May 31,1910
Emma Goldman, 40, the famed “apostle of anarchy,” narrowly escaped death when the auto she was riding in was hit by a freight train on Division Street in Spokane.
A Spokane auto enthusiast was giving her a ride when he tried to go around an idle railcar at the Division Street crossing. When the driver got around the railcar he was horrified to see a train engine bearing down on them. The occupants jumped to safety and Goldman was hurled 10 feet.
MAY 28, 1869
Cheyenne Indians destroyed a section of the Union Pacific Railroad near Fossil Creek, Kansas.
MAY 28, 1905
In the state of Michigan, the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena Railroad incorporated, taking over the operations from the Boyne City & Southeastern Railroad.
MAY 28, 1977
In Canada, the Ontario Northland Railway begins to operate two of four used TEE (Trans-Europ-Express) train sets purchased from the Swiss and Dutch Railways. The ONR called them "The Northlander" and used them on daytime service between Toronto and Timmins.
MAY 28, 1990
An Alaska Railroad train of 70 cars derails near Dunbar with 19 cars leaving the track and at least seven rupturing. Some 170,000 gallons of diesel fuel and jet fuel spill, prompting a massive response by the railroad, contractors and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Within three weeks, the railroad had the majority of the spill cleaned up and had prepared a long range plan for ADEC approval. The total bill for the cleanup operation reached $6 billion dollars.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
MAY 27, 1794
Corneniuls Vanderbilt was born on this date.
MAY 27, 1836
Jay Gould, U.S. railroad executive and financier was born on this date.
MAY 27, 1875
In the state of Michigan, C. Moore, an employee of the Grand Trunk, stepped in between two cars to pull the pin, and caught his foot in the frog. He was killed instantly. The Coronor's jury ruled the case an accident. In future years, the Michigan Railroad Commission required railroads to affix a plank board in the frog to minimize this common killer of railroad employees.
MAY 27, 1895
The Supreme Court upholds the federal government's 1894 injunction against Eugene Debs. Debs, who was born in 1855, left school at the age of 14 and went to work as a painter in railroad yards. He became a locomotive fireman in 1870, and would find himself actively involved in the Brothrhood of Locomotive Fireman by 1880. Debs was a member of the Democratic party and was elected to the Indiana Legislature in 1884. In 1993 Debs was elected the first president of the American Railway Union. In 1984 George Pullman, the president of the Pullman Pallace Car Company, decided to reduce the wage of his workers. When the company refused arbitration, the ARU called a strike. The strike itself spread to 27 states. The attorney-general, Richard Olney, sought an injunction against the Pullman Strike under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. As a result of Olney's action, Debs was arrested and despite being defended by Clarence Darrow, was imprisoned. The case came before the Supreme Court in 1895. David Brewer spoke for the court on the 27th of May, explaining why he refused the ARU's appeal. This decision was a great setback for the trade union movement. While serving time in Woodstock Prison, Debs had read a number of Karl Marx's books and by the time he had left prison in 1895 he had become a socialist. Debs ran for the presidency in 1900 against William McKinnley, but only received a very small percentage of the overall votes.
MAY 27, 1897
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit & Lima Northern Railroad operates the first train over the 14 mile extension from Adrian to Tecumseh.
MAY 26, 1934
Burlington's Pioneer Zephyr, the first streamlined diesel-electric train, makes a non-stop run from Denver to Chicago in 13 hours, 5 minutes. It is the first train to run over a 1000 miles nonstop.
MAY 26, 1946
Southern Railway takes delivery of the 6100 road freight diesel-electric locomotive, Southern's first F-type freight diesel.
The United States government lifts control of the railroads after an accord ends a nation-wide strike.
MAY 25, 1977
In the Canadian Province of Ontario, Canadian National is authorized to remove the interlocking signals at the crossing of the Rideau Canal in Smiths Falls and install stop signals at each approach to the crossing.
MAY 25, 1865
The first Bessemer steel rails in the United States were turned out at Chicago Rolling Mills. By the end of the century, steel rails had almost completely replaced iron.
MAY 25, 1883
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Ontario Pacific Charter was granted new lines. The main line was to continue from French River to Sault Ste. Marie while the one branch line would leave at Newington instead of Cornwall and continue from Smiths Falls to Almonte. A third branch was added to run off from between Renfrew and Eganville to Pembroke.
MAY 25, 1903
In Scranton, Pennsylvania, the lackawana & Wyoming Valley Railroad becomes the first railroad to be powered by an electrified third rail system.
MAY 25, 1927
In the state of Michigan, the interurban line from Wyandotte to Trenton is abandoned.
MAY 25, 1945
The New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad becomes the first railroad in the United States to be fully equipped with diesel-electric locomotives.
MAY 25, 1970
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Regular Turbo train operation is resumed between Montreal and Toronto. It was withdrawn on February 1st, 1971.
MAY 25, 2006
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Keewatin commences operation over the line from Sherritt Junction to Lynn Lake, Manitoba.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816MAY 24, 1830 Pasenger and freight service opened up on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad between Baltimore and Endicott's Mills, Maryland 913 miles0.
MAY 24, 1830
Pasenger and freight service opened up on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad between Baltimore and Endicott's Mills, Maryland 913 miles0.
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)
MAY 24, 1844
The telegraph was introduced on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
MAY 24, 1908
The following incident happened on Ottawa's Hull Street Railway: There was a collission between two cars on the Britannia Line. E.A. Bredenbury, a London, England mining engineer, was injured in the accident and had a leg amputated. He was awarded $30,000 in damages on the 12th of January 1909. This resulted in a stringent set of regulations not allowing passengers to ride the front platforms nor engage in conversation with motormen as well as the space intervals allowed between the cars.
MAY 24, 1915
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Glengarry and Stormont Railway opens between St. Polycarpe Junction (Soulanges) and Cornwall. Tracklaying was completed on the 30th of November 1914 and the event was celebrated by a dinner in Williamstown on the 2nd of December. This left balast work and stations etc. to be completed. A Canadian Pacific Inspection train was run over the unfinished line on the 20th of March and the company was leased to the Canadian Pacific June 1, 1915.
MAY 24, 1931
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad introduces the first all air-conditioned passenger train, the Columbian, between New York and Washington, D.C.
MAY 24, 1961
The Milwaukee Road's Olympian Hiawatha made it's final run.
MAY 23, 1870
The first train to run coast to coast, the Pullman Express departed Boston.
MAY 23, 1887
Canada's first transcontinental train arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Canadian Pacific mainline in British Columbia is extended 12.2 miles along Burrard Inlet to Vancouver. The first train into Vancouver is pulled by Port Moody based locomotive #374, which is now preserved at the Vancouver Drake Street Roundhouse.
MAY 23, 1891
The first chapel car, the Evengel is dedicated in Cincinnati, Ohio. The car was fitted for religious services and used on the Northern Pacific Railroad.
MAY 23, 1946
Rail unions in the United States go on strike despite the government's seizure of the railroads.
MAY 23, 1952
President Truman orders that railroads be returned to the owners after 21 months of control by the army.
MAY 23, 1967
In Canada, "Go Transit" is inauguarated by the province of Ontario between Pickering, Ontario, Oakville and Hamilton under an operating agreement with the Canadian National.
MAY 23, 1989
Amtrak begins service to Atlantic City, New Jersey.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816MAY 15, 1952On the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, the Scribner Turn is initiated, ending ten years of alternating swithching between Hillyard and Yardley.
On the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, the Scribner Turn is initiated, ending ten years of alternating swithching between Hillyard and Yardley.
I believe that name was actually what they called a SP&S freight train which ran from Spokane (NP Yardley) out to Scribner, and then turned back and ended at Yardley again. I'm going to guess that the SP&S didn't serve many, or any, customers in Spokane back then, but they interchanged with GN and NP in the city. Their own line ended west of town, at Fort Wright Junction, and then they had their own yard, Scribner, several miles to the SW in Marshall, about half way down to Cheney. Thus the Scribner Turn would have left Yardley, crossed the Spokane River on the Mission Ave Bridge, and gone to Hillyard. From there they would have used the GN mainline to Fort Wright Junction.
MAY 22, 1868
The Great Train Robbery occurred when seven members of the Reno gang held up an Indianapolis bound Jefferson, Madison & Indianapolis train at Marshalfield, Indiana. The gang made off with $98,000 friom a safe in the express car.
MAY 22, 1909
Georgia railroad workers went on strike against the employment of negroes.
MAY 22, 1930
In the state of Michigan, the Pere Marquette puts car ferry City of Flint #32 into Lake Michigan service, it's 7th all-steel car ferry. At that point, the Pere Marquette was the largest operator of car ferries in the world.
MAY 22, 1941
In Canada, as part of the war effort, the first Canadian tank, the Mark III is produced at the Canadian Pacific Angus Shops in Montreal. On June 30th that year, Montreal Locomotive Works produced the first M-3 (modified) Cruiser tank.
FROM ARCAMAX HISTORY & QUOTES FOR MAY 22, 2010:
In 1868, seven members of the Reno gang stole $98,000 from a railway car at Marshfield, Ind. It was the original "Great Train Robbery."
MAY 21, 1852
The Northern Indiana Railroad was the first railroad to run a train into Chicago from the east.
MAY 21, 1877
At Altoona, Pennsylvania, Alexander Graham Bell's assistants begin tests which result in the permanent installation of telephones in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops.
MAY 21, 1881
In the state of Michigan, Thomas A. Scott, former President of the Pennsylvania Railroad passed away at the age of 56. He had relinquished the Presidency in June of 1880.
MAY 21, 1897
On what would become the Ottawa division of the New York Central, the Ottawa Pacific became the Ottawa & New York Railway and was to build from the border at Cornwall to Ottawa.
MAY 21, 1900
In the Canadian Province of Ontario, Hull Electric begins regular streetcar service to Britannia. The first trial run had taken place on December 18, 1899.
MAY 21, 1927
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific's Pioneer Limited becomes the first Pullman train to be completely equipped with roller bearings.
MAY 21, 1932
In an effort to promote ticket sales, the Missouri Pacific Railroad had run the first Mystery Excursion from St. Louis. Passengers purchased tickets without knowing their destination until they arrived, which turned out to be Arcadia, Missouri.
In the state of Michigan, the Houghton Street Railway Company ceased operations.
MAY 21, 1939
King George VI and Queen Elizebeth, on their tour of Canada by train, passed through Cornwall, Ontario on eastbound trip. The royal couple stood on the observation platform of the last car to wave to all the Cornwallites as the train slowed to go through the city.
MAY 21, 1948
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Stormont Electric & Power Company was merged into Cornwall Street Railway, Light & Power Company.
MAY 21, 1985
In the state of Michigan, a Plymouth 35-ton gas mechanical locomotive arrives on the Southern Michigan Railroad in Tecumseh. It is donated by the Albion Maleable division of Hayes-Albion Corporation in Albion.
MAY 20, 1830
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad published the first railroad timetable.
MAY 20, 1879
In Canada, the Department of Railways and Canals comes into effect with a Minister having jurisdiction over all railways pertaining to the Dominion Government. Previously this function had been covered by the Department of Public Works.
MAY 20, 1880
The Southern Pacific Railroad reached Tucson, Arizona.
MAY 20 1899
In the state of Michigan, the Ypsilanti & Saline Electric Railway opnes a line from Ypsilanti to Saline.
MAY 20, 1926
The Railway Labor Act became law.
MAY 20, 1956
E-1 class 4-8-4 #700 of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway made her final run and then was retired. We are extremely fortunate that the SP&S did not scrap her, as she was restored for special excursion service during the late 1980's or early 1990's. 700 shares roundhouse space with ex-Southern Pacific GS-4 #4449 in Portland, Oregon.
MAY 20, 1961
Grand Trunk Western's steam locomotive #5632 was donated to the city of Durand, Michigan.
MAY 20, 1998
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian Pacific announces the discontinuance of service on the Prescott subdivision of the St. Lawrence and Hudson (originally Bytown and Prescott Railway) between Kemptville and Leitrim Road. The rails were removed in May of 1999.
MAY 19, 1851
The first train on the Erie railroad reached the railroad's teminus at Dunkirk, New York on Lake Erie.
MAY 19, 1909
The Puget Sound extension of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul & Pacific Railway was completed.
MAY 19, 1918
The U.S. Government provides $1 billion to railroads for upkeep.
MAY 19, 1920
In the state of Michigan, the Pennsylvania Railroad begins passenger service from Detroit to eastern cities.
MAY 19, 1955
Noting that there were still 6500 coal burning steam locomotives in service, the National Coal Association protests that a planned ceremony by the Interstate Commerce Commission to commemorate the passing of steam locomotives from America's transportation scene is premature.
MAY 19, 1974
Amtrak's Super Chief is renamed to the Southwest Limited.
MAY 19, 1990
Alaska Railroad passenger service begins using new passenger equipment for daily express service between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
MAY 18, 1896
In Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court upholds Louisiana's Jim Crow Law which required railroads to provide equal but separate accomodations for the wite and colorored races. This seperate, but equal doctrine remained in place for 58 years until it was reversed by the Court in Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka.
MAY 18, 1901
Striking railroad workers in Albany, New York are forced back on the job by the state militia.
MAY 17, 1853
Ten railroad companies agree to form the nation's first important railroad merger, creating the New York Central Railroad System.
MAY 17, 1882
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Ontario Pacific Railway was created to build from Cornwall to Ottawa and on to French River, with branch lines from Cornwall running to Smiths Falls and Moira.
MAY 17, 1895
The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway, the first electric elevated railroad, opened in Chicago.
MAY 17, 1914
The Canadian Northern Ontario Railway became a part of the Canadian Northern Railway.
MAY 17, 1915
In the state of Michigan, the Michigan Traction line was completed from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids.
MAY 17, 1934
On the Ottawa division of the New York Central, the New York Central bridges were opened to automobile traffic to share the bridge with trains. The Cornwall-Northern New York International Bridge Company operated the bridge and collected the toll fees.
MAY 17, 1945
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), advocates radio frequencies for use by railroads.
MAY 17, 1957
The Canadian National opened a 40 mile diversion of it's Montreal to Toronto main line, which was required in the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
MAY 17, 1946
The U.S. government seized railroads to avert a strike.
MAY 17, 1961
The last steam locomotive to be used in passenger terminal switching service, Dallas Union Terminal 0-6-0 #7 is replaced by a diesel.
MAY 17, 1965
The Canadian National officially opens it's Macmillan marshalling yard in Toronto.
MAY 17, 1970
In the state of Michigan, three young bandits (idiots) boarded a freight train as it entered Detroit. They held the conductor at gunpoint and broke into two freight cars. The robbery, which was believed to be Detroit's first train robbery, netted the thieves baby strollers, bassinets and rattles!
MAY 17, 1996
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian National abandoned the Beachburg subdivision from Pembroke (mile post 89.20) to Nipissing (mile post 215.36) through Algonquin Provincial Park. The last train ran over this line through Algonquin Park on November 24, 1995, (train 101 with CN 9551 westbound and train 114 with CN 9542 eastbound) after which time trains only operated east from Pembroke to Ottawa. Track removal was completed by Cando Contacting by September 1997.
MAY 17, 2005
Also in the Canadian province of Ontario, on what had been part of the Ottawa division of the New York Central, former Cornwall Street Railway locomotive #17 was moved from in front of the Cornwall Water Purification Plant to the southeast corner of Brookdale Avenue and Ninth Street West.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816MAY 15, 1934 In the state of Michigan, a joint operating agreement with the Mineral Range Railroad between Houghton and Calumet was discontinued.
MAY 15, 1934
In the state of Michigan, a joint operating agreement with the Mineral Range Railroad between Houghton and Calumet was discontinued.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816MAY 16, 1956 The Interstate Commerce Commission gave full appoval to the purchase of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy) by the Union Pacific through it's subsidiary, the Missouri Pacific.
MAY 16, 1956
The Interstate Commerce Commission gave full appoval to the purchase of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy) by the Union Pacific through it's subsidiary, the Missouri Pacific.
MAY 16, 1853
The Toronto, the first steam locomotive to be manufactured in Canada, made it's first run on the Ontario, Simcoe, & Huron Union Railway.
The first section of the Illinois Central Railroad is completed from LaSalle to Bloomington, Illinois.
MAY 16, 1879
In the state of Michigan, the Toledo and Ann Arbor Railroad is opened from Ann Arbor to Toledo.
MAY 16, 1883
The Denver & Rio Grande Railway reached Ogden, Utah.
MAY 16, 1885
The last spike of the eastern section of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven by Liutenant-Colonel Oswald of the Montreal Light Infantry with W.C. Van Horne in attendance at a point between the Jackfish Tunnel and the Blackbird River tresstle on the north shore of Lake Superior. The Colonel and his men were on their way to put down the Second Northwest Rebellion.
MAY 16, 1897
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Hull Electric opened it's new double tracked line between Hull and Aylmer, including a bridge over the Canadian Pacific Railway and extended from Aylmer to a new park (One Tree Point, later named Victoria Park) on Lake Deschene.
The New York Central unveiled it's new, lightweight Xplorer streamliner.
MAY 16, 1975
In the state of Michigan, Grand Trunk Western closed agencies at Cass City, Pigeon and Imlay City.
MAY 16, 1996
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian Pacific runs the last train (headed by #3111) out of the terminal at Walkley Yard. Beginning the next day until the yard's ultimate demise on November 11, 1997, all trains to Ottawa originated at Smiths Falls with Walkley Yard used simply to facilitate a transfer to the Gatineau road switcher.
MAY 15, 1907
Service begins over the entire length of the Yosemite Valley Railroad.
MAY 15, 1879
In the Canadian province of Quebec, the Napanee, Tamworth & Quebec Railway was incorporated.
MAY 15, 1891
In the state of Michigan, the Chicago & Northwestern opens a line from North Escanaba to Loop Line Junction (branch to Iron River).
The Yosemite Valley Railroad begins service from Merced to El Portal.
MAY 15, 1915
In the state of Michigan, the Delray Connecting Railroad receives trackage rights on 10 miles of Detroit, Toledo & Ironton track, from Detroit to the Solvay quarry at Sibley.
MAY 15, 1952
MAY 15, 1974
Amtrak's Texas Chief was renamed to the Lone Star.
MAY 14, 1851
President Millard Fillmore is present for the opening of the first direct rail route from the Hudson River to Lake Erie on the New York & Erie Railroad connecting Piermont, New York with Dunkirk, New York (on Lake Erie). It was built at 6 foot guage, making it both the broadest guage in the U.S., and the longest mainline in the world at that point in railroad history.
MAY 14, 1875
In the Canadian province of Ontario, there was a ceremony for the turning of the first sod of the L'Original and Caledonia Railway at Treadwell Hill, just outside L'Original. Some work was done but the line was never opened to traffic.
MAY 14, 1906
Oregon Electric Railway Incorporated.
MAY 14, 1909
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad completed it's line to Seattle.
MAY 14, 1945
The Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway received the frist road switcher from Alco, an RS-1 #52.
MAY 14, 1980
In the state of Michigan, the Lenawee County Railroad dedicates a new two-bay engine house in Adrian.
MAY 13, 1829
America's first steam locomotive, the Stourebridge Lion arrived in New York from England for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company.
MAY 13, 1861
In the state of Michigan, the first movement of troops by rail occurred on the Amboy, Lansing and Traverse City from Landsing to Bath.
MAY 13, 1933
Passenger service on the Oregon Electric Railway was discontinued.
MAY 13, 1968
The Santa Fe Chief made it's final run.
MAY 12, 1879
In the state of Michigan, the Port Huron and Northwestern Railway opened a line from Port Huron to Croswell.
MAY 12, 1884
The first through train between Ottawa and Toronto over the Ottawa and Quebec Railway (Canadian Pacific) newly opened from Perth to Toronto. Regular through trains between Montreal and Toronto commenced over this route on July 28, 1884.
MAY 12, 1936
The Santa Fe's Super Chief made it's maiden run.
MAY 12, 1955
A crowd of about 850 people ride on the final run of New York's longest operating elevated railroad, the 3rd Avenue El, which had been in service for almost 80 years.
MAY 12, 1989
The last graffitti covered New York City subway car is retired.
MAY 11, 1892
The first locomotive to be owned by an industrial company, the Whitin Machine Works of Whitinsville, Massachussetts, is placed in service.
MAY 11, 1893
New York Central's engine #999 sets a world speed record of 112.5 MPH near Batavia, New York. This record would hold for over 12 years.
MAY 11, 1894
Workers at the Pullman Pallace Car Company go on strike in protest of wage cuts.
MAY 11, 1956
The Chicago & Northwestern dieselized it's Chicago commutor trains.
MAY 11, 1961
Canadian National installs Canada;s first hot axle box detector near Coteau, Quebec.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816MAY 10, 1955 In the state of Michigan, the mechanical interlocking tower at Clare is changed to an automatic interlocker.
MAY 10, 1955
In the state of Michigan, the mechanical interlocking tower at Clare is changed to an automatic interlocker.
MAY 10, 1855
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Bytown and Prescott Railway officially opened. The railway changed it's name to Ottawa and Prescott later that year.
MAY 10, 1869
The Golden Spike ceremony completing the Transcontinental Railroad was held at Promontory Point, Utah.
MAY 10, 1893
The Empire State Express makes the first 100 MPH run between Syracuse and Buffalo, New York.
MAY 10, 1912
J. H. Young becomes the 5th President of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
MAY 10, 1946
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian Pacific passenger train #7, "The Dominion" westbound, hit an open vandalized switch just west of Renfrew station and the locomotive, Royal Hudson 2858 and a baggage car rolled onto their sides. There were no injuries. Auxiliary cranes from Smiths Falls and Chalk River rerailed them. 2858 is currently sitting in the locomotive bay at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa.
MAY 10, 1948
All railroads in the United States are seized by the federal government in order to forestall an national strike.
MAY 10, 2008
In the Canadian province of Ontario, a landslide near the track causes the Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Railway to suspend excursion service until such time as a long term agreement can be reached between the owner of the train and the municipalities which own the railway track right of way.
Promontory Point, Promontory Summit, and the Golden Spike
Paul, thanks for noting that. Sometimes I think that it's named incorrectly more than it's done right!
Now we all sometimes say things we'd like to take back. But on this general subject, here's a question I'm glad that I didn't ask. Promontory Summit is in a very remote spot, and reportedly a visitor to the Golden Spike NHS once asked a ranger: "Couldn't you have put this closer to the Interstate?"
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 MAY 09, 1902 - In the state of Michigan, Anthracite coal miners went on strike with a far-reaching effect.
I didn't know Michigan had anthracite deposits . . .
If Pennsylvania was intended instead, this source -
"The Coal Strike of 1902
This is text from U.S. Department of Labor Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy
The Coal Strike of 1902 – Turning Point in U.S. Policy
This web site is The Department of Labor
The Federal Government, with the Commissioner of Labor in a factfinding role, acted as a 'neutral' for the first time in contributing to settlement of the bitter coal strike
By Jonathan Grossman"
at - http://www.upto11.net/generic_wiki.php?q=coal_strike_of_1902 - says - at the 3rd para. under the heading The coal strike of 1902 at about 1/4 of the way down the page - "The miners struck on May 12, 1902."
The only event that I could find on the date of May 09, 1902 was this, cited in footnote 15 and the accompanying text, which is the 2nd para. also under the same heading The coal strike of 1902:
"15. Letter, George F. Baer to John Mitchell, May 9, 1902, Wright, "Report to the President," pp. 1186-87."
George F. Baer was the President of the Philadelphia & Reading - at least the Coal & Iron Co., and likely the Railroad as well. In this context, he was the spokesman for the "coal operators" = mine owners = management. John Mitchell was then the 32-year old and to-be legendary President of the 4-year old United Mine Workers union.
Interestingly, at the start of this article, the following appears at the beginning of the 2nd paragraph:
[President Theodore] "Roosevelt, who had been injured a month earlier when his carriage was hit by a trolley car, sat in his wheelchair pleading with representatives of management and labor." [emphasis added - PDN]
- Paul North.
One of the morning hosts/ announcers on our local NPR station - WDIY-FM, 88.1, Bethlehem, PA - was informed and careful enough to point out that it was at Promontory Summit, not Promontory Point, as many people mistakenly assume or think.
Let's see - 150 years = sesqicentennial, would be May 10, 2019 = 9 years from now. Mark your calendars now to save the date ! Will I see you there ?
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