In 1888 what was a common method for engineers to gauge the speed of their locomotive?
Answer to follow shortly
Counting telegraph poles over a fixed time?
Vic Smith said:
Counting telegraph poles over a fixed time?
That’s one of them.
Others???
Mile markers.
I should have said what are some common methods. There are more than one.
Ken Brunt said:
Mile markers.
Thats another
Throwing a log tied to a line into the wake and counting the number of knots that go over the rail in thirty seconds.
Well, you didn’t specify just what kind of engineer… 
Devon Sinsley said:
In 1888 what was a common method for engineers to gauge the speed of their locomotive?
Answer to follow shortly
Ummmm Steve I do believe the word Locomotive was fairly specific
Steam powered GPS? 
Steve Featherkile said:
Throwing a log tied to a line into the wake and counting the number of knots that go over the rail in thirty seconds.
or Mdshipmen!!
Counting the number of clicks (rail joints) per minute? (using known length of rail section)?
The rhythm of the chuffs. You know your engine, and it’s heartbeat. Just listen, it tells you.
Ross Mansell said:
Steve Featherkile said:
Throwing a log tied to a line into the wake and counting the number of knots that go over the rail in thirty seconds.
or Mdshipmen!!
Counting the number of clicks (rail joints) per minute? (using known length of rail section)?
Ross,
I am impressed that’s one i didn’t think anyone would get
OK so I was researching for my book and came across an article in the Wallace Free Press, Wallace, Id. 1888
In later years it was 40 poles to the mile on main lines and 30 on branch lines on the RR I worked for. Later RJD
Devon Sinsley said:
Ross Mansell said:
Steve Featherkile said:
Throwing a log tied to a line into the wake and counting the number of knots that go over the rail in thirty seconds.
or Mdshipmen!!
Counting the number of clicks (rail joints) per minute? (using known length of rail section)?
Ross,
I am impressed that’s one i didn’t think anyone would get
Elementary my dear Watson (or in this case) a complete guess!!
Mmmm …might do the lottery this week!
R.J. DeBerg said:
In later years it was 40 poles to the mile on main lines and 30 on branch lines on the RR I worked for. Later RJD
We have a lot of Poles here in the UK…Good plumbers and cheap…
Ross: I guess you could not count. Later RJD
BTW on that rail joint business, that wouldn’t work all that well if the joints are staggered.
I don’t see why not, you wait for the 2nd thump. Later RJD
Same way we used to count cattle… 'cept instead of counting legs and dividing by 4, you count thumps and divide by 2.
Simple