barstow, California-{{convert|141.4|mi|0}}—on the Los Angeles Division in 3 hours and 26 minutes. This included:
- 34 minutes in the first {{convert|13|mi|0}} to Lamanda Park, Pasadena, California, due to a slow order, and
- 16 minutes taking water and testing the air brakes, and
- 27 minutes climbing a "stiff" mountain grade (Cajon Pass).{{cite journal| title=[Among Ourselves] Redondo Junction...}}
The {{convert|432|mi|0|adj=on}} run between Seligman, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, on the Albuquerque Division was scheduled for 12 hours, but completed in 9 hours and 32 minutes.{{cite journal| title=[Among Ourselves] Winslow...| page=89}}
"The stretch between Dodge City and Newton, Kansas, was covered at 65 miles per hour [(105 km/h)]."{{Cite news| title=Special Train Speeds 2,230 Miles to Doctor...}}
The Special covered the {{convert|455.3|mi|0}} between Argentine, Kansas, and Chicago in 7 hours and 45 minutes at about {{convert|60|mph|0|abbr=on}}. This was "thirty minutes faster than the Scott Special."{{refn|group=note|Actually, it was twelve minutes faster.{{Cite news| title=Record Made of Chicago Special...}}}}
After arriving in Chicago
"Upon arrival here [Chicago] it was switched back over the Northwestern track to Lake Forest, arriving there at 3:46 p.m. This switchback, however, is not counted in making the record."
Legacy
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
References
{{reflist|3}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite journal
| date = June 1923
| title = [Among Ourselves] Redondo Junction
| first = M.P.
| last = Onderdonk (care division foreman)
| journal = The Santa Fe Magazine
| volume = 17
| issue = 7 (June)
| page = 79
| publisher = Santa Fe Magazine
| location = Chicago, IL
| accessdate = 7 September 2009
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XObNAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA6-PA79
| via = Google Books
}}
- {{cite journal
| date = June 1923
| title = [Among Ourselves] Winslow
| first = Charles
| last = Erickson (care roundhouse foreman)
| journal = The Santa Fe Magazine
| volume = 17
| issue = 7 (June)
| pages = 88–89
| publisher = Santa Fe Magazine
| location = Chicago, IL
| accessdate = 7 September 2009
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XObNAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA6-PA89
| via = Google Books}}
- {{Cite news
| title = Another Speed Record Broken
| newspaper = Logansport, Indiana Pharos-Tribune
| date = 8 May 1923
| page = 13
| accessdate =
}}
- {{cite journal
| date = June 1923
| title = Jones Special Another Notable Santa Fe Run. Average Speed of More Than Fifty Miles an Hour Maintained in Remarkable Run Across the Continent
| journal = The Santa Fe Magazine
| volume = 17
| issue = 7 (June)
| pages = 27
| publisher = Santa Fe Magazine
| location = Chicago, IL
| accessdate = 7 September 2009
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XObNAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA6-PA27
| via = Google Books
}}
- {{Cite news
| title = Life Rests with Speed of Special. Ill Millionaire Private Train is Breaking Time in Chicago Dash
| newspaper = Los Angeles Times
| page = 12
| date = 8 May 1923
| accessdate =
}}
- {{Cite news
| title = Record for Rail Speed is Smashed. Sick Chicago Millionaire Carried to Chicago Home Under "Scotty's" Time
| newspaper = Los Angeles Times
| page = 13
| date = 9 May 1923
| accessdate =
}}
- {{Cite news
| title = Record Made of Chicago Special. Average of Fifty Miles An Hour Covered On Run From Los Angeles
| newspaper = Fresno Bee
| page = 5
| date = 9 May 1923
| accessdate =
}}
- {{cite journal
| date = June 1919
| journal = Social Register Summer 1919
| volume = XXXIII
| issue = 75
| title = Social register: Contains the summer address where it differs from the winter address of the residents of New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland ... [etc.]. summer ...
| pages = 436
| publisher = Social Register Association
| location = Bowling Green, [KY?]
| accessdate = 7 September 2009
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9RQJAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA436
| via = Google Books
}}
- {{Cite news
| title = Special Train Speeds 2,230 Miles to Doctor. David B. Jones, Ill, Pays $11,000 for Los Angeles-Chicago Trip to Family Physician.
| newspaper = New York Times
| page = 25
| date = 8 May 1923
| accessdate =
}}
- {{cite book
| last1 = Wilson
| first1 = Richard Guy
| editor-last = Thorne
| editor-first= Martha
| title = David Adler, architect: the elements of style
| year = 2002
| publisher = Yale University Press
| location = New Haven, Conn.
| isbn = 978-0-300-09702-3
| pages = 13–33
| chapter = The Styles of David Adler
}}
- {{Cite news
| title = Zinc Industry Founder Dead. D. B. Jones Passes Away at Lake Forest. Magnate Became Ill Here Last May. Was Rushed East on Train That Cost $11,000.
| newspaper = Los Angeles Times
| pages = 16
| date = 24 August 1923
| accessdate =
}}
{{refend}}
{{ATSF named trains}}
Category:Passenger trains of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Category:Named passenger trains of the United States