September 02, 1899
In the State of Michigan, the interurban line from Ypsilanti to Saline began operations.
September 02, 1913
An accident on the New Haven Railroad killed 21 and injured 50.
September 02, 1919
Congress passes bill barring railroad strikes.
September 02, 1935
Florida East Coast Railway's route to Key West, Florida is closed after being damaged by a hurricane.
September 02, 1938
New York Central's coach #1472 becomes the first passenger car to be equipped with flourescent lighting.
September 02, 1987
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad is merged into the CSX system.
September 02, 1970
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian Pacific is authorized to abandon it's Carleton Place subdivision between m. 0.84 (Ross Avenue) and m. 1.4 (McRae Avenue).
September 02, 19991
In Cornwall, Ontario, on what had been the New York Central's Ottawa division, Locweld Inc. purchased the Combustion Engineering property, including the 16-ton switcher within the building.
1956 Collapse of a RR bridge under a train kills 120 (India)
9/2/73 was my first day on the C&NW!
Zardoz, if you worked for the Chicago & Northwestern, you're a good man. The C&NW served my community up until 1988, even though we were never a part of their mainline. Same thing goes with the Great Northern, Illinois Central, Milwaukee Road and the Rock Island.
September 03, 1883
The Northern Pacific Railroad's mainline was completed between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Tacoma, Washington.
September 03, 1916
The Adamson Act, which established an eight work day for all railroad employees, was implemented.
September 03, 1919
President Woodrow Wilson inaugurates the practice of using a railroad office car for White House business on a presidential train.
September 03, 1930
Thomas Edison conducted a test of the first electric lighting on board a passenger train bet between hoboken and Montclair, New Jersey.
I just discovered that in the state of Michigan, electric lighting was introduced in passenger cars as early as 1887. So what I had referred to in my earlier post was quite possibley flourescent lighting, or something close to that.
September 04, 1861
In the state of Michigan, the Amboy, Lansing & Traverse Bay Railroad reaches North Lansing from Bath.
September 04, 1862
The North Beach & Mission Railway Company was organized in San Francisco.
September 04, 1872
The New York Sun exposes the Credit Mobilier Scandal. During the construction of the trans-continental railroad, Massachussetts Representative Oakes Ames and other directors of the Union Pacific, created a company called Credit Mobilier of America, which was used to award themselves rich company contracts. To avoid Congressional investigation, Ames distributed shares to other congressmen, Cabinet members and Vice-President Colfax. Ames was censured by the House of Representatives on 2/28/1873.
September 04, 1929
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit, Jackson and Chicago Railway abandoned passenger operations.
September 04, 1941
The Union Pacific Railroad took delivery from Alco the first Big Boy class, 4-8+8-4 steam locomotive.
September 04, 1961
The "Northern Arrow" of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Michigan's last summer-only passenger train service, makes it's final trip from Mackinaw City.
September 04, 1987
In the state of Michigan, the Central Michigan Railway would purchase from the Grand Trunk Western the line running from Durand to Midland and the trackage between Durand and Muskegon.
September 04, 1997
Railink-Lakeland & Waterways takes over the former Canadian National lines in northeastern Alberta from Boyle to Lynton, near Fort McMurray. Agreement was reached on 2nd of September, operation commenced on 4th of September and formal transfer took place on November 24th.
Huron Central Railway, owned by Genessee Rail-One, takes over operation of the former Canadian Pacific line between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury, Ontario.
September 04, 1999
The last remaining trolley car line in Pittsburg closed.
Amazed I am at how so many items of history you come up with. A veritable fountain of knowledge you are.
When it comes to historical information pertaining to railroads in the United States and Canada, Zardoz, I am working with 8 different sources of information. I enjoy putting this thread together every morning, and even right now I am beginning to search for additional sources of historical information.
Couple of thoughts on that, Ray--I hope one of your sources would be the past columns you and Paula have done, and the additions and corrections people have made to them.
I've noticed the sudden influx of information from Michigan (can't say I'm too unhappy about that!), and figure that's one of your newer sources.
In the interest of keeping things on the up-and-up, you may wish to credit your sources. Had this been a pre-post, I'd suggest a key so that on the posts themselves, one letter would be enough information to tell where the information came from.
Finally, Ray, if you'll just stand up and face Seattle, Jim and I will both be able to say, "Glad to see your back!" Welcome!
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Carl, thanks much for your input. I appreciate it! I have chosen to make my thread separate from Paula's if only to avoid some unnecessary duplication.
The sudden influx of information of railroad history from Michigan I am getting through the Michigan State Historical Society, but the way it is all arranged, it is rather time-consuming to isolate it and make use of it. There are those of us for example, who like to know what happened in railroading across this country on September 04, in any given year.
I stumbled on the the Michigan State Historical Society roughly a year ago while doing a random search for rail-related history on my computer.
Ray, I'm only too happy to turn it over to you! I don't have the resources you have, and I think you do a better job of it! I only have two, maybe three sources: railwaystation.com, Arcamax History & Quotes, and WHAS11 On This Date in History.
With your permission, whenever I find anything, I'll try to post it on this thread..
September 01-15, 1859
In the state of Michigan, Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana train crews go out on strike over payment of 5 months of back wages. The strike ended when President George Bliss promised to pay the men in cash for May, June and July, and additional pay for August and September by October 10th.
September 05, 1898
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian Pacific Railway opens from Montreal to Ottawa via Rigaud. And inspection trip was run on May 19th. This line had been chartered by the Vaudreuil and Prescott Railway in 1884. The Vaudreuil and Prescott Railway changed it's name to Montreal and Ottawa Railway March 26, 1890 and was leased in perpetuity to the Canadian Pacific on November 15, 1892. It was opened in stages as follows:
Vaudreuil to Rigaud - October 04, 1890
Rigaud to Alfred - December 21, 1896
Alfred to Plantagenet - December 16, 1897
Plantagenet to Ottawa - September 05, 1898
A branch between Rigaud and Point Fortune was opened on September 27, 1892.
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Archbishop Duhamel, at a ceremony in Embrun, blesses the Ottawa and New York Railway, it's President, the road's President himself, it's employees and rolling stock. Several thousand people were present and a picnic was held in the afternoon.
September 05, 1911
A golden spike is driven in the Oregon Trunk Line at Bend, Oregon.
September 05, 1926
The Denver & Rio Grande Western's Scenic Limited is derailed on a curve by excessive speed and the locomotive and six cars fall into the Arkansas River, killing 23 passengers.
September 05, 1956
Two Santa Fe express trains collided at Robinson, New Mexico, killing 20 railroad workers.
September 05, 1961
The Bangor & Arrostook ends it's railway passenger service.
September 05, 1986
The Chicago & Northwestern sells 965 miles of it's trackage to the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern.
September 06, 1869
The first westbound train arrives in San Francisco.
September 06, 1873
Regular cable car service begins on Clay Street in San Francisco.
September 06, 1898
In the Canadian province of Ontario, two spans of the New York and Ottawa Railroad bridge over the south channel of the St. Laurence River collapsed with the loss of 15 lives. This accident happened on New York Central's Ottawa division.
September 06, 1943
79 people were killed at Frankford Junction, Pennsylvania when a burned off journal derailed the Pennsylvania Railroad's Congressional.
September 06, 1960
The Maine Central became freight only.
September 07, 1958
In Washington, D.C., the Eckington-Mt. Rainier-Branchville street car line was abandoned.
September 07, 1963
In the state of Michigan, the last sleeping car left Traverse City, bound for Chicago.
September 07, 1969
Union Pacific's City of Portland and City of Denver join conbined City of Los Angeles-San Francisco-Kansas City east of Green River, Wyoming.
September 07, 1980
Auto-Train filed for bankruptcy.
September 08, 1883
U.S. President Chester Arthur is present and participated in the opening of the first railroad to the Pacific Northwest, the Northern Pacific Railroad, at Gold Creek, Montana.
September 08, 1906
In Ottawa, Ontario, on what was the Hull Street Electric Railway, car #253 is the first to pass through the new Bank Street Subway underneath the Grand Trunk Railway.
September 08, 1987
MidSouth purchased the 40-mile North Louisiana & Gulf Railroad.
In the state of Michigan, the Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago opens the former Chessie trackage from Hartford to Paw Paw.
September 09, 1909
Railroad empire builder Edward Henry Harriman died.
September 09, 1929
The first air-conditioned Pullman cars go into service between chicago and Los Angeles.
September 09, 1933
Service comes to an end on the Corvallis branch of the Oregon Electric.
September 09-17, 1970
In the Canadian province of Ontario, British Gresley Pacifc #4472 "Flying Scotsman" and train is exhibited at the National museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa. It's itinerary was:
-August 20 - Sarnia
-August 21 - Hamilton, Burlington, Toronto
-September 08 - Toronto, Bellville, Ottawa
-September 09-17 - in Ottawa
-September 18 - Ottawa to Montreal
-September 18 - 27 on display near Virtu station
-September 28 - Montreal, Brockville, Kingston.
-September 30 - Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton
-October 01 - on display at Hamilton, on James Street
-October 02 - Hamilton to Niagara Falls
-October 31 - Brought back to Toronto, Spadina roundhouse for winter storage.
September 09, 1985
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian Pacific opened a bridge over the Lievre River at Buckingham to give direct access to Erco. The offical opening ceremony took place on October 2-3 with the attendance of three Canadian Pacific business cars; Lacombe, Ontario and #91.
September 09, 1997
In the Canadian province of Ontario, rail service is restored to the E.B. Eddy paper mill in Hull. Some four years earlier, changes in the mill eliminated the need for rail service and all plant trackage and the connection to the Canadian Pacific Waltham subdivision, which had used the former Hull Electric right-of-way, trackage and bridge over the Lachute subdivision at Hull, were removed. As the Waltham subdivision had also been lifted, access to the plant was regained by means of a spur connecting with the Lachute subdivision at the north end of the Prince of Whales Bridge. One storage siding was built on the site of the former six yard track and two delivery sidings were built, one interier, one exterior, on the mill side west of the intersection of Tache Boulevard and Montcalm Street. On September 09 buisness car "LaCombe" became the first "railborne" visitor to the new trackage.
September 10, 1860
The Prince of Wales, later to become England's King Edward VIII, traveled between Toronto and Collingwood, Ontario and return. The special train which consisted of two coaches and an open observation car, was hauled by Northern Railway 4-4-0 locomotive "Cumberland" and was in charge of Superintendant of Motive Power James Tillinghast with engineer L.S. Williams.
September 10, 1906
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Bank Street Subway, Ottawa, is opened under the Grand Trunk Railway. A temporary bridge was used until a permanent bridge was installed on the weekend of July 13-14 1907.
September 10, 1971
In the Canadian province of British Columbia, Pacific Great Eastern Railway's extension from Fort St. John to Fort Nelson was opened to traffic.
September 10, 1995
After 93 years of service, the Broadway Limited is discontinued.
September 10, 2005
In the state of Michigan, RailAmerica's Mid-Michigan Railroad begins operation on the former CSX line between West Olive and Fremont, via Muskegon. Mid-Michigan has trackage rights to Waverly Yard near Holland. CSX's Cannonball departed Muskegon's North Yard on September 09, taking all CSX power with it.
September 11, 1910
In Los Angeles, the Pacific Electric Railway places the first trackless trolley system in operation.
September 11, 1913
Oregon Electric's Orenco cutoff was completed
September 11, 1950
33 people were killed when a Pennsylvania Railroad troop train was struck by the Spirit of St. Louis express train near West Lafayette, Ohio.
Lima shipped it's last locomotive, a center cab diesel, to the Pennsylvania Railroad.
September 11, 1972
Regular service begins on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART).
September 12, 1850
The first rails were laid for the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, which was a predecessor to the Milwukee, St. Paul & Pacific.
September 12, 1859
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Brockville and Ottawa Railway was opened from Smiths Falls to Almonte. (My source of information however, indicates that this may have happened as early as August 22nd).
September 12, 1952
The first compartmentalized freight cars which were developed by the Pullman Standard Car Company and the Western Pacific Railroad were placed in service between Chcago and San Francisco.
September 12, 1996
Rocky Mountain Railtours runs the longest passener train in Canadian history. Three GP40 locomotives hauled 34 cars from Vancover to Kamloops.
From WHAS11.com:
Sept. 12, 2008
A commuter train engineer ran a red light while text messaging on his cell phone and struck a freight train head-on in Los Angeles, killing himself and 24 other people.
September 13, 1880
In the state of Michigan, the Port Huron & Detroit completes it's line from Croswell to Sand Beach (Harbor Beach).
September 13, 1882
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada Atlantic Railway opens from Coteau, Quebec to Ottawa, Elgin Street. A gaily decorated special train had been run for the directors on the 11th of September. The Company was originally incorporated as the Montreal and City of Ottawa Railway on May 15, 1879. The station was located at Catherine Street, near Elgin Street, where the Qweensway now is. The line was opened in sections as follows:
Coteau Junction to Casselman on 2/1/1882 (trains had started running on the first of January).
Casselman and South Indian (Limoges) by May 1882.
South Indian (Limoges) to Eastman Springs (Carlsbad Springs) by the 15th of July, 1882.
Eastman Springs (Carlsbad Springs) to September on 9/13/1882.
September 13, 1922
Railway shopmen end a two month strike.
September 13, 1928
The first demonstration of a Sperry rail detector car took place. The demonstration took place near Poughkeepski, New York before representatives of the American Railway Association.
September 30, 1980
Amtrak's westbound Crescent is the last U.S. Passenger train to be drawn by multiple E units.
September 13, 1982
The Interstate Commerce Commission approves the merger of the Union, Pacific, Western Pacific, and Missouri Pacific Railroads, creating a 22,000 mile system.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 September 13, 1880 In the state of Michigan, the Port Huron & Detroit completes it's line from Croswell to Sand Beach (Harbor Beach).
The railroad that opened on this date, between Port Huron and Sand Beach, was the Port Huron & Northwestern (it was originally a narrow-gauge line, and eventually became part of the Pere Marquette Railway). Sand Beach was nearly at the tip of the "Thumb"; the Port Huron & Detroit was a line that ran toward Detroit from Port Huron--not making it to Detroit and not making it into the PM. The mention of Croswell in the reference is probably because the line had been abandoned between Port Huron and Croswell sometime during the 1970s.
September 14, 1891
New York Central's Empire State Express makes a record run from New York to Buffalo (436 miles) in 7 hours, 6 minutes.
September 14, 1915
In Canada, a special funeral train conveys the body of Sir William C. Van Horne from Windsor Street station, Montreal to Joliette, Illinois. Departing at 11:00, it was hauled by 4-6-2 #2213. Nearly a mile of drapery was used in decorating the train and the front of the CPR station and office building.
September 14, 1944
29 people were killed in a train accident at Dewey, Indiana.
September 14, 1974
The longest underwater tunnel in the U.S. (3.6 miles), used by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), opens between San Francisco and Oakland, California.
September 14, 1975
In the state of Michigan, the PC team track west under the Broadway Bridge in Ann Arbor is removed to make room for passenger parking.
September 14, 1992
The first subway car was completed to be exported from the U.S. to Taiwan.
September 14, 1996
In Canada, York-Durham Heritage Railway commences operation over the former Canadian National line between Uxbridge and Stouffville, Ontario.
September 15, 1830
The Liverpool & Manchester Railway, the first passenger railway in the world, opens in England.
William Huskison becomes the world's first railroad-related casualty when he is killed by George Stephenson's "Rocket" during the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway in England.
September 15, 1831
The John Bull runs for the first time on the Camden and Amboy Railroad.
September 15, 1870
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada Central Railway opens on the provincial gauge (5' 6") from Chaudiere (Broad Street) to Carleton Place, then known as Carleton Junction. The inspection was carried out on this day Mr. J.H. Rowan of the Department of Public Works who found that "the work done on the line is of a good and permanent character, the stations, the rolling stock and other appurtanences being sufficient for the proper working of the road."
September 15, 1873
In the State of Michigan, on the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad near Lowell, four died and ten more were injured when a train was thrown from a track by running over a cow which had broken through a fence. The Coroner's jury ruled that the accident was unavoidable, as far as the railroad was concerned.
September 15, 1885
The famous circus elephant, "Jumbo" was killed by a Grand Trunk Railway freight train hauled by locomotive #788 at St. Thomas. It was struck from behind while being lead along the track to be loaded into his car. Jumbo stood 12' 5" high and weighed 7 1/2 tons. The Globe and Mail from the 26th of October of 1951 had the following commentary:
"Jumbo, the Barnum circus elephant killed in St. Thomas on the evening of Sept 15, 1885, literally attacked the old Grand Trunk freight locomotive which struck it. Fred R. Arnum, retired veteran train dispatcher, said today, in breaking a long silence on the tradgedy. Mr. Arnum was night operator for the Grand Trunk at the time and is the only one of the 38 railway witnesses who gave evidence at the inquiry in New York City, still living. He was there for two weeks giving his testimony.
"Mr. Arnum said a circus official disregarded specific instructions given him not to start loading the circus animals until after 9:55 O'clock on the night of the accident and also not until after a yard crew was sent to assist. The locomotive of a westbound freight struck Jumbo in the east yards at 8:18 O'clock.
"Mr. Arnum said that when Jumbo saw his danger he reared up on his rear legs and struck at the locomotive with such force that he cut off the smokestack. One of the Cylinder heads struck the elephant's tusk, driving it back into it's head. Jumbo did not breath his last until 4 o'clock the following morning."
September 15, 1896
Two steam locomotives were deliberately collided in the Great Train Wreck near Waco, Texas before a crowd of 30,000 spectators. Two men were killed and many more were injured by rhe resulting boiler explosions.
September 15, 1907
24 people were killed in a train accident at Cannan, New Jersey.
September 15, 1922
Federal Judge James Wilkerson issues an injunction banning all strike activities against the railroads, breaking a nationwide strike by 400,000 railroad workers.
September 15, 1984
In the state of Michigan, Chessie runs their last train over their Hartford-Paw Paw branch. The line would be reopened on September 8, 1987 as the Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago.
Railroad magnate James Jerome J.J. Hill in 1838 was born.
September 16, 1838
Railroad builder and founder of the Great Northern Railway was born on this date.
September 16, 1872
Construction of the East Broad Top Railroad begins.
September 16, 1875
The first Fast Mail train departs New York's Grand Central Station.
September 16, 1898
In the state of Michigan, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern standardizes the color of all passenger stations and freight houses to a new color which matches the olive green color of their passenger cars. This replaced the yellow tint that most stations had received up to this point.
September 16, 1900
The first electric interurban car arrived in Flint, Michigan.
September 16, 1901
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit and Charlevoix Railroad completed it's line from Frederic to East Jordan.
September 16, 1903
In the state of Michigan, the Toledo Railway and Terminal Company completes it's belt line around the city of Toledo and celebrates by taking hundreds of citizens on a tour of the line. It is later known as the Toledo Terminal Railroad.
September 16, 1929
In the state of Michigan, the Michigan Central completes the construction of a new coaling tower and associated buildings just east of Clarendon, on the Air Line Branch.
September 16, 1931
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian National is authorized to operate over a diversion of the Beachburg subdivision between mile 35 and mile 37.5. This was required to keep the line clear of the lake formed by the Chats falls power dam.
September 16, 1985
Conrail moves Pennsylvania Railroad K4 4-6-2 #1361 from Horseshoe Curve and replaces it with a PRR GP9.
September 17, 1832
Seventeteen months after it was formally opened, the first railroad in the Mississippi Valley, the Ponchartrain RR, placed it's first steam locomotive, the Ponchartrain, into regular service.
September 17, 1873
The Panic of 1873 was sparked by the failure of Jay Cooke & Company, which was involved in the financing of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
September 17, 1909
The first trolley car crosses over the Queensborough bridge in New York.
September 17, 1896
In the Canadian Province of Ontario, Central Depot is owned by Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound and Canada Atlantic Railways.The building was originally Dufresne and McTaggart's wholesale grocery warehouse that had previously been converted to a militia store.
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit and Mackinac RR opens a new connection from Emery Junction to Bay City with a train full of newspaper men from Bay City. It is offically opened to the public on September 20th at noon. The D & M's annual report stated that the line had low grades and easy curves, and had already handled as many as 74 loaded freight cars over the extension at one time.
September 17, 1911
The Crooked River Bridge is placed in service on the Oregon Trunk.
September 17, 1932
In the state of Michigan, the DT&I discontinues all passenger service in Michigan, leaving only passenger service between Springfield and Jackson, Ohio.
September 17, 1933
In the state of Michigan, the Grand Trunk Western moves their Lake Michigan railroad car ferry terminal from Grand Haven to Muskegon.
September 17, 1967
The Mount Washington Cog RAILWY TRAIN derailed, killing 8 people.
September 17, 1989
Steam-powered passenger service returns to the Grand Canyon.
September 18, 1877
The Bass gang pulls off the largest train robbery of that time, taking $60,000 from a Union Pacific Train near Big Spring,Nebraska
September 18, 1893
The Great Northern Railway completed it's transcontinental route near Everett, Washington.
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway is opened between Ottawa and Arnprior. The company was formed on the 18th of May, 1891 through the amalgamation of the Ottawa and Parry Sound Railway with the Ottawa, Arnprior and Renfrew Railway. The various sections were completed as follows:
Arnprior to Eganville - December 18, 1893
Eganville to Barry's Bay - October 01, 1894
September 18, 1932
From Ottawa's Hull Street and Light Railway History: The Rockcliff streetcar barn burns for the second time. Seven streetcars and six pieces of work equipment were destroyed in the fire. The building was demolished by the Federal District Commission in 1946.
September 18, 1937
The Canadian speed record for a steam locomotive in Canada was set at 112.5 MPH by a Montreal Locomotive Works Jubilee F2a class 4-4-4.
September 18, 1999
In Canada, Trillium Rail takes over operation of 41 miles of industrial trackage in Ontario's Niagara peninsula comprising sections of the Cayuga sub, and the Thorold, Canal, Grantham, Fonthill, Town Line and West Welland spurs. The lines will be operated by a Trillium subsidiary, the Port Colborne Terminal RY.
September 18, 2003
In the state of Michigan, Cleveland Cliffs announces that the Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad will be absorbed into CC as a division. Since 2001, CC has purchased the remaining shares of stock not owned by the company.
September 19, 1838
The first patent for a railroad brake is issued to Ephraim Morris of Bloomfield, New Jersey.
September 19, 1839
In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, the official opening of the Albion Mines Railway took place between Albion Coal Mines and New Glasgow, N.S. using the Timothy Hackworth steam locomotives "Samson", "Hercules" and "John Buddle" imported from England.
September 19, 1854
Patent # 11,699 was issued to Henry B. Myer for a mode of converting the backs of car seats into beds or lounges.
September 19, 1870
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan opens their line from Ionia to Greenville. The line was officially opened on October 14th.
September 19, 1905
The Durango to Farmington branch was completed on the Denver & Rio Grand Western Railroad.
September 19, 1921
Railroad officials are arrested in Chicago for denying workers two hours to vote.
September 19, 1959
The nation's first steam locomotive builder, Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns, Ltd, announces it is going out of business.
September 19, 1982
Streetcars stop running on San Francisco's Market Street after 122 years of service.
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