I would like to add a bit of background information, not quite on topic but somewhat relevant. S.P. Salt Lake Division employee T/T No. 59 dated Nov. 12, 1944 shows that Trains 101 and 102 with "STREAMLINER DIESEL POWER UNIT" were allowed 95 MPH on quite a few sections between Sparks and Ogden. This same timetable shows that ATS was not installed at any point where these speeds were allowed.

Similarly, steam locomotives (4-6-2's, 4-8-2's, and 4-8-4's) were authorized for 70 MPH maximum over several of the same districts.

As several posts have noted, official speed limits were often "given a wink and a nod." I personally have ridden behind GS-4's on Train No. 98 which achieved speeds well over 80 MPH. I also have timed 4-6-2's on Train No's. 247 and 248 making above 80 MPH and this was a quite regular occurrence. The one-mile times I observed were measured with my wristwatch and may have been half a second or so in error. However, these were not one-time events, and I usually measured times for several miles in a given run.

Official limits were posted, but the actual speeds achieved were a different matter. Strictly as an aside, if the Barco Speed Recorder was not operating, or if a locomotive was not equipped with one, the crew often enjoyed the chance to "fly low" and the locomotives were quite capable of exceeding the posted limits.

I hope that the foregoing is of interest to the group. Respectfully,

Grant Leslie