In the early days of railroading it was feared prolonged speeds of trains reaching up to 15 MPH could kill people.
I’m sure it was either 20 or 25…
I’m thinking 25 mph…
I saw this on a train show once but forgot the exact speed. I remember laughing because the speed was so slow in comparison to modern trains. I’m guessing 10 or 15 mph is the answer.
I’d love to take one of those alleged ‘medical experts’ on a ride in my Toyota pickup, say from Las Vegas to Williams, AZ, over the mountains on a 75-mph interstate shared with flying semis and perambulating houses (RV’s of the large, slow variety.)
It probably would kill him. He’d die of fright.
Of course, if that didn’t work we could always strap him into the back seat of a 2-seat fighter, or arrange for him to ride Space Ship One.
Chuck
This is off topic…
When I was in Basic Training, many moons ago, I had occasion to host a fellow officer cadet at my home over the Victoria Day long weekend. My home was a four hour drive up the formidable Fraser Canyon, part of the Trans-Canada highway. He was from the pairies. I found, as I careened around the numerous bends near Spence’s Bridge, that he had grown quiet. I finally glanced over and found him as white as a sheet. Insensitive as I was when young, I asked him what was wrong. He spluttered that the highways were nothing like this in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. I had the good sense to slow down for his sake…late, but I did it.
It’s all relative.
20mph, the “experts” (quacks) claimed the riders would asphyxiate at that ungodly high rate of speed! Nevermind that a man on horseback could still ride faster than that!
I am thinking of 10mph if we are talking about the beginning early years of railroads. 10 mph would have been considered as “flying” on the tracks.
I heard 25 mph.
I’ve heard this before but don’t remember - so I guess 20.
After this I believe the “barrier” was 60 mph - a whole mile a minute. An impossible speed.
I think it was anything faster than a horse can run, because that was as fast as anyone went in those days. People actually brought a notebook and a pencil along for the ride to see if the human brain could function at such high speeds
[:D]
I guessed 25.
[8D]I heard this recently. [;)]I guessed 15. If that’s not it, I didn’t remember correctly.[B)]
Yes, a whopping 15 mph. And I’m sorry it took me so long to update this. Funny thing is that means my bicycle is dangerous.[;)]
Wow! I was 10 miles per hour over! Wonder how many people I killed?