If anyone would like to know what my source of information is in regards to railroad history in the state of Michigan, it all comes from Michigan's Railroad History Museum (BRHX).
Carl, Thanks for the link, I really enjoyed a couple of the photos!
Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!
October 05, 1898
In the state of Michigan, a new interlocking plant and tower is proposed in Clare for the crossing of the Flint & Pere Marquette and Ann Arbor Railroad. It is a 16 lever Union Switch & Signal frame. The tower is located across from the union depot.
I was amazed at this one, because the depot at Clare also included a tower right at the crossing. But the first thing that comes up on Google when you ask for a photograph of the station at Clare is a shot that includes both the station, complete with tower, and the interlocking tower across the AA track from it:
http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Stations/CountyStations/ClareStations/ClareMI.htm
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)
October 05, 1895
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit, Delray & Dearborn Railroad completed a line from Delray to (west) Dearborn.
October 05, 1932
In the state of Michigan, the last car is operated on the Detroit to Toledo interurban line.
October 05, 1937
In the state of Michigan, the Michigan Railroad Club was formed. It remains that state's oldest railfan organization.
October 05, 1975
In the state of Michigan, the Pere Marquette 1225 2-8-4, is steam tested on the Michigan State University Campus. The locomotive, which was on static display at MSP, was eventually moved to the Steam Railroad Institute in Owosso for operation.
October 05, 2008
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Ottawa Central Railway and the Counties of Pontiac and Renfrew sponsor a train fro elected representatives to foster the idea of a commutor train running from Ottawa Valley towns into Ottawa. The train ran between Ottawa, Walkley Yard via the Beachburg subdivision to Beachburg with stops at Norway Bay Golf Club in both directions.
October 04, 1873
The Grand Trunk Railway regauged it's Toronto to Montreal mainline to standard gauge.
October 04, 1904
This was the first day that the New York City Subway had 350,000 riders.
October 04, 1922
The Canadian National Railway Company became a corporate entity.
October 04, 1967
Santa Fe President John Reed announces that the railroad plans to drop all but a handful of first class passenger trains.
October 04, 1969
The last wooden passenger subway cars were retired at Brooklyn.
October 04, 1970
The first excursion train was operated on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway.
October 04, 1980
In the state of Michigan, the Chessie System (formerly Chesapeake & Ohio Railway) drops the car ferry route between Ludington and Milwaukee.
October 04, 1981
Amtrak's Chicago to East Peoria Prairie Marksman is discontinued.
October 04, 2007
Canadian Pacific Railway completed it's acquisition of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad.
From Arcamax History & Quotes:
October 4
In 1883, the Orient Express train made it first run.
October 03-04, 1873
The Grand Trunk Railway converts the gauge of it's line between Stratford and Montreal, 421 miles together with 60 miles of sidings from 5'6" to the standard gauge of 4' 8 1/2" The track work was completed in 24 hours and occasioned but 16 hours interuption in the use of the main line.
October 03, 1882
In the state of Michigan, the Port Huron & Southwestern completes it's line from Port Huron to Almont - the Almont branch. It is consolidated into the Port Huron & Northwestern on 12/9/1882.
October 03, 1883
In the state of Michigan, the first Pontiac, Oxford, and Port Austin Railroad passenger train reached Caseville.
October 03, 1920
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian Pacific's Chaudiere Junction, the junction where the line from Prescott diverged to run to the Chaudiere and Sussex Street, is renamed Ellwood.
October 03, 1995
In the Canadian province of Quebec, Canadian Pacific abandoned it's Lachute subdivision east of Thurso to St. Augustin.
From railwaystation.com:
OCTOBER 03 1837 The Sandusky, the first locomotive equipped with a whistle makes it's first run from Patterson to New Brunswick, NJ. OCTOBER 03 1937 Railroad unions win 44 cent per day pay raise.
October 02, 1851
In the state of Michigan, Judge Chamberlain, of the Lake Circuit Court in South Bend, granted an injunction against the Michigan Central, forbidding them from crossing the tracks of the Northern Indiana Railroad. It also forbid them from building a railroad from Michigan City to the west line of the state. This led to suits and counter suits, and the MCRR went ahead and crossed the Northern Indiana at what later became Porter, Indiana. The MCRR finally won at the United States Supreme Court.
October 02, 1855
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit & Milwaukee reached Fentonville from Pontiac.
October 02, 1872
Conrad Doyle, an engineer for the Michigan Central, sat down on an adjacent track while waiting at Grand Trunk Junction (West Detroit), fell asleep, and was struck by a passing train and killed.
Colorado's second largest narrow gauge railroad, the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railway was incorporated.
October 02, 1882
In the state of Michigan, William Ashley sells his graded line from South Lyon to Pontiac. It later became the Grand Trunk Western's Jackson Branch.
When he was asked whether he operates his railroads for the benefit of the public, William Vanderbilt responded by saying, "The public be damned! What does the public for railroads except to get as much out of them for as little consideration as possible!"
October 02, 1960
Steam power is run for the last time on the Illinois Central.
October 02, 03, 1966
The first and only Southern Railway steam specials originate from Washington Union Station. All future specials would originate from Alexandria Virginia.
October 01, 1834
A patent was issued to Ross Winans for the first locomotive with six or eight drive wheels.
October 01, 1861
Theodore Judah recommends the Donnor Pass route for the Central Pacific through the Sierra Nevada mountains.
October 01, 1901
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Pontiac Pacific Junction Railway is authorized to open from a point on the Canadian Pacific near Hull station to a junction with the Ottawa Northern and Western Railway in Hull.
October 01, 1905
The Grand Trunk assumed control of the 460 mile Canada Atlantic system by agreement dated August 15, 1904.
October 01, 1931
Cotton Belt's Blue Streak freight service begins.
October 01, 1943
T.F. Dixon became Vice President & General Manager of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
October 01, 1964
San Francisco's cable cars were declared a national landmark.
October 01, 1967
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's "Fast Mail" made it's final run.
October 01, 1979
Amtrak's National Limited, Lone Star, North Coast Hiawatha and Hilltopper were discontinued.
October 01, 1988
In the Canadian province of New Foundland, narrow gauge operations came to an end.
October 01, 1993
In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway commences operation over the former Canadian National line between Sydney and Truro.
October 01, 1996
The St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway was formed by merging the Canadian Pacific Rail routes in southern Ontario and Quebec with it's Delaware and Hudson subsidiary in northern USA. The STLH name was first used about June 1 although the legal entity was not established until after October 1.
September 30, 1872
In the state of Michigan, the Northern Central Michigan Railroad extends it's line from Albion to Eaton Rapids.
September 30, 1877
The Southern Pacific entered Arizona at Yuma, becoming the first railroad in the Territory.
September 30, 1880
In the state of Michigan, the Flint & Pere Marquette opened a line from Clare to Harrison.
September 30, 1914
The Great Northern Pacific Steamship Company (GNPSS) incorporated on this date.
September 30. 1914
In the Canadian province of Ontario, construction started at Russell on the first section of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Electric Railway which was planned to run from Ottawa to Morrisburg and Beaudette with a branch from Metcalfe to Russell. There was a public ceremony at the turning of the first sod and the day was observed as a general holiday in Russell. However, little work was done and no trains ever operated over this line.
September 23, 1923
In the Canadian province of Ontario, service was discontinued on Canadian National's Hammond subdivision. The first 0.23 miles from Limoges were left as a siding while the wye connection at Limoges was taken up in 1927 along with the section between Limoges (South Indian) and Clarence Creek (0.48 miles south of Clarence Creek). Just after closure, between 3 and 4 miles of steel were taken up from Rockland southerly. Following representations by the Honerable Charles Murphy (MP for the area and Postmaster General) the steel was relaid between Rockland and Clarence Creek and service was reinstated. The remaining part of the Hammond subdivision (5.10 miles) then became known as the Clarence Creek Branch.
September 30, 1981
Amtrak's Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa Black Hawk was discontinued.
September 29, 1849
The New Haven Railroad provided the first passenger train service to Peekskill, New York.
September 29, 1890
Railroads forfeit unused land grants, which had been granted as an incucement for constructing new lines.
September 29, 1913
Rudolph C.K. Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine, dies at 55.
In the state of Michigan, the Bay City Terminal Railway completed a 1.25 mile line from Cincinnati, Saginaw & Macinaw RR at Ionia and Chippewa Streets, Bay City, to east shore of Saginaw River at 7th street.
September 29, 1957
An O3 class steam locomotive, #539 of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, was moved to Ester Short Park in Vancouver, Wa.
September 29, 1962
The last steam powered run was made on the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range.
September 29, 1965
In the Canadian province of Ontario, at Ottawa, the interchange tracks and Canadian National storage tracks between Gladstone Avenue and Somerset Street (C.P.R. Prescott sub. and C.N.R. Chaudiere branch) were taken out of service. A new interchange was located on two tracks north of O'Keef's loading facilities, known as C.P.R. "Top End", to the north of the C.N.R. Chaudiere Branch.
September 29, 1967
The last RPO car was run on the Southern Pacific.
September 29, 1969
The Monon became freight-only.
September 29, 1978
VIA Rail Canada takes over Canadian Pacific passenger operations.
September 29, 1988
Washington D.C.'s Union Station returns to service as a passenger terminal.
September 29, 1990
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit & Mackinac made it's last move between Gaylord and Cheboygan.
September 29, 2000
The Town of Orangeville, Ontario purchased the former Canadian Pacific Railway Owen Sound subdivision between milepost 2.4 and mile post 36.7. The line is managed by the Orangeville & Brampton Rail Association Group and Cando Contracting operates the line with running rights to an interchange with the CPR at Streetsville.
September 28, 1898
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit, Lake Shore and Mt. Clemens Railway opens an electric line from Detroit to Mt. Clemens via Grosse Pointe Farms.
September 28, 1913
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit and Huron Railway completes their line from Cass City to Bad Axe.
September 28, 1925
In the Canadian province of Ontario, an articulated, two car diesel electric set, #15187 commences regular service between Montreal and Ottawa via Hawkesbury, making one trip in each direction daily except Sundays. #15817 was replaced by a single car #15818 by the end of October.
September 28, 1929
The Hudson Bay Railway reached it's northern terminus at Churchill, Manitoba. This line was originally operated by the Canadian National on behalf of the Government. It became part of the CN system on September 5th, 1951.
September 28, 1952
In the Canadian province Ontario, a connection, known as Nepean Junction, was installed between the Canadian National Beachburg and Renfrew subdivisions. From this date Canadian National would divert all Renfrew subdivision trains onto the Beachburg subdivision. Formal authority to abandon the Renfrew subdivision from Island Park Drive to Nepean Junction was obtained on on October 29, 1952.
September 28, 1956
The C & O completed dieselization.
September 28, 1981
Illinois Central became the first RoadRailer operator.
September 28, 1996
Iron Road Railways, under the name of Quebec Southern Railway commences operation over the following former Canadian Pacific lines in Quebec: Lennoxville to St. Jean, Brookport to Wells River, Vermont, Farnham to Ste-Rosalie Jct, Farnham to Stanbridge.
September 27, 1835
Phineas Davis, inventor of the first practical American coal burning locomotive, is killed when his invention, the York, derails.
September 27, 1864
The Jesse James gang surprise-attacked a train, and as a result 150 people were killed.
September 27, 1890
Farmer's Transportation Company is renamed the Columbia Railway & Navigation Company (C&RN).
September 27, 1899
In the state of Michigan, the first car of the Detroit, Rochester, Romeo and Lake Oreon Railway reaches the Rochester bridge.
September 27, 1903
Eleven people were killed in Danville, Virginia when a Southern Railway train derailed on Stillhouse Trestle. The wreck itself was popularized in the song "Wreck of the Old '97".
27 people were killed in a train accident at Casper, Wyoming.
September 27, 1925
In the state of Michigan, "The Red Arrow", a popular Detroit-New York passenger train named for Michigan's Red Arrow Infantry division of World War I, begins service on the Pennsylvania RR.
September 27-28, 1959
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the last regularly scheduled steam powered passenger train on the Canadian Pacific pulled out of Ottawa Union Station. This was the Waltham mixed with D4 class 4-6-0 #425. Unscheduled steam power was used by the Canadian Pacific from time to time after this date, the last steam powered train being freight #76 over the M & O subdivision to Montreal on February 22, 1960 with 4-6-2 #1262.
September 26, 1884
The St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway is leased to the Canadian Pacific Railway for 999 years. The CPR had obtained control of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway and had commenced integration of the line in 1881.
September 26, 1889
In the state of Michigan, Detroit hosted an International Exposition and Fair on the Detroit River, on 14 acres, between Fort Wayne and the Rouge River, near what is now Zug Island. Railroads brought attendees in from all parts of the nation. Tracks were laid directly into the middle of the fair grounds.
September 26, 1892
In the state of Michigan, the Chicago & West Michigan opens the Ironton Branch, from just south of Chrlevoix to Ironton, a distance of 4.08 miles.
September 26, 1905
C.M. Levey becomes President of the Pittsburg & Shawmut. Prior to that, he had been the superintendent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's Iowa lines.
September 26, 1910
In the state of Michigan, the Manistique & Lake Superior is called the "Haywire", by the Mining Journal, the first time that term was ever used in print.
In the state of Michigan, the Management of the Houghton County Traction Company has decided to close Electric Park for the season of 1910. The season has been a very busy one, enormous crowds being entertained without accident or disorder. There were nine open air band concerts, forty-one free dances, and fifteen private parties beside many public and private picnics. Attendance during the season was 46,297 adults and 4,000 children.
September 25, 1866
The pop safety valve was invented by George W. Richardson of the Troy & Boston Railroad.
September 25, 1893
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway is authorized to operated over the diamond crossing with the Canadian Pacific Railway at Arnprior. Interlocking signals and derailing apparatus had been installed by Mr. Kenneth Blackwell of Montreal.
September 25, 1905
J.H. Hulbert and C.T. Dunbar acquire United Railways for James J. Hill.
September 25, 1949
The "Train of Tomorrow", built by General Motors, visits Montreal.
"September 24, 1875
In the state of Michigan, the Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Rail Road completes its line from Sparta to White Cloud."
It hadn't occurred to me, but White Cloud could have been the intended end of this line at one point, even though it's not by any substantial lake shore (it is well beyond Newaygo from Grand Rapids). I'll have to check my completion dates, but it's likely that this line met up with another railroad already going through White Cloud between Muskegon and Big Rapids. Even now, when traveling north up the line from Grand Rapids to Baldwin and Ludington (it's Marquette Rail now), when you get to White Cloud, the line takes a sharp curve to the east (where it met the now-long-abandoned line out of Muskegon) before curving again to continue north to Baldwin. The "Lake Shore" of its name wasn't reached until clear up in Traverse City, years later.
September 24, 1869
Railroad speculators Jay Gould and Jim Fisk's attempt to corner the gold market failed.
September 24, 1875
In the state of Michigan, the Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Rail Road completes it's line from Sparta to White Cloud.
September 24, 1887
In the state of Michigan, the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Railway opens a line from Ashley to Carson City.
September 24, 1894
In the Canadian province of Ontario, a Canadian Pacific cattle train, which was composed of about 25 cars, derailed at Brittania when it it a cow on the track. The cow rolled underneath the engine and the resulting impact tossed all the cars in a ditch. A full account of this accident can be found in the Ottawa Journal.
September 24, 1897
In Canada, a new double track steel arch bridge is completed by the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge Company and the Niagara Falls International Bridge Company. The upper floor of the new structure is leased to the Grand Trunk Railway.
September 24, 1901
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Pontiac Pacific Junction Railway is authorized to open from a point on the Canadian Pacific near Hull station to a junction with the Ottawa Northern and Western Railway in Hull.
September 24, 1904
A head on collission killed 62 and injured 120 others in Tennessee.
September 24, 1929
In the state of Michigan, Copper Range President William A. Paine dies at his home near Boston. Paine was also President of Paine Webber.
September 24, 1999
In Cornwall, Ontario, Canadian National abandoned 400 feet of their yard on the north side of the Brookdale Mall, a decision made by the company after the City of Cornwall demanded the yard be abandoned.
September 24, 2004
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the O Train makes a demonstration run from Ottawa to Carp and Return. Carp is on the line built by the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway.
September 23, 1874
The East Broad Top Railroad begins operations.
September 23, 1883
In the state of Michigan, the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway opens a line from the Wisconsin state line to Watersmeet.
September 23, 1894
In the state of Michigan, the Alpena & Northern opens a line south from La Rocque towards Jackson Lake in Monttimorency County.
September 23, 1932
In the state of Michigan, the Canada Southern Railway abandoned the St. Clair & Western Railroad between St. Clair and Ridgeway.
September 23, 1983
The U.S. Railway Association sets the fair market value of the Alaska Railroad at $22.3 million.
September 23, 1988
Boston & Maine's 49 mile Connecticut River Line is transferred to Amtrak for the restoration of the Montrealer.
September 22, 1851
Charles Minot, Sperintendent of the Erie Railroad, became the first railroad employee to use a telegraph in the movement of trains. His westbound train pulled into a siding at Turner (now called Harriman), New York, to allow an eastbound to pass. The eastbound train was late, so Minot went to the nearest telegraph office to find out where the train was, it hadn't yet reached Goshen, 13 miles west, so he wired ahead orders for that train there to be held for the meet. On returning to his own train, he ordered the engineer to move the train to Goshen, but the engineer refused to take such a risk, so Minot drove the train himself to Goshen where they met the errant eastbound.
September 22, 1902
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Pontiac and Pacific Junction becomes part of the Ottawa, Northern and Western Railway. It had been worked in conjunction with the Gatineau Valley line for some time previously.
September 22, 1946
Santa Fe PA ABA set #51 became Alco's 75,000th locomotive.
September 22, 1950
Toledo's new Central Union Terminal was dedicated.
September 22, 1995
The merger between the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Corporations which created today's BNSF system happened on this date.
September 21, 1856
The Illinois Central Railroad connects Cairo, Illinois with 700 miles of track, making it the longest railroad in the country.
September 21, 1905
The Truckee Republican reports on the greatest snowshed fire on the Central Pacific in many years. Rail traffic is halted for three days as nearly one mile of the wooden snow sheds are destroyed.
September 21, 1906
In the Canadian province of Ontario, a Grand Trunk express hit a standing freight at a crossover just west of Napanee. While other trainmen leaped to safety, engineer Frank W. Blaine, known as "Sailor Blaine", stuck to his post to slow his train down and save the lives of his passengers. He was killed in this accident. A monument in his memory was erected in a Brockville cemetery by his passengers.
September 21, 1923
In the state of Michigan, a new interlocking plant at Charlotte is inspected and approved for opperation. It is a small, General Railway Signal Co. floor model electric interlocking machine which is operated by the Grand Trunk Western from inside their depot. Archives suggest that the crossing was a stop and proceed crossing up to this point in time.
September 21, 1982
San Francisco cable cars cease operations for two years worth of repairs.
September 21, 1991
In the state of Michigan, Amtrak completes a $1.7 million renovation of the former CSX Holland Depot.
Septemper 20, 1850
President Millard Fillmore signs an Act, giving land grants and loads by the Federal Government to railroads.
September 20,1853
The first Union passenger station opens in Indianapolis, Indiana.
September 20, 1873
The New York Stock Exchange is forced to close in an attempt to contain panic resulting from the failure of Jay Cooke & Company.
September 20, 1881
In the state of Michigan, the Detroit, Hillsdale and Southwestern Railroad, formally operated between Detroit and Hillsdale by the Michigan Central, comes under the control of the Lakeshore & Michigan Southern.
September 20, 1903
In the state of Michigan, car ferry service begins beteen Manistique and Northport.
September 20, 1943
A fire in the Denver & Salt Lake's Tunnel #20 forced a 72 day detour of traffic to Tennessee Pass.
September 20, 1975
In the state of Michigan, the City of Detroit would open a new narrow-gauge Washington lvd. trolley line from Clifford to West Lamed. The line would be completed from Grand Circus Park to Cobo Hall by November.
September 20, 1984
Singer, songwriter, Steve Goodman, who had composed the song "City of New Orleans", died in Seattle, Washington.
September 20, 1986
Soo Line discontinues hauling passengers in cabooses in Wisconsin and upper Michigan.
September 20, 1993
In the state of Michigan, Grand Trunk Western removed the diamonds of the Holly Subdivision crossing the Conrail line at Milwaukee Junction.
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.
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 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 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.
Railroad magnate James Jerome J.J. Hill in 1838 was born.
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.
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.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 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, 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.
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