While I am not sure how to go about finding significant items for this particular date in history, I remember a time when a lot of people were playing the game "Trivial Pursuit". I have often thought that it would be fun to create a game like this just for us railroad enthusiasts. Has anyone else out there had basically the same thought??
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
Cherokee Woman, I did some digging into today's date in railroad history and I have come up with a few more entries.
September 27, 1835
Phineas Davis, inventor of the first practical coal burning locomotive, is killed when his invention, the York, derails.
September 27, 1864
Jesse James gang surprise attack train: 150 killed.
September 27, 1890
Farmers Transportation Company is renamed the Columbia Railway & Navigation Company (CR&N).
September 27, 1923
37 killed in train accident in Casper, Wyoming.*
*I am guessing this happened on the CB&Q, although I could be wrong.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote:September 27, 1923 37 killed in train accident in Casper, Wyoming.* *I am guessing this happened on the CB&Q, although I could be wrong. CANADIANPACIFIC2816
RJ
"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling
http://sweetwater-photography.com/
September 28, 1956
C&O completes dieselization.
September 28, 1981
Illinois Central becomes first RoadRailer operator.
yippinyahoo wrote:Jesse James killed 150 people in a train robbery??? I had no idea
rrandb wrote:I beleive in there attempt to stop the train they caused a catastrophic train wreck that resulted in a huge loss of life. Not hard to do with wooden coaches, telescoping and the ensuing fires.
videomaker wrote:150 Killed ! That has to be a misprint ...I dont hink the James Gang killed that many people in their whole carrer! I could be wrong tho...Danny
September 29, 1849
New Haven Railroad provides first passenger train service to Peekskill, NY.
September 29, 1890
Railroads forfeit unused land grants, which had been granted as inducement for constructing new lines.
September 29th 1913
Rudolph C.K. Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine, dies at 55.
September 29, 1957
0-3 #539 moved to Ester Short Park, in Vancouver, Wa (SP&S Ry).
September 29, 1962
Last steam-powered run on the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range.
September 29, 1967
Last RPO run on the Southern Pacific.
Monon becomes 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 passenger terminal.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: September 28, 1981 Illinois Central becomes first RoadRailer operator.
Somebody obviously forgot about the C&O's use of RoadRailers in the late 1950s and early 1960s!
Where do you think these Johnny-come-latelies got the idea?
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)
CShaveRR wrote: CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: September 28, 1981 Illinois Central becomes first RoadRailer operator. Somebody obviously forgot about the C&O's use of RoadRailers in the late 1950s and early 1960s! Where do you think these Johnny-come-latelies got the idea?
Don't worry, Ray, we're not blaming you.
As for a source, you've got the best possible source right here, with a lot of well-informed correspondents, experienced railroaders, and historians. No malice in corrections--just a desire to set the records straight whenever possible.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: September 27, 1864 Jesse James gang surprise attack train: 150 killed. CANADIANPACIFIC2816
Actually, Quantrill's Raiders, the renegade Confederate gang that Jesse James rode with during the Civil War, ransacked Lawrence, Kansas, killing 150 people. I don't think a train was involved.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
September 30, 1877
The Southern Pacific enters Arizona at Yuma, becoming the first railroad in the Territory.
September 30, 1914
Great Northern Pacific Steamship Co. (GNPSS) incorporated.
And Cherokee Woman already covered the the detail of Amtrak discontinuing the Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa Black Hawk run, so I will not list that.
October 1, 1834
Patent issued to Ross Winans for the first locomotive with six or eight driving wheels.
October 1, 1861
Theodore Judah recommends Donner Pass route for the Central Pacific through the Sierra Nevadas.
October 1st, 1931
Cotton Belt's Blue Streak freight service begins.
October 1, 1943
T.F. Dixon becomes Vice-President & General Manager of SP&S Ry.
October 1, 1964
San Francisco cable cars declared a national landmark.
October 1, 1967
Last run of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's Fast Mail.
October 1, 1979
Amtrak's National Limited, Lone Star, North Coast Hiawatha and Hilltopper are discontinued.
October 1, 1988
Last run of Canadian National narrow gauge in Newfoundland.
(I wasn't even aware that the CN operated narrow gauge trackage in that part of the world........interesting!)
October 02, 1872
Colorado's second largest narrow gauge railroad, the Denver, South Park & Pacific is incorporated.
October 02, 1882
Asked whether he operates his railroads for the public benefit, William Vanderbuilt answers: "The public be damned! What does the public care for railroads, except to get as much out of them for as little consideration as possible!"
October 02, 1960
Last steam run on the Illinois Central.
October 03, 1837
The Sandusky, the first locomotive equipped with a whistle, makes it's first run from Patterson to Brunswick, New Jersey.
October 03, 1937
Railroad unions win 44 cent per day pay raise.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: October 1, 1988 Last run of Canadian National narrow gauge in Newfoundland. (I wasn't even aware that the CN operated narrow gauge trackage in that part of the world........interesting!)
CN only took over the old Newfoundland Railway in 1949, after Newfoundland joined Canada, as part of the agreement regarding Confederation. I was recently up there, and this is the report I posted elsewhere about the trip. It includes a few links to the history of the Newfoundland Railway.
As you may remember, we made a trip to Newfoundland this summer, and I’m just now getting around to editing my photos and writing up some notes. Thought I’d share a few thoughts about the trip. I was born in Newfoundland, but not raised there. And I’ve never been all that interested in the history of the railroad there until I started preparing for this trip.
To give a quick, condensed summary of the Newfoundland Railway, suffice it to say that it was built between 1881 – 1898. It was narrow gauge, built to 3’-6” gauge. About 550 miles of mainline from the capital, St John’s to Port-aux-Basques on the southwestern coast.
Including all branch lines, total mileage was around 900 miles (depending on at what period you were measuring), making it the longest narrow gauge system in North America. After Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, the Newfoundland Railway came under the control of Canadian National. Towards the end of its run, they changed the name to Terra Transport.
Like many railroads serving large, underpopulated regions, it was a money losing proposition. When government funds starting running low, and with the competition from the newly completed Trans-Canada Highway in 1956, traffic decreased and deficits mounted. Service was terminated in 1988. Tracks were torn up almost immediately afterwards. Very little track or equipment remains today.
For more detailed information see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_Railway
Okay, enough background. We landed at St Johns, and spent most of our time out on the Bonavista Peninsula, so my train watching was limited to spots in between those points, which covers basically the eastern section of the island.
Here’s a map of the island:
http://home.earthlink.net/~lkstrong/NfldMap.htm
Considering that I had the wife and junior in tow, I got to see a good number of sites. We hit the Railway Coastal Museum, Avondale, Whitbourne, Clarenville, Trinity Loop, Bonavista and Pt Union.
Best Museum
Wow, they sure did a good job on restoring the old main station and railroad headquarters building in St John’s and turning it into the “Railway Coastal Museum”. Good exhibits with lots of photos and displays. Learned a lot about the Coastal Boats too. (The railroad also operated a fleet of small coastal boats providing passenger and freight service to outlying posts). Nice job restoring and/or preserving the building. Too bad they didn’t have more rolling stock outside, but the museum itself is excellent. Here’s a shot of the building.
Best preserved rolling stock
I have to hand it to Bonavista. The locomotive (#932) and cars there were in the best condition of those that we saw. The station building is nicely maintained and serves as a senior citizen center. I have no idea how much the current condition resembles the station as it was when it was in service. #932 is a class NF210 diesel, 1200 hp, built by EMD in the late 50’s.
Biggest (pleasant) surprise
I’m originally from Pt Union. Of course, the trains were gone from that particular branch long before I came along. In fact, I never associated trains with Pt Union. I knew they had recently turned the old station into a museum, but didn’t really expect to see much. Turns out that they did a very nice job of reconditioning the building. It was moved some 50-100 yards from where it originally stood. While about half the station is dedicated to the town in
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: October 03, 1937 Railroad unions win 44 cent per day pay raise.
That's about 550 percent of our most recent pay raise!
October 04, 1904
First day of New York City subway has 350,000 riders.
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
Last wooden passenger subway cars retired at Brooklyn.
October 04, 1970
First excursion train on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
October 04, 1980
Smithsonian reactivates 2-4-0 John Bull.
October 04, 1981
Amtrak's Chicago to East Peoria Prairie Marksman is discontinued.
October 06, 1846
George Westinghouse is born.
October 06, 1866
The four Reno brothers, hold up their first train, taking $13,000.00 from the safes on a moving Ohio & Mississippi train. This was the first robbery of a train in motion.
October 06, 1935
Market Street Railway starts using trackless trolley coaches.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: September 27, 1864 Jesse James gang surprise attack train: 150 killed.
The Centralia Massacre was an ambush by bushwhackers under Bloody Bill Anderson during the American Civil War in which 22 Union soldiers were executed at the Centralia, Missouri train station on September 27, 1864.
Jesse James was among the bushwhackers.
In the ensuing Battle of Centralia when federals attempted to capture Anderson another 123 federals were killed.
October 07, 1826
The first American railroad is completed in Quincy, Massachusetts. Horse draw wagons carrying granite were pulled from a quarry along a 3-mile track for the Bunker Hill Monument.
October 07, 1834
First American railroad tunnel opens on the Allegheny Portage Railroad, east of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
October 07, 1948
Passengers aboard the Baltimore & Ohio's Marylander between Washington and New York saw the first practical demonstration of television reception aboard a moving train.
October 07, 1949
The Gulf, Mobile & Ohio becomes one of the first major railroads to completely dieselize after it's last steam operation.
October 07, 1960
General Manager N.S. Westergard assumes additional post of Vice-President (SP&S Ry.)
October 08, 1979
Amtrak's Chicago to Miami Floridian is discontinued.
October 09, 1877
Presidential order allows Southern Pacific to expand into Arizona and New Mexico.
October 09, 1995
A sabotaged rail results in the derailment of Amtrak's Sunset Limited west of Phoenix, Arizona, leaving one person dead and 78 injured.
October 10, 1848
The first steam engine to operate in Chicago, for the Galena, & Chicago Union RR, the Pioneer, arrives in New York by boat.
October 10, 1888
55 killed in accident at Mud Run, Pennsylvania.
From Railroad Avenue by Freeman Hubbard.
"The first train robbery that can be traced definitely to the redoutable Jesse (James) occurred December 12, 1874, on the Kansas Pacific Railroad (now part of the Union Pacific system), although tradition connects his name with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific holdup in Adair County, Iowa, on July 21, 1873."
West of Adair, Iowa along old US 6, is a historical marker, including a steam locomotive driving wheel, commemorating this event. Claimed to be Jesse James' first train robbery and the first train robbery west of the Mississippi River.
October 10, 1852
The Chicago & Rock Island officially opened between Chicago and Joliet.
October 11, 1951
RS-3's ordered (SP&S Ry.)
October 11, 1962
Colorado & Southern 2-8-0 #641 makes last run of steam on a regular daily service standard gauge railroad, Leadville to Climax Colorado.
October 11, 1987
Soo Line sells 2002 miles to Wisconsin Central.
October 12, 1934
Association of American Railroads formed.
October 12, 1954
Last eight of Erie Railroad's onetime fleet of 1545 steam locomotives make their last journey to the railroad's scrap yard in Chicago.
October 12, 1986
A once-in- a- 100- years flood knocks out two major Alaska Railroad bridges and several smaller bridges and covers the tracks in mud, causing nearly $3 million in damage. Service is restored within 13 days.
October 13, 1988
Southern Pacific Railroad sold to Rio Grande Industries.
October 14, 1980
The Staggers Rail Act substantially deregulates railroads in the United States.
October 15, 1899
Overland Limited begins service on the Southern Pacific.
October 15, 1947
Tonopah & Goldfield abandoned.
October 15, 1960
The Erie Railroad and the Lackawanna Railroad merge.
October 15, 1966
U.S. Department of Transportation created.
October 15, 1976
The Missouri Pacific, Chicago & Eastern Illinois and Texas & Pacific railroads merge.
October 16, 1859
Abolitionist, John Brown attacks U.S. arsenal at Harper's Ferry and B & O's Wheeling to Baltimore Express.
October 16, 1944
Z-8 #910 makes it's initial run, Portland, OR to Wishram, WA (SP&S Ry).
October 16, 1950
Last narrow gauge train on the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina (Tweetsie).
October 16, 1964
Norfolk & Western merges Nickel Plate Road.*
*Carl pointed out to me that the Norfolk & Western gobbled up a couple of other roads besides the Nickel Plate. Greedy pirates!
October 16, 1973
Ann Arbor Railroad declares bankruptcy.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: October 16, 1964 Norfolk & Western merges Nickel Plate Road.
Norfolk & Western merges Nickel Plate Road.
That's an understatement! This is also the day that the Wabash and the Pittsburgh & West Virginia disappeared into the N&W system, and the Akron, Canton & Youngstown became a subsidiary of N&W (it was merged much later).
October 17, 1902
The Trinity & Brazos Valley Railroad is chartered (now part of BNSF's Dallas to Galveston line).
October 17, 1912
Oregon Electric completed, Albany, OR to Eugene, OR.
October 17, 1944
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy operates 82-car mail and express train from Chicago to Council Bluffs.
October 17, 1960
The Erie and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western merge to form the Erie Lackawanna.
October 17, 1962
Union Pacific makes first road test of coal-burning gas-turbine-electric.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: October 17, 1962 Union Pacific makes first road test of coal-burning gas-turbine-electric. CANADIANPACIFIC2816
October 18, 1962
Union Pacific realise that pulverising the coal might improve performance.
October 18, 1886
Largest one-day conversion of narrow gauge to standard gauge. 2000 men between 5 A.M and 6 P.M converted 418 miles of track on the Cotton Belt, then known as the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas, from Bird's Point, MO to Texarkana, AR.
October 18, 1947
The inaugural run of the Alaska Railroad Aurora, a blue and gold streamliner, marks upgraded passenger service between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
October 18, 1956
Last trolley run in Brooklyn.
October 18, 1961
GM rolls out first GP-30 diesel-electric locomotive.
October 19, 1897
George Pullman dies.
October 19, 1913
23 killed in train accident at Bucatanna MS.
October 20, 1940
First issue of Trains published.
October 20, 1955
Last SP&S steam engine leaves Hillyard (Spokane, WA).
October 20, 1969
Alco leaves the locomotive business.
October 20, 1980
645-mile former Rock Island Herrington, Kansas City-Dalas line is sold to Katy subsidiary Oklahoma, Kansas & Texas.
965-mile former Rock Island Kansas City-Tucumcari, New Mexico line is sold to Southern Pacific's Cotton Belt.
Apologies for being away for some time, but it looks like we Brits have missed the Harrow & Wealdstone Accident - 4th or 5th October 1952 (sorry, exact date escapes me, and I haven't got my book (see later) with me at work).
Over 100 passengers and train crew killed, 2 express locomotives written off, and the exact cause still unclear.
Way back in the sixties, my Econ Lecturer kindly gave me a copy of the Official Ministry of Transport Report into the Accident, and the detail of the investigation was testament to the professionalism of the then accident investigators, even to testing the paint used by the driver widely believed to bear responsibility to decorate his home a few days earlier - could that have caused him to become drowsy and miss the Distant Signal and the later Outer Home Signal?
Martin
October 21, 1918
Mount Royal Tunnel opened on the Canadian Northern Railway (later part of Canadian National).
October 21, 1960
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy opens new 2500-foot Mississippi River Bridge at Quincy, Illinois.
October 22, 1925
First production diesel-electric locomotive sold to Central Railroad of New Jersey.
October 22, 1934
Union Pacific's six-car streamlined M- 10001 departs Los Angeles for a 56 hour, 55 minute transcontinental run to New York's Grand Central Terminal.
October 22, 1937
Z-6 #900 given trial run, Spokane, WA to Pasco, WA (SP&S Ry).
October 22, 1974
Longest train on record in Canada, a 2.5 mile load of 250 grain cars, hauled from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Thunder Bay Ontario.*
*Does anyone out there know if the above information still stands, or has this record been broken? I have a gut feeling that the source of my information is a quite old.
October 22, 1993
47 are killed when the eastbound Sunset Limited falls off a bridge near Mobile, Alabama which had been struck by a barge in dense fog.
October 23, 1834
The first locomotive to pull a train on a track, built by John Stevens, it operated on a 220-foot circle of track on his Hoboken, New Jersey estate.
October 23, 1936
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Zephier, makes Chicago to Denver run in 12 hours, 12 minutes - an average of 91.6 MPH.
October 24, 1861
Pony Express service ends.
October 24, 1866
The first Bucker snow plow is completed at the Central Pacific's Sacramento shops.
October 25, 1848
The locomotive, "Pioneer" pulls the first westbound train out of Chicago.
October 25, 1886
In Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Company v. Illinois, the Supreme Court declares that a state can not regulate even that portion of interstate commerce that takes place within it's own borders, removing the States legislative powers over railroads. This led to passage of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 by Congress.
October 26, 1906
Oregon Electric purchases Willamette Valley Traction.
October 26, 1968
Penn Central vacates Chicago's La Salle Street Station in favor of Union Station.
October 26, 1985
First run for Burlington Northern's propane-fueled GP-9.
October 27, 1870
William J. Palmer incorporates Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.
October 27, 1891
The St. Clair Tunnel, connecting the U.S. and Canada beneath the St. Clair River opens.
October 27, 1904
First part of the New York City subway opens.
October 28, 1956
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy introduces new Vista-Dome Denver Zephyrs.
October 28, 1979
Amtrak's first double deck Superliner coaches debut on the Chicago to Seattle Empire Builder.
October 28, 1983
After over 48 years of service, New Jersey Transit #3323 becomes the last revenue train to be pulled by a GG1.
October 29, 1904
New York City IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit) subway opens.
October 29, 1989
New York City MTA opens 63rd street extension to subway.
October 30, 1955
Union Pacific shifts Omaha-Chicago streamliner routes from the Chicago & Northwestern to the Milwaukee Road.
October 30, 1972
Two Illinois Central Gulf commuter trains collide in Chicago, killing 45 and injuring 356.
October 30, 1983
Amtrak begins tri-weekly Auto Train service from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL.
October 31, 1956
Brooklyn, NY ends street car service.
October 31, 1966
Canadian National begins Montreal-Toronto Rapidos.
October 31, 1970
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, known as Amtrak is created.
October 31, 1976
Canadian Pacific and Canadian National issue joint VIA timetable.
October 31, 1978
Last train out of St. Louis Union Terminal.
October 31, 1987
Montana Rail Link begins operation over 907 miles of ex-Northern Pacific (Burlington Northern) track.
November 01, 1834
Philadelphia and Trenton, New Jersey connected by rail.
November 01, 1865
First tank car designed for bulk oil enters service at Titusville, PA. It was a flat car fitted with two wooden tanks shaped like inverted tubs.
November 01, 1878
Chicago & Alton Railroad completes the first all-steel bridge over the Missouri River at Glasgow, Missouri.
November 01, 1918
102 die in a New York City subway derailment at Malbone Street, Brooklyn.
November 01, 1976
Amtrak discontinues use of Louisville & Nashville depot in Louisville.
November 01, 1980
Chessie System merges with Seaboard Coast Line Industries to form CSX Corporation.
November 01, 1985
Southern Pacific and Santa Fe begin repainting diesels in red and yellow merger colors.
November 02, 1969
Last run for Kansas City Southern's Southern Belle.
November 03, 1908
Cow Creek viaduct completed (SP&SRy).
November 03, 1909
Oregon Trunk Railway (OT) incorporated.
November 03, 1969
Last Kansas City Southern Southern Belles arrive in Kanas City and New Orleans.
November 04, 1874
Regular train service begins on the East Broad Top Railroad.
November 05, 1889
Rio Grande Southern Railroad incorporated.
November 06, 1855
68 engineers from 13 states and 45 railroads meet in Baltimore to organize the National Protective Association of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers of the United States, forming the country's first railroad union.
November 06, 1968
101-day strike by Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen against the Belt Railway of Chicago ends.
November 07, 1835
Construction begins on Erie Railroad.
November 07, 1885
The Canadian Pacific Railrway completes first transcontinental route across Canada. The last spike was driven at Craigellachie, British Columbia.
November 07, 1909
24 hour train service between New York and St. Louis begins.
November 07, 1970
The second longest tunnel in the U.S., the 7 mile 1327 yard Flathead tunnel opens on the Great Northern.
November 08, 1905
Union Pacific's Chicago to San Francisco Overland Limited gets electric lighting.
November 08, 1969
The last train to depart Chicago's Grand Central Station, C&O #8, leaves for Grand Rapids.
November 09, 1833
Twelve passengers on the Camden & Amboy Railroad are injured in the first passenger train accident in the U.S.
November 10, 1905
Willamette Valley Traction incorporated.
November 10, 1952
Supreme Court upholds decision barring segregation on interstate railroads.
November 11, 1934
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's Pioneer Zephyr makes it's first run in scheduled passenger service between Lincoln, Nebraska and Kansas City, Missouri.
November 11, 1957
Demolition begins on San Francisco's cable car barn at California & Hyde.
Last use of a steam locomotive by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
November 12, 1831
The John Bull, the oldest operable steam engine in the U.S., is placed in regular service on the Camden & Amboy Railroad.
November 12, 1965
Heaviest single piece of freight carried by rail, a 549.2 tons hydrocracker reactor hauled from Birmingham, Alabama to Toledo, Ohio.
November 13, 1906
New York Central's New York electrifiation begins.
November 14, 1832
World's first streetcar system opens in New York City with horse drawn cars on tracks on Fourth Avenue between Prince and 14th Streets.
November 14, 1988
Department of Transportation announces random drug testing for 90,000 railroad workers.
November 15, 1908
Oregon Electric Forest Grove branch opened.
November 15, 1910
Penn Station opens in New York City.
November 15, 1920
W.F Turner becomes President of the S.P&S Railway.
November 15, 1928
The first rail detector car to be placed in commercial service begins operation on the Wabash Railroad.
November 15, 1948
Union Pacific Railroad begins track tests of gas-turbine-electric locomotive.
November 15, 1957
Longest and heaviest train (500 coal cars, 4 miles long, 42,000 tons) hauled by Norfolk & Western Railroad between Iaeger, West Virginia and Portsmouth, Ohio. This happened nearly 50 years ago. Does anyone out there know for sure if this record has been broken by another road?? Locomutt has informed me that he was betting that the actual termination point of this train was Williamson, WVa., that is where the N&W's yard was, and not too far from Iaeger. Much of my information is obtained from the web site of railwaystation.com and I suspect that the individual who put this all together did not have his information correct in the first place. So I appreciate it when a few of you guys out there are able to point out the errors in my information.
November 16, 1952
North Coast Limited begins interchange of coach and sleeper with SP&S Nos. 1 & 2 at Pasco, Washington (SP&S Ry).
November 16, 1963
Last run of mixed train on Norfolk & Western's Abingdon branch.
November 16, 1967
Canadian Pacific begins testing Canada's first remote-controlled mid-train diesel locomotives in regular freight service, using new Robot radio-command system.
November 16, 1972
GE introduces E60C electric locomotive.
November 17, 1837
The Sandusky, believed to be the first locomotive equipped with a whistle in the US, arrives on the Mad River & Lake Erie at Sandusky, Ohio.
November 17, 1889
First daily railroad service to the Pacific coast, without a change was between Chicago and Portland, OR, and between Chicago and San Francisco, Calif., on the Union Pacific Railroad.
November 17, 1908
Vancouver, WA to Portland, OR begins (SP&S Ry).
November 17, 1938
Gordon Lightfoot, the Canadian folk artist who had written "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and "Steel Rail Blues" was born. Happy Birthday to Gordon Lightfoot!!
November 18, 1881
Construction of the Georgia Pacific Railroad begins.
November 18, 1883
Standard time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific) created, abolishing 100 different local times in the United States.
November 18, 1889
Oahu Railway begins public service in Hawaii.
November 19, 1891
Granville T. Woods receives patent for a third rail to operate electric railways. This black inventor from Columbus, Ohio dedicated his life to developing a variety of inventions relating the railroad industry, and held more than 60 patents.
November 19, 1986
Last run of the Chicago & Northwestern C628's.
cherokee woman wrote:In 1991, a cargo train derailment in central Mexicokilled 70 people and injured 40 more, when the boxcarscrushed automobiles on a highway below the tracks.
That's interesting, CW. What is your source of information on this one?
November 20, 1850
First train operated on the Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific.
November 20, 1961
Union Pacific 4-8-4 #844 makes it's first post-regular service excursion run.
November 21, 1890
First train operated on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad.
November 21, 1950
Head-on collision between a passenger and a troop train kills 21 on Canadian National.
November 21, 1980
The St. Louis - San Francisco Railway merges with Burlington Northern.
November 22, 1882
Denver & Rio Grande reaches Grand Junction from Gunnison, Colorado.
November 22, 1950
Two Long Island commuter trains collide, killing 79 and injuring 352 at Richmond Hill, in the Borough of Queens, NY.
November 23, 1898
Andrew Jackson Beard receives patent #594,059 for a railway car coupler. Born a slave, Beard worked in a number of occupations, including the railroad industry. This led to his improved railroad coupler, which was credited with preventing many serious injuries among railroad workers.
November 23, 1968
Last Durango to Alamosa passenger train on the D&RGW.
November 24, 1912
First run for Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited.
November 25, 1884
The Oregon Shortline and the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company (later forming Union Pacific's route to the northwest), join rails.
November 25, 1955
Race segregation forbidden on trains and buses between U.S. states.
November 26, 1867
The first patent for a refrigerated car is granted to J.B. Sutherland, of Detroit, Michigan.
November 27, 1873
The Boston & Maine RR makes the first breakthrough in construction of it's tunnel under Hoosac Mountain in Massachusetts.
November 27, 1910
New York's Penn Station opens as world's largest railway terminal.
November 27, 1957
Steam operations end on the Pennsylvania Railroad.
November 27, 1964
Pennsylvania Railroad ends Pittsburgh commuter service.
November 28, 1877
The first two foot gauge railroad in the U.S., the Bedford & Billerica Railroad, opens.
November 29, 1870
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe signs contracts to build the railroad from Atchison to Topeka, Kansas.
November 29, 1954
First Budd dome cars enter service, connecting with the North Coast Limited (SP&S Ry).
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: November 27, 1873 The Boston & Maine RR makes the first breakthrough in construction of it's tunnel under Hoosac Mountain in Massachusetts. CANADIANPACIFIC2816
The Hoosac Tunnel was actually built by the Troy and Greenfield Railroad which was owned and financed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Troy and Greenfield was sold to the Fitchburg Railroad several years after the completion of the Hoosac Tunnel. The Boston & Maine eventually leased the Fitchburg in 1900 and later merged it.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: November 29, 1954 First Budd dome cars enter service, connecting with the North Coast Limited (SP&S Ry). CANADIANPACIFIC2816
I know of a lot of dome cars built by Budd prior to 1954. Perhaps these were SP&S' first dome cars.
cherokee woman wrote:On November 22, 1950, a train wreck in New York City,killed 79 people. Does anyone have any information onthis? This is all that was on ArcaMax History & Quotes.
I believe this happened on the LIRR. A train stopped with a mechanical problem. The "rear brakeman" walked back with a lantern to protect the train. He then mistakingly thought the problem was fixed. He reboarded and signaled he was ready. The problem was not fixed and the train did not move. Just then an express train out to Babylon, came around a curve. That motorman saw a "clear" signal in the distance but did not see the stalled train markers and did not pass over a torpedo.
November 30, 1944
United Railways disolved
November 30, 1959
Passenger service ends on the Cotton Belt (St. Louis Southwestern Railroad).
November 30, 1968
Clinchfield 4-4-0 #1 restored to service.
December 01, 1852
The Pacific becomes the first steam engine to operate west of the Mississippi River when it made it's first run for the Pacicic of Missouri RR.
December 01, 1884
The Oregon Short Line and the Oregon Railway & Navigation Co (later forming the Union Pacific's route to the northwest) officially open.
December 01, 1903
First Western film, The Great Train Robbery, is released.
December 01, 1909
G.B. French becomes President of the SP&S Ry.
December 01, 1955
The first remote control railroad passenger car is tested on the New York, New Haven & Harford Railroad between New Rochelle and Rye, N.Y.
December 01, 1959
The Norfolk & Western acquires the Virginian.
December 02, 1856
First patent issued for a sleeping car.
December 02, 1892
Railroad financier, Jay Gould dies.
December 02, 1926
Cleveland Railway Company puts first all aluminum street car in service.
December 02, 1980
Pullman Company is dissolved.
December 03, 1863
Ground breaking for the Union Pacific Railroad at Omaha, Nebraska.
December 03, 1967
The last Twentieth Centrury Limited arrives at Chicago's LaSalle Street Station.
December 04, 1867
The Grangers, a secret order of farmers, is founded in Washington, D.C. It seeks to control railroad rates and middlemen.
December 04, 1967
Kansas City Southern tells ICC it plans to quit passenger business.
December 05, 1883
The Rock Island, Milwaukee Road and Union Pacific railroads make an agreement for interchange of trafic at Omaha.
December 05, 1968
Last Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge operation west out of Alamosa.
December 06, 1915
Connought tunnel on the Canadian Pacific Railway opens beneath Mount McDonald. For 70 years, the five mile-mile tunnel was Canada's longest.
December 06, 1968
Last steam revenue run outside of the Silverton branch for the D&RGW, Durango to Alamosa.
December 06, 1971
Auto-Train begins daily service between Lorton, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., and Sanford, Florida. The train transports 100 cars and 400 people.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote:December 06, 1971Auto-Train begins daily service between Lotton, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., and Sanford, Florida. The train transports 100 cars and 400 people.CANADIANPACIFIC2816
Auto-Train begins daily service between Lotton, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., and Sanford, Florida. The train transports 100 cars and 400 people.
I believe that's "Lorton". Va.
JSGreen wrote: CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: December 06, 1971Auto-Train begins daily service between Lotton, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., and Sanford, Florida. The train transports 100 cars and 400 people.CANADIANPACIFIC2816 I believe that's "Lorton". Va.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: December 06, 1971Auto-Train begins daily service between Lotton, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., and Sanford, Florida. The train transports 100 cars and 400 people.CANADIANPACIFIC2816
I had a feeling that there was something wrong with this one, but I couln't figure out what it was. Thanks for correcting me on this one, I believe someone else had already pointed this out to me in regards to an earlier post.
December 07, 1891
Passenger service begins on the first international tunnel, under the St. Clair River between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario.
December 07, 1941
New York Central streamlines Empire State Express with 32 new cars from Budd.
December 08, 1874
Jesse James gang takes train at Muncie, Kansas.
December 09, 1852
The Pacific makes the first demonstration run west of the Mississippi River, from St. Louis to Cheltenham, a distance of five miles.
December 09, 1885
The Farmer's Railway, Navigation & Steamboat Portage Company (TFRN&SP) is incorporated in Washington Territory. Their goal was to build a railroad around the many rapids on the Columbia River between The Dalles and Celilo Falls. The line would be used to transport steamboat and barge cargoes around the rapids.
December 09, 1988
Fox River Valley Railroad begins operating on 208 miles of ex-Chicago & Northwestern Railway.
December 10, 1852
The Pennsylvania RR's tracks reached the Ohio River at Pittsburgh via the famous Horseshoe Curve.
December 10, 1858
Pennsylvania Railroad connects Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
December 10, 1970
500,000 railroad workers begin a nationwide walkout. Within hours President Nixon signs a bill providing a 13.5% wage increase and postponing the strike for 80 days.
December 11, 1887
Operations begin on Colorado's 2-foot gauge Gilpin Tramway.
December 11, 1905
Ground broken for Willamette Valley Traction Co.
December 12, 1906
James J. Hill announces retirement from railroad business.
December 12, 1968
Canadian National begins Turboliner service for Montreal-Toronto.
December 12, 1988
New York City Subway system adds new stations (Z line).
December 12, 1989
First revenue trains run through the CP Rail 9.1 mile Mount MacDonald Tunnel. This is the longenst rail tunnel in the Americas.
December 13, 1913
L,C. Gilman becomes President of SP&S Railway.
December 13, 1946
19 killed in train accident at Guthrie, Ohio.
December 14th, 1894
Eugene Debs is sentenced to six months in prison for his role in the Pullman strike.
December 14, 1934
The first streamlined locomotive, the Commodore Vanderbilt, is placed in service on the New York Central.
FROM ARCAMAX HISTORY & QUOTES:
On December 14, 1896, the Glasgow Underground Railway was opened.
December 15, 1880
Southern Pacific begins train service to Deming, New Mexico.
December 15, 1907
Pasco, Washington to Cliffs, Washington opens on the SP&S Railway.
December 15, 1944
United Railways purchased by SP&S Railway.
December 15, 1986
VIA receives it's first GM F-40PH's.
Dec 15 1855 Mass:
The locomotive Dewitt Clinton, the third built in the United States, exploded on the Worcester and Nashua Railroad, killing the engineer and fireman.
December 16, 1935
The world's longest railroad bridge, the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans, Louisiana, opens. The 23, 235- foot bridge crosses the Mississippi River.
December 16, 1941
Union Pacific removes first streamliner (M-10000) from service.
December 16, 1943
Derailment and collision of Atlantic Coastline's Tamiami Champions kill 72 at Lumberton, North Carolina.
December 16, 1967
Delaware & Hudson buys four Santa Fe Alco PA's.
December 17, 1908
Bridges across Willamette and Columbia Rivers open on the SP&S Railway.
December 17, 1924
The first diesel-electric locomotive is placed in service on the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
December 17, 1954
The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway's Kirk Yard at Gary, Indiana becomes the first fully automatic freight yard.
December 18, 1949
Last regular passenger service on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad.
December 19, 1882
Denver & Rio Grande reaches Utah border. Because the D&RG had no charter to operate in Utah, William Palmer incorporated the mileage in that state seperately as the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway.
December 19, 1898
Colorado & Southern incorporates.
December 19, 1906
James J. Hill acquires the A&CR for the P&S (SP&S?).
December 19, 1911
California Western line completed.
December 19, 1977
Milwaukee Road files bankruptcy.
December 20, 1883
International cantilever railway bridge opens at Niagra Falls.
December 20, 1917
41 killed in train accident at Louisville, Kentucky.
December 20, 1918
All government-owned railroads in Canada are brought under the management of the Canadian National Railways.
December, 20, 1919
Canadian National Railways established.
I believe that the Louisville, KY accident is going to be the one that was actually in Shepherdsville, which is 20, 25 miles south of Louisville.
According to a Filson Historical Society newsletter, a local that was crowded with "Christmas shoppers" was trying to back into a siding, at Shepherdsville, when it was struck by a southbound through train, that was attempting to make up lost time. According to the article, the wreck killed 51 passengers, and injured another 48, making it one of the L&N's greatest disasters. (At that time.)
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!!
December 21, 1829
The first stone arch railroad bridge in the world, the Carrollton Viaduct, is officially opened on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad over Gwynn's Falls at Baltimore, Maryland.
December 21, 1907
F.B. Clarke becomes President of the SP&S Railway.
December 21, 1949
Gales Creek & Wilson Railway operations cease.
December 21, 1962
Last Budd RDC (Rail Diesel Car) manufactured is delivered to the Reading.
In 1995, a commuter train rammed the rear of a passenger train in heavy fog near Cairo, Egypt, killing 75 people.
December 22, 1829
Baltimore & Ohio begins passenger operations between Baltimore and Ellicott's Mills.
December 22, 1885
Patent #332,762 issued to La Marcus Adna Thompson for a gravity switchback railroad.
December 22, 1950
2 self-propelled trains of Long Island Railroad collide, killing 77.
December 22, 1965
Pennsylvania Railroad sells Long Island Railroad to the state of New York.
December 22, 1982
The Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific merge into Union Pacific.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: December 22, 1882 The Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific merge into Union Pacific. CANADIANPACIFIC2816
I trust you meant 1982.
dmoore74 wrote: CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: December 22, 1882 The Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific merge into Union Pacific. CANADIANPACIFIC2816I trust you meant 1982.
Thanks for pointing out my error. I went back and corrected it.
December 23, 1851
Illinois Central Railroad begins construction.
December 23, 1852
The Pacific Railroad of Missouri (later known as the Missouri Pacific Railway) begins passenger service west of the Mississippi River.
December 23, 1907
The first all-steel railroad passenger coach is completed.
December 23, 1926
20 killed in train accident at Rockmont, Georgia.
December 23, 1946
Highest ridership in New York City subway history (8.8 million passengers).
December 24, 1852
The Baltimore & Ohio's tracks reach the Ohio River at Wheeling, West Virginia.
December 24, 1985
Illinois Central Gulf sells 681 mile Iowa division to Chicago, Central & Pacific.
December 25, 1830
The Best Friend of Charleston, owned by the South Carolina Railroad, becomes the first American locomotive in regular service in the United States.
December 25, 1848
New Haven Railroad opens.
December 26, 1917
President Wilson takes possession and control of the nation's railroads by proclamation. This resulted in the formation of the United States Railroad Administration, which operated the country's railroads until March 3, 1920.
December 26, 1956
Last standard gauge steam run on the Denver & Rio Grande Western.
December 27, 1942
34 killed in train accident at Almonte, Ontario.
December 27, 1943
Fearing a threat of national security, President Franklin Roosevelt orders the government to seize the nation's railroads in order to avert a strike.
December 27, 1951
Last train runs on the Rio Grande Southern.
December 28, 1912
The first municipally owned streetcars begin operation in San Francisco.
December 28, 1917
Wartime emergency called by the Federal government, which takes control of U.S. railroads on January 1, 1918.
December 28, 1966
13 die in a train crash in Everett, Massachusetts.
December 28, 1972
Amtrak announces purchase of French built Turboliners.
Dec 28 1875 C.H. Stoddard, city engineer, and his assistants, G.H. Boynton, James McElherne, Charles Harrold and Charles Stoddard, have commenced work on the survey for a route for the Chicago, Millington And Western narrow gauge railway to reach Rock Island.
Edit: the year was in error.
December 29, 1876
Bridge collapses beneath Lakeshore & Michigan Southern's Pacific Express, killing 84.
December 29, 1982
Louisville and Nashville merged into Seaboard Coast Line, which changes it's name to Seaboard System.
spokyone wrote: Dec 28 1875 C.H. Stoddard, city engineer, and his assistants, G.H. Boynton, James McElherne, Charles Harrold and Charles Stoddard, have commenced work on the survey for a route for the Chicago, Millington And Western narrow gauge railway to reach Rock Island.Edit: the year was in error.
DECEMBER 30, 1906
53 killed in train accident at Washington, D.C.
December 30, 1907
United Railways begins passenger service.
December 31, 1860
First railway tunnel in Canada opens on the Brocksville & ottawa Railway beneath the town of Brockville.
December 31, 1943
Gales Creek & Wilson River Railway purchased by the SP&S Railway.
December 31, 1944
50 killed in train accident at Bagley, Utah.
December 31, 1968
Last U.S. Pullman service.
The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad becomes part of the Penn Central Railroad.
December 31, 1978
Last run of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Peoria Rocket.
This may be off the regular discussion topic, but does anyone know if and/or how to find information about personnel working on the Fitchburg RR in the late 1890s??
August 2nd 1980: Terrorists placed a bomb in a waiting-room in the main station of Bologna. 85 people killed, more than 200 hurt. The roof of the waiting-room collapsed. The day was a saturday with the station being very busy. Members of the Italian military secret-service tried to lead the investigation onto a wrong track. Three members of an extremist (fascist) organisation have later been convicted to lifelong prison, the sentences being confirmed by the Italian supreme court. Nevertheless, it is still unknown who ordered the crime and why.
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