David B. Jones Special
Encyclopedia
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 at his winter home "Pepper Hill" in Montecito, California
. This special rushed him to his Chicago physicians and surgeons at an average speed of 50 miles per hour (22 m/s). 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
.
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 2232 miles (3,592 km) journey was completed "in exactly 47 hours and 27 minutes." The actual running time was only 44 hours and 51 minutes 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 less than the Scott Special
. Thus, the average speed was 47 mph (21 m/s) and the average running speed was 50 mph (22 m/s). It was "a phenomenal run when compared with the regular Santa Fe limited time of sixty-eight hours and thirty minutes." The $11,000 special thus saved about 20 hours over the time of the regularly scheduled train. ($11,000 is equivalent to $ in present-day terms.) "Mr. Jones' daughter, Gwendolyn Jones; his brother [Thomas D.], a doctor and two nurses accompanied him on the trip."
-141.4 miles (228 km)—on the Los Angeles Division in 3 hours and 26 minutes. This included:
The 432 miles (695 km) 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.
"The stretch between Dodge City
and Newton, Kan
. was covered at 65 miles per hour[(105 km/h)]."
The Special covered the 455.3 miles (733 km) between Argentine, Kansas
and Chicago in 7 hours and 45 minutes at about 60 mph (27 m/s). This was "thirty minutes faster than the Scott Special
."
, arriving there at 3:46 p.m. This switchback, however, is not counted in making the record."
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
from Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to Chicago, Illinois at the request of David Benton Jones
David B. Jones
David B. Jones was president and chairman of the board of directors of the Mineral Point Zinc Company and considered a founder of the Zinc industry in America...
. David B. Jones was suddenly taken ill with cancer at his winter home "Pepper Hill" in Montecito, California
Montecito, California
Montecito is an unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County, California. As a census-designated place, it had a population of 8,965 in 2010. This does not include areas such as Coast Village Road, that, while usually considered part of Montecito, are actually within the city limits of Santa...
. This special rushed him to his Chicago physicians and surgeons at an average speed of 50 miles per hour (22 m/s). This run was completed three minutes faster than the more famous 1905 Scott Special
Scott Special
The Scott Special, also known as the Coyote Special, the Death Valley Coyote or the Death Valley Scotty Special, was a one-time, record-breaking passenger train operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from Los Angeles, California, to Chicago, Illinois, at the request of "Death...
. Although not part of the speed run, the train continued on to David B. Jones' summer home in Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
.
Overall trip summary
The train left La Grande StationLa Grande Station
La Grande Station was the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's main passenger terminal in Los Angeles, California, until damage from the Long Beach earthquake of 1933 forced its closure. When Union Station opened in 1939, Santa Fe moved all of its passenger services there.- History :Santa Fe...
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 2232 miles (3,592 km) journey was completed "in exactly 47 hours and 27 minutes." The actual running time was only 44 hours and 51 minutes 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 less than the Scott Special
Scott Special
The Scott Special, also known as the Coyote Special, the Death Valley Coyote or the Death Valley Scotty Special, was a one-time, record-breaking passenger train operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from Los Angeles, California, to Chicago, Illinois, at the request of "Death...
. Thus, the average speed was 47 mph (21 m/s) and the average running speed was 50 mph (22 m/s). It was "a phenomenal run when compared with the regular Santa Fe limited time of sixty-eight hours and thirty minutes." The $11,000 special thus saved about 20 hours over the time of the regularly scheduled train. ($11,000 is equivalent to $ in present-day terms.) "Mr. Jones' daughter, Gwendolyn Jones; his brother [Thomas D.], a doctor and two nurses accompanied him on the trip."
Speed and Time Over Selected Segments
F. M. Gillette, engineer, and W. L. Evens, fireman on locomotive 1370 ran between Los Angeles and Barstow, CaliforniaBarstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
-141.4 miles (228 km)—on the Los Angeles Division in 3 hours and 26 minutes. This included:
- 34 minutes in the first 13 miles (21 km) to Lamanda Park, Pasadena, CaliforniaLamanda Park, Pasadena, CaliforniaLamanda Park is a neighborhood in Pasadena, California. It's bordered roughly by Foothill Boulevard to the north, Del Mar Boulevard to the south, the Eaton Wash to the east, and Allen Avenue to the west, with a panhandle extending south along the western bank of the Eaton Wash.Like Annandale, it...
due to a slow order, and - 16 minutes taking water and testing the air brakes, and
- 27 minutes climbing a "stiff" mountain grade.
The 432 miles (695 km) run between Seligman, Arizona
Seligman, Arizona
Seligman is a census-designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population was 456 at the 2000 census.-History:Between 1889-1891, Seligman was established by the Theut and Moultrie families. Both were prosperous slaughterhouse owners in Southern antebellum families who lost...
and Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
on the Albuquerque Division was scheduled for 12 hours, but completed in 9 hours and 32 minutes.
"The stretch between Dodge City
Dodge City, Kansas
Dodge City is a city in, and the county seat of, Ford County, Kansas, United States. Named after nearby Fort Dodge, the city is famous in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,340.-History:The first settlement of...
and Newton, Kan
Newton, Kansas
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Harvey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 19,132. Newton is located north of Wichita and is included in the Wichita metropolitan statistical area...
. was covered at 65 miles per hour[(105 km/h)]."
The Special covered the 455.3 miles (733 km) between Argentine, Kansas
Argentine, Kansas
Argentine is a community of Kansas City, Kansas, located in the southern part of Wyandotte County. It is bordered on the west by the Turner community, on the east by the Rosedale community, on the south by Johnson County, and on the north by Armourdale community and by the Kansas River. Argentine...
and Chicago in 7 hours and 45 minutes at about 60 mph (27 m/s). This was "thirty minutes faster than the Scott Special
Scott Special
The Scott Special, also known as the Coyote Special, the Death Valley Coyote or the Death Valley Scotty Special, was a one-time, record-breaking passenger train operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from Los Angeles, California, to Chicago, Illinois, at the request of "Death...
."
After Arriving in Chicago
"Upon arrival here [Chicago] it was switched back over the Northwestern track to Lake ForestLake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
, arriving there at 3:46 p.m. This switchback, however, is not counted in making the record."