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FYI-- <br />The Al Perlman-run NYC proved in 1966 that ordinary track could handle high-speed rail service, a la the M-497 jet-powered RDC-3 series of tests. The track chosen for the test was the New York Central main line that runs between Butler, Indiana, and Air Line Junction (west of Toledo), Ohio—the longest multiple track railroad line in the U.S.—68.49 miles. At that time, the line consisted almost entirely of standard, 39-foot sections of 26-year-old bolted 127-lb/yard Dudley Modified rail (with one short four-mile portion of continuously welded rail). The tracks between Bryan Ohio and Butler Indiana were typical of the rr tracks of that day. The M-497 set the U.S. rail speed record of 183.85 mph, which remains unbroken. Actually, Don Wetzel, the engineer, had the train up to 196+ mph but was under orders to bring it through the timing point somewhere around 180 mph, so the record could have been even higher than it turned out to be. <br />When I read that the tracks aren't up to high-speed service, I'm always surprised. What's not up to snuff is the signalling which only allows 79 mph on main lines. The tracks can take it, the signals can't. <br />Check out the high-speed tests in southern Illinois last summer for more on this.
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