OCTOBER 08, 1979
Amtrak's Chicago to Miami Floridian is discontinued.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
OCTOBER 09, 1877
A Presidential order allows the Southern Pacific to expand into Arizona and New Mexico.
In Canada, the first steam locomotive to operate on the prairies of Manitoba, the Countess of Dufferin arrives on a barge at St. Boniface towed by the steamer "Selkirk". It was brought in by the Canadian Pacific Railway's contractor, Joseph Whitehead to work the Selkirk-Emerson line.
OCTOBER 09, 1900
Union Station opens in Nashville, Tennessee.
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 locomotive to operate in Chicago, for the Galena & Chicago Union RR, the Pioneer, arrives in New York by boat.
OCTOBER 10, 1888
55 people are kille in an accident at Mud Run, Pennsylvania.
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 11, 1869
His Royal Highness Prince Arthur arrives in Ottawa, Canada at the St. Lawrence & Ottawa Railway station at Sussex Street which was heavily decorated for the occasion.
OCTOBER 11, 1951
The Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway places an order for four RS-3's from Alco, #65, 66, 67 & 68.
OCTOBER 11, 1953
There was a derailment on Canadian Pacific's Castor Grade, near mile post 59 on the Maniwaki subdivision. The 4-6-2 locomotive #2221 and tender of the Sunday evening Maniwaki to Ottawa passenger train No. 538 (one baggage car and two coaches, all of wooden construction) rolled over and several coaches derailed resulting in the deaths of engineer Richard (Dick) McNally and fireman Ken Learmont. There were no passenger injuries.
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 of it's trackage to Wisconsin Central.
OCTOBER 12, 1934
The Association of American Railroads was formed.
OCTOBER 12, 1954
The last eight of the Erie Railroad's onetime fleet of 1545 steam locomotives make their final journey to the railroad's Chicago scrap yard.
OCTOBER 12, 1986
A once-in-a-100 years flood knocks out two major bridges and several smaller bridges on the Alaska Railroad, covering the tracks in mud, causing nearly $3 million in damage. Service is restored on the Alaska Railroad within 13 days.
OCTOBER 13, 1902
The first demonstration of wireless communication was made between moving train and a station. This was on a Grand Trunk Railway special train between Chicago and Portland for the American Association of General Passenger and Ticket Agents. While en route between Toronto and Montreal a wireless telegraphy was set up by Professor Ernest Rutherford of McGill University.
OCTOBER 13, 1914
The Algoma Central and Hudson Bay Railway is opened throughout between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, Ontario, Canada. Construction was started in 1899 and it was opened in stages as follows:
* Hawk Junction (junction with the Michipicoten Branch)- 1911
* Franz (crossing with Canadian Pacific) - mid 1912
* Oba (crossing with Canadian National) - late 1912
The name was shortened to Algoma Central in 1965.
OCTOBER 13, 1988
The Southern Pacific Railroad was sold to Rio Grande Industries.
OCTOBER 14, 1980
The Staggers Rail Act substantially derergulates railroads in the United States.
OCTOBER 15, 1899
The Overland Limited begins service on the Southern Pacific.
OCTOBER 15, 1947
Tonopah & Goldfield abandoned.
OCTOBER 15, 1960
The Erie and the Lackawanna Railroads merge.
OCTOBER 15, 1966
U.S. Department of Transportation created.
OCTOBER 15, 1976
The Missouri Pacific, Chicago & Eastern Illinois & Texas & Pacific railroads merge.
OCTOBER 16, 1859
Abolitionist, John Brown attacks the U.S. arsenal at Harper's Ferry and Baltimore & Ohio's Wheeling to Baltimore Express.
OCTOBER 16, 1944
Z-8 #910 makes it's initial run, from Portland, Oregon to Wishram Washington on the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
OCTOBER 16, 1950
The last narrow gauge train was operated on the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina (Tweetsie).
OCTOBER 16, 1964
Norfolk & Western merges the Nickel Plate Road.
OCTOBER 16, 1973
Ann Arbor Railroad declares bankruptcy.
OCTOBER 17, 1902
The Trinity & Brazos Valley Railroad (now a part of BNSF's Dallas to Galveston line), is chartered.
OCTOBER 17, 1909
In Canada, the first passenger trains is operated over the National Transcontinental Railway east of Quebec City between Edmonston and Baker Lake, New Brunswick.
OCTOBER 17, 1912
The Oregon Electric is completed between Albany, Oregon and Eugene, Oregon.
OCTOBER 17, 1917
In Canada, the first train crosses the Quebec Bridge over the St. Lawrence. This was constructed by the Dominion Government for use by the National Transcontinental Railway. This bridge was notorious in that it fell down twice during construction:
*On August 29, 1907 the south cantilever arm collapsed, killing 65 or more workmen.
*On September 10, 1916 the suspension span, which was being lifted, buckled and fell into the river, killing 10 to 12 workmen.
OCTOBER 17, 1944
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy operates an 82-car mail and express train from Chicago to Council Bluffs, Iowa.
OCTOBER 17, 1960
The Erie and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western merge to form the Erie Lackawanna.
OCTOBER 17, 1962
Union Pacific makes the first road test of it's coal-burning gas-turbine-electric locomotive.
OCTOBER 17, 1999
In the Canadian province of Ottawa: The Hull, Chelsea, Wakefield Railway opens a new connection with the Canadian Pacific Lachute subdivision at Laman. This uses the north leg of the wye which was built in 1967 but on which no rails had been laid. The eastward facing connection was used on this day by a once only test steam train to Montebello. The original connection at Laman had been removed to make room for drainage work.
OCTOBER 18, 1886
The largest one-day conversion of narrow gauge to standard gauge happened on this date. 2000 men between 5 AM and 6 PM converted 418 miles of track on the Cotton Belt, then known as the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas, from Bird's Point, MO. to Texarkana, Arkansas.
OCTOBER 18, 1947
The inaugural run of the Alaska Railroad's Aurora, a blue and gold streamliner, marks upgraded passenger service between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
OCTOBER 18, 1956
Last trolley run in Brooklyn, New York.
OCTOBER 18, 1961
General Motors rolls out it's first GP-30 diesel electric locomotive.
OCTOBER 19, 1897
George Pullman dies.
OCTOBER 19, 1913
23 are killed in train accident at Bucatanna, Mississippi.
OCTOBER 19, 1953
Canadian Pacific opens a branch line from Stuthers to Manitowadge, Ontario.
OCTOBER 20, 1940
The first issue of Trains Magazine was published.
OCTOBER 20, 1955
The last steam locomotive to operate on the Spokane, Portland & Seattle leaves Hillyard (Spokane, Washington).
OCTOBER 20, 1969
Alco leaves the locomotive business.
OCTOBER 20, 1980
645-mile former Rock Island Herington, Kansas City-Dallas 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.
October 21, 1918
Mount Royal Tunnel opened on the Canadian Northern Railway (later a part of the Canadian National).
OCTOBER 21, 1918
Canadian Northern Railway commences a through service between Montreal and Toronto via Hawkesbury and Ottawa, using the GTR Central station at Ottawa. The first eastbound train left Ottawa at 08:00 and the first westbound train at 12:45.
October 21, 1960
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy opens it's new 2500 foot Mississippi River Bridge at Quincy, Illinois.
OCTOBER 22, 1925
The first production diesel electric locomotive is sold to the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
OCTOBER 22, 1934
The 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
An articulated steam locomotive is given a trial run on the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway between Spokane and Pasco, Washington. This was Z-6 class #900.
OCTOBER 22, 1974
The longest train on record in Canada, a 2.5 mile load of 250 grain cars is hauled from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Thunder Bay, Ontario.
OCTOBER 22, 1993
47 people 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, 1824
The first locomotive to pull a train on a track was built by John Stevens. It operated on a 220 foot circle of track on his Hoboken, New Jersey estate.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's Zephyr makes the Chicago to Denver run in 12 hours, 12 minutes-an average of 91.6 MPH.
OCTOBER 24, 1861
Pony Express service, not being able to compete with railroads, comes to an end.
OCTOBER 24, 1866
The first Bucker snowplow is completed at the Central Pacific's Sacramento shops.
OCTOBER 24, 1903
In Canada, the National Transcontinental Railway Act is passed. In order to expand into Western Canada the Grand Trunk Railway agrees to build a line from Moncton, New Brunswick to Quebec, then on a more northerly route than on any transcontinental line to a point on the British Columbia Coast, which was to become Prince Rupert. The part between Moncton and Winnepeg was to be known as the National Transcontinental Railway and was to be built by the government. The line west of Winnepeg, to be known as the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, was to be built by the Grand Trunk itself.
In Canada, the Brockville, Westport and Sault Ste. Marie Railway changes it's name to Brockville, Westport and North-Western.
OCTOBER 25, 1848
The steam locomotive Pioneer pulls the first westbound train out of Chicago.
OCTOBER 25, 1854
This marks the date of the opening of the Carillon and Grenville Railway in Canada.
OCTOBER 25, 1886
In Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad Company v. the state of 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 the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act by Congress in 1887.
OCTOBER 26, 1874
All Grand Trunk Railway lines east of Montreal, 542 miles, are converted from 5'6" to standard gauge.
OCTOBER 26, 1906
Oregon Electric purchases Willamette Valley Traction.
OCTOBER 26, 1907
In Ottawa, Canada: Mayor D'Arcy Scott turns the first sod on the Grand Trunk Railway hotel and station construction in Ottawa. The ceremony took place at the corner of Little Sussex and Besserer Streets. Mayor Scott used a nickel plated duplicate of the tool that was used by the sappers in excavating the Rideau Canal.
OCTOBER 26, 1951
Canadian National purchases the 26 mile Montmorency division of the Quebec Railway Light and Power Company running from Quebec City east to St. Joachim on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Transfer of ownership was effective November 1st. In 1947 Canadian National had purchased the five mile section from St. Joachim to Cap Tormentine.
OCTOBER 26, 1957
Last scheduled run of a passenger train on the Canadian Pacific's Prescott subdivision with mixed trains 592 and 593 between Ottawa and Prescott.
OCTOBER 26, 1968
Penn Central vacates Chicago's La Salle Street Station in favor of Union Station.
OCTOBER 26, 1985
Burlington Northern's propane-fueld GP-9 makes it's first run.
OCTOBER 26, 1995
The CN commuter line running between Montreal Central station and Deux Montagnes is reopened with modernized equipment. The new electric multiple unit trains, operating at 25 kv AC, replace aging equipment, some of it going back to the opening of the line in 1918.
OCTOBER 27, 1856
The Grand Trunk Railway opens it's broad gauge line throughout Montreal and Toronto. It was opened in sections as follows:
* Montreal to Brockville - November 17, 1855
* Oshawa to Toronto - August 11, 1856
* Brockville to Oshawa - October 27, 1856
The first through train, consisting of 3 first class and 3 second class coaches, ran from Montreal to Toronto and a similar train made the journey in the opposite direction. Departure was at 07:00 from Montreal and 0:730 from Toronto. The trains passed in the vicinity of Kingston Junction where a stop of 30 minutes occurred for lunch. The journey took 14 hours.
OCTOBER 27, 1859
A 186 mile line between Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee opens for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.
OCTOBER 27, 1870
William J. Palmer incorporates the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.
OCTOBER 27, 1891
The St. Clair Tunnel, connecting the United States with Canada beneath the St. Clair River opens.
OCTOBER 27, 1904
The first part of the New York City subway opens.
OCTOBER 27, 1956
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Canadian National runs it's last passenger train between Pembroke and Golden Lake.
OCTOBER 27, 2002
In the Canadian province of Ontario: VIA opens a new, $1.2 million, station at Fallowfield to serve passengers living in the west end of the city travelling to and from Brockville and points west. The first train was No. 43 headed for Toronto hauled by VIA Genesis locomotive No. 920. At the same time, VIA introduces a faster schedule between Montreal and Ottawa and reinstalls Centralized Traffic Control over the Alexandria subdivision which had been out of use since January 1998.
OCTOBER 28, 1956
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy introduces new Vista-Dome Denver Zephyrs.
OCTOBER 28, 1959
Canadian National opens it's line from St. Felicien to Chibougamau, Quebec.
OCTOBER 28-29, 1967
Canadian Pacific moves from Ottawa West to Walkley Yard. At 2250, locomotive 8753 took 5 units to Walkley Yard, 8569, 8796, 8465, 8787-8574. The crew returned to Ottawa West with the yardmaster in his car. Just after midnight, October 29, 1967, Bruce Chapman, the operator, took the train register and other documents from Ottawa West to Walkley Yard, and at 0225, the same yard crew Ed Charron, conductor and Doug McElroy, engineer arrived at Walkley Yard with 8580-6528-6620-7025-8027-8752-8739 and 70 empties, which cleaned out Ottaw West.
OCTOBER 28, 1979
Amtrak's first double deck Superliner coaches debut on the Chicago to Seattle Empire Builder.
OCTOBER 28, 1983
After 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, 1978
Passenger service is discontinued on the Canadian National's Beachburg subdivision west of Federal. From this date VIA took over running the Canadian from Canadian Pacific, and combined the operation of the Canadian and the Super Continental. On the same date the overnight Ottawa-Toronto trains were rerouted to run via Brockville, instead of Napanee. This marked the end of passenger service on the Canadian National line between Smiths Falls and Napanee.
OCTOBER 29, 1989
New York City MTA opens 63rd street extension to subway.
OCTOBER 30, 1955
Union Pacific shifts it's Omaha-Chicago streamliner routes from the Chicago & Northwestern to the Milwaukee Road.
OCTOBER 30, 1965
Canadian National and Canadian Pacific terminate the pool passenger train service between Ottawa and Toronto.
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 Lofton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida.
OCTOBER 30, 1996
RaiLink-Ottawa Valley takes over operation of the former Canadian Pacific line between Smiths Falls and Cartier, Ontario as well as the Mattawa to Temiskaming branch in Quebec.
OCTOBER 31, 1956
Brooklyn, New York ends streetcar service.
OCTOBER 31, 1966
Canadian National begins Montreal-Toronto Rapidos.
OCTOBER 31, 1970
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, known as Amtrak was created.
OCTOBER 31, 1976
The Canadian Pacific and the Canadian National issue a joint VIA timetable.
OCTOBER 31, 1978
The last passenger train departs out of St. Louis Union Terminal.
OCTOBER 31, 1987
Montana Rail Link begins operation over 907 miles of ex-Northern Pacific (Burlington Northern) track.
OCTOBER 31, 2002
BC Rail ends 88 years of passenger service with the last run of the Cariboo Prospector between Prince George and North Vancouver, British Columbia. The next day, two 20 seat "rail shuttle vehicles" commenced to provide service to isolated communities between Lillooet and D'Arcy, British Columbia.
NOVEMBER 01, 1834
Philadelphia and Trenton, New Jersey connected by rail.
NOVEMBER 01, 1855
More than 30 people were killed when 12 of 13 cars from an excursion train plunged into the Gasconade River near St. Louis after a bridge over the waterway collapsed. More than 600 people were on board the train to celebrate the Pacific Railroad's opening. Hundreds of other passengers were injured in the wreck.
NOVEMBER 01, 02, 1856
The opening of the Grand Trunk Railway is celebrated in Montreal:
*9:00 a.m.-general procession through the city. *2:00 p.m.-banquet in the large building belonging to the company at Point St. Charles. *8:00 p.m.-torchlight procession and fireworks. *9:00 a.m. (next day) - steam boat excursion to Victoria bridge, inauguration of the new city waterworks. *2:00 p.m.-grand military review. in the evening - grand illumination and ball at the Bonsecours Hall.
NOVEMBER 01, 1864
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Brockville and Ottawa Railway opens it's line between Almonte and Arnprior. To mark this event, "The Great Railway Celebration" was held in Arnprior on Thursday, December 8, 1864. It was held in a "large and commodious two-storey brick school", likely the Arprior Public School situated on Ottawa Street. The dinner-dance was the most elaborate social event in the village since the visit of the Prince of Wales four years earlier.
NOVEMBER 01, 1865
The first tank car designed for bulk oil enters service at Titusville, Pennsylvania. It was a flat car fitted with two wooden tanks shaped like inverted tubs.
NOVEMBER O1, 1878
The Chicago & Alton Railroad completes the first all-steel bridge over the Missouri River at Glasgow, Missouri.
NOVEMBER 01, 1885
Canadian Pacific Railway establishes the first train service between Montreal and Winnepeg via Ottawa, Sudbury and the Lakehead.
NOVEMBER 01, 1918
A Brooklyn Rapid Transit Co. train crashed after taking a curve too fast underneath the intersection of Malbone Street and Flathbush and Ocean Avenues. In all, 97 people are killed in the wreck known as the "Malbone Street Wreck". Instead of taking the curve at 6 MPH, the train was traveling at a speed of between 30 and 40 MPH.
NOVEMBER 01, 1976
Amtrak discontinues use of the Louisville & Nashville depot in Louisville, Kentucky.
NOVEMBER 01, 1980
The Chessie System merges with Seaboard Costline Industries to the CSX Corporation.
NOVEMBER 01, 1985
Southern Pacific and Santa-Fe begin repainting diesels red and yellow in anticipation of a merger that never really happened.
NOVEMBER 02, 1887
The Canada Atlantic Railway begins using the first passenger cars in Canada to be fitted with electric lighting.
NOVEMBER 02, 1896
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Madawaska becomes the divisional point on the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway. Before this time, Barry's Bay had been the divisional point. On this date trains started running through from Ottawa and a new five stall roundhouse was opened.
NOVEMBER 02, 1969
The Kansas City Southern's Southern Belle makes it's last run.
NOVEMBER 02, 1983
BC Rail begins operating the Tumbler Ridge line, Canada's first railway electrified at 50kv AC.
NOVEMBER 02, 1996
Ontario L'Orignal Railway (RailTex) commences operation over the former Canadian National line between Glen Robertson, Hawkesbury and L'Orignal, Ontario.
NOVEMBER 03, 1908
Cow Creek viaduct completed on the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
NOVEMBER 03, 1909
Oregon Trunk Railway (OT) incorporated.
NOVEMBER 03, 1969
The last of the Kansas City Southern's Southern Belle passenger trains arrive in Kansas City and New Orleans.
NOVEMBER 04, 1874
Regular train service begins on the East Broad Top Railroad.
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