75 Years of the LIRR April 22, 1910 (From the Program Celebrating )
Its almost marvelous increase in mileage, equipment, traffic, earnings and
expenses, as well as other startling statistics, are attractively compared in
the following statement of the difference between the conditions obtaining at
the opening of the line in 1844; as they existed twenty-five years later in
1869, and the surprising development attained forty years thereafter in 1909.
1845
1869 1909
Length of road and branches 98
148 390
Weight of rail 50
to 58 70 to 100
Number of engines 15
21 188
Number of passenger cars 22
41 727
Number of Baggage and mail 12 9 52
Number of freight cars 128
241 1,673
Number of passenger train miles 156,000
267,956 4,334,700
Number of freight train miles 40,848
125,448 539,700
Number of passengers carried 191,414
840,177 27,466,700
Number of passengers carried,
one mile 18,773,860
407,270,600
Average rate of speed for passenger
trains, miles per hour, including stops 20
38
When in motion 25
48
Of express trains, including stops 25
52
When in motion 30
57
Weight of passenger trains, exclusive of
passengers and baggage 64
225
Weight of freight trains -- light 95
300
Rate of fare (average per passenger
per mile) 2.75
c. 1.45 c.
Population of Long Island 540,648
1,895,000
Assessed valuation of