MARCH 29, 1839
Railway Express Agency established.
MARCH 29, 1916
28 people were killed in a train accident at Amherst, Ohio.
MARCH 29, 1922
Rail Union askes President Harding to abolish the U.S. Labor Board.
MARCH 29, 1924
In Washington, D.C., the C & O Canal finally ceases operating after another of many floods (the 5th) causes excessive damange. The Canal had been owned for many years by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, keeping other would-be competitors (the Western Maryland Railway) from the property. B & O keeps the canal serviceable though mostly dry until the 1936 floods and then sells the entire 184.7 long canal, Georgetown, DC to Cumberland, Maryland to the U.S. Park Service in October 1938 for $2,000,000.
MARCH 29, 1946
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Fire destroys the north end of the Interprovincial Bridge. As of this date the Hull Electric Railway ceased to operate into the Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, and turned it's cars at the intersection of Laurier Avenue and Youville Street near the north end of the Interprovincial Bridge in Hull. For some time Canadian Pacific was forced to reroute all train movements between Ottawa Union and Hull first, via the Canadian National across town tracks to Ottawa West, and subsequently via the Sussex Street subdivision to the Prescott subdivision at Ellwood thence to Ottawa West.
MARCH 29, 1957
The New York, Ontario & Western Railroad is abandoned. At that time, it was the largest railroad abandonment in the U.S. (541 miles).
MARCH 29, 1991
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Canadian Pacific abandons the Waltham subdivision between Wamo (m. 1.0) and Wyman including the Hilton Mines Spur. The last train was a snow plow with 1852-1829-1822-1844 pushing 400784. After the line was plowed they took empty hoppers to the Hilton Mine to be loaded with slag and returned with them.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: MARCH 29, 1839Railway Express Agency established..CANADIANPACIFIC2816
.
just some details on this....William Fredrick Harding started his own express concern in Feb 1839 on the Boston & Providence RR..there is a 16 ft monument in the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge Mass. that is a tribute to "the Founder of the Express Buisness in America"..others included...the Earl brothers who started on the Providence & Western in 1834.....then comes Alvin Adams who formed the Adams express company in 1842.who had boutgh most of the smaller concerns....he hired a pair of agents named Wells and Fargo who went on to start their own Express co...there were many many other companies by 1860.....in 1918 the Adams Co...Wells Fargo and Co....the American Express Co.....and the Southern Express Co..who had collectively by this time bought or bankrupted all the rest......were consolidated into the American Railway Express company...in 1929 86 different RR's bought this company and renamed it Railway Express Agency
im not picking nits here....just want it known that the REA didnt exsist as it is known until 1929
MARCH 30, 1883
The Denver & Rio Grande reaches Salt Lake City.
MARCH 30, 1908
Columbia Railway & Navigation Co. (CR&N) is purchased by the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
MARCH 30, 1954
Canada's first subway line opens in Toronto.
APRIL 01, 1857
The first southern link from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River (Charleston to Memphis) is completed.
APRIL 01, 1880
In the state of Michigan, the Chicago and West Michigan opens it's line from White Cloud to Mud Lake.
APRIL 01, 1932
Oregon Electric's Holley Branch opens.
APRIL 02, 1946
A Tsunami destroys a portion of Hawaii's Oahu Railway.
APRIL 01, 1947
E.B. Stanton replaces T.F. Dixon as Vice-President and General Manager of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
The last train is operated on the 190 mile long Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern.
APRIL, 01, 1949
Newfoundland becomes the tenth province in Canada and the Newfoundland Railway becomes part of the Canadian National System. This narrow gauge system had been operated by the island government since 1923.
APRIL 01, 1968
Canadian Pacific's yard office, roundhouse and water tank at Ottawa West in Ontario are demolished.
APRIL 01, 1972
Pacific Great Eastern Railway changes it's name to British Columbia Railway.
APRIL 01, 1976
Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) is formed. Conrail took over operations of six bankrupt railroads: Central Railroad of New Jersey, Erie Lackawanna, Lehigh & Hudson River, Lehigh Valley, Penn Central and Reading plus the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. In doing so, Conrail acquired 15,000 miles of track, 3800 locomotives, 140,000 cars and 103,000 employees.
APRIL 01, 1979
VIA Rail Canada assumes financial responsibility for passenger service formerly operated by the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railroads.
APRIL 01, 1996
The last train traverses the full length of the former Canada Southern line between Detroit and Buffalo.
APRIL 01, 2000
The Soo Line Depot at Ashland, Wisconsin burns. The fire started in a restaurant in the station. The station was rebuilt.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APRIL 02, 1834
The first train is run on a state owned railroad, the Philadelphia & Columbia Railway.
APRIL 02, 1917
Gales Creek & Wilson River Railway incorporated.
APRIL 02, 1933
Canadian National and Canadian Pacific begin pooling certain passengers services as a result of the Canadian National-Canadian Pacific Act of 1933.
APRIL 02, 1995
Amtrak discontinues daily passenger service between Toledo and Detroit.
FROM ARCAMAX HISTORY & QUOTES:
On April 3, 2004, as Spanish police closed in, three men believed to be behind the Madrid train bombings, blew themselves up, also killing one officer and injuring 11 others.
APRIL 03, 1883
Humphrey H. Reynolds was the first black inventor to patent an improved window ventilator for railroad cars. His invention was adopted on all Pullman cars, but as an employee, he received no payment from the Pullman company. Reynolds quit his job as a porter and successfully sued Pullman for $10,000.
APRIL 03, 1900
The Vanderbilts take over the Reading, Lehigh Valley and Earie railroads.
APRIL 03, 1972
The Lehigh & Hudson River files for bankruptcy.
APRIL 03, 1992
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Goderich Exeter Railway commences operations over the former Canadian National line between Stratford Junction and Goderich and from Clinton Junction to Centralia in Ontario.
APRIL 04, 1895
Astoria & Columbia River Railroad (A&CR) organized.
APRIL 04, 1913
In the state of Michigan: The Pere Marquette announces at public hearings that the receivers plan the following improvements of the road; laying 25,000 tons of new rails, installation of automatic block signals, building of a new freight terminal at Grand Rapids, grade reductions west of Plymouth, building of double track from Delray to Plymouth and a new freight terminal at Porter Indiana.
In the state of Michigan: The Interstate Commerce Commission rules that the Ann Arbor Railroad must cease discriminitory rate practices for seasonal passenger fares to Hamburg, Michigan. The Ann Arbor RR had been charging less expensive rates for trips between Toledo and Whitmore Lake and Lakeland, which are summer resorts, while denying the low fare to Hamburg, Michigan, located between Whitemore Lake and Lakeland which also is a summer resort.
APRIL 04, 1976
Amtrak takes delivery of the first 414 F40PH's from EMD.
APRIL 04, 1993
The Sunset Limited becomes the first true coast-to-coast transcontinental train when it's route is extended from New Orleans to Jacksonville and Miami, Florida.
May 1, 1971:
Amtrak, the national passenger railservice that combined the operations of 18 passenger railroads, went into service.
MAY 01, 1882
In Canada, the Quebec legislature approves the sale of the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway from Montreal to Ottawa and the Aylmer branch to the Canadian Pacific Railway. The actual transfer took place on June 3rd.
MAY 01, 1885
Canadian Pacific Railway opens it's branch from Buckingham Junction (Masson) to Buckingham.
MAY 01, 1888
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe completes it's route from Chicago to California.
The first trials were held for the first electric freight locomotive. It was built by the Pullman Car Company for the Ansonia, Derby & Birmingham Electric Line.
MAY 01, 1890
DP&AN formed. Does anyone have any idea what this is? My source is not specific.
MAY 01, 1902
Canadian Pacific assumes control of the Ottawa, Northern and Western Railway, the actual agreements and authorities were completed by the following November. The line was effectively merged into the CPR at midnight, October 31, 1903.
MAY 01, 1903
Columbia Railway & Navigation Co. (CR&N) begins daily freight service.
MAY 01, 1905
Regular service begins on the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake's line from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City.
MAY 01, 1908
The Hepburn Law, which bars railroads from handling products in which they hold an interest, goes into effect.
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Carleton Place ceases to be a division point on the Canadian Pacific. After this date train crews on the CPR's Chalk River subdivision operated out of Smiths Falls. This move affected some 250 train crews formerly living in and working from Carleton Place.
MAY 01, 1911
C.F. Gray becomes the fourth President of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
MAY 01, 1915
Canadian Government Railways are formed to operate the Intercolonial and the National Transcontinental Railways.
MAY 01, 1942
The last pre-war lightweight train, the Panama Limited, goes into service on the Illinois Central.
MAY 01, 1960
Southern Pacific Railroad abandons the Keeler branch, it's last narrow gauge operation.
MAY 01, 1970
On the New York Central's Ottawa division, 25 of 104 cars derailed on the Canadian National. Some of the contents were spilled.
May 01, 1971
Amtrak takes over most passenger service in the United States.
MAY 01, 2005
The VIA passenger train schedule between Ottawa and Montreal is augmented. The first morning departure from Ottawa to Montreal originates from Fallowfield, at 6:23 a.m. Likewise, the train departing Montreal at 4:45 p.m. terminates at Fallowfield at 6:55 p.m.
MAY 02, 1844
Elijah McCoy, who received more than 50 patents for his inventions, is born. It was from his inventions that we get the phrase "the real McCoy".
MAY 02, 1881
Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway begins.
MAY 02, 1917
In Canada, the Drayton-Acworth report is produced being the findings of two out of three members of a Royal Commission which was set up in 1916. Sir Henry L. Drayton was Chairman of the Board of Railway Commisioners for Canada, while William Acworth came from London. The third member, who produced a minority report, was Alfred H. Smith, President of the New York Central Railway. The report recommends that the Government take over the Grand Trunk, the Grand Trunk Pacific and the Canadian Northern companies and operate them as one system together with the Intercolonial and the National Transcontinental Railway. The recommendations are accepted by the Government.
MAY 02, 1960
For the first time, a Canadian National passenger train conveys piggyback flatcars conveying highway trailers. This was on train # 44 from St. John, New Brunswick to Moncton, NB.
MAY O2, 1966
In the Canadian province of Ontario, a new line, known as the Hawthorne Connection, is opened from the new M. & O. Junction to Hawthorne. This gives Canadian Pacific access to Walkley Yard and Canadian National access to the new Union Station. At the same time the Canadian Pacific M. & O. subdivision is abandoned between milage 86.08 and Deep Cut milage 86.80.
MAY 02, 1977
Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 #610 joins the Southern Railway's steam program.
MAY 02, 1999
Central Manitoba Railway takes over the operation of the former Canadian National's Pine Falls subdivisions.
MAY 03, 1865
President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train arrives at it's destination in Springfield, Illinois.
MAY 03, 1881
Patent #241,112 is issued to Leonides Wooley for the first electric locomotive headlight.
MAY 03, 1909
The Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway opens it's line between Pasco and Marshall, Washington, while on the same railway through service begins between Portland, Oregon and Spokane, Washington.
MAY 03, 1967
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The first train to pass through the Dows Lake tunnel is a ballast train headed by Canadian Pacific RS-3 #8458. The tunnel is officially opened on August 5, 1967. The last train to use the old route via the Dows Lake swing bridge was train 132 for Montreal via the North Shore with RDC-3 #9024 leading RDC-1 #9054 on Tuesday, August 1, 1967. The first service trains to use the new tunnel were the Prescott wayfreight, train #94, with #8795 (first southbound) and #8575 on the freight from Montreal (first northboud), on the same day.
MAY 03, 1998
Railink Mackenzie Northern takes over the operation of the Canadian National line from Smith, Alberta to Hay River in the Northwest Territories.
MAY 04, 1845
The first iron-truss bridge is completed on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad.
MAY 04, 1893
The Grand Trunk was renamed to Grand Trunk Railway of Canada.
MAY 04, 1941
The last train is operated on the narrow gauge Colorado Central Railroad.
MAY 04, 1989
Canadian Pacific opens the longest tunnel in Canada, the 9.1 mile Mt. McDonald Tunnel in Rogers Pass.
MAY 04, 2004
The Travel Security Administration launches a test program for people and bags traveling on U.S. trains in New Carrollton, Maryland.
Tom
COAST LINE FOREVER
It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)
A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)
MAY 05, 1865
America's first recorded train robbery occurs when a group of unidentified men loot an overturned Ohio & Mississippi train at North Bend, Ohio between St. Louis and Cincinnati.
MAY 05, 1995
The Canadian National officially opens a new tunnel between Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan. The tunnel can handle full height double stack container cars. Trains had started using the new tunnel of April 5, 1995.
MAY 06, 1862
The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Pacific Railway Act.
MAY 06, 1912
The body of C.M. Hays, President of the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific Railways, who was lost in the Titanic disaster, was landed at Halifax by the Mackay - Bennett cable steamship Minia. It was immediately placed on a special GTR train which had been waiting at Halifax for several days and which reached Bonaventure station in Montreal May 7. The funeral took place the next day at Mount Royal Cemetery and the GTR offices were closed for a portion of the afternoon so that staff could attend the funeral.
MAY 06, 1960
The last steam powered train is run on the Norfolk & Western Railroad.
MAY 06, 1983
The last mixed train is operated on the Georgia Railroad, with #103 and #108 between Atlanta and Augusta.
MAY 07, 1964
Railroads begin eliminating firemen from locomotives.
MAY 07, 1977
The Chessie System begins the operation of it's steam specials in celebration of the Baltimore & Ohio's sesquicentennial.
MAY 08, 1837
The first American type (4-4-0) steam locomotive is completed in Philadelphia.
MAY 08, 1863
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is founded.
MAY 08, 1968
The ICC decides to allow the Santa Fe to drop the Chief in favor of keeping the Grand Canyon.
MAY 09, 1850
The second rail connection to the Western Waters was made from Charelston to Chattanooga, on the Tennessee River.
MAY 09, 1901
The panic of 1901 begins as a result of a fight between James J. Hill and Edward H. Harriman for control of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
MAY 09, 2004
The Cross-Tie and Railfanning.org launch www.thecrosstie.com
MAY 10, 1855
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Bytown & Prescott Railway was officially opened. Later that same year this railway would change it's name to Ottawa and Prescott.
MAY 10, 1869
A Golden Spike Ceremony completes the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Point, Utah.
MAY 10, 1893
The Empire State Express makes the first 100 MPH run between Syracuse and Buffalo, New York.
MAY 10, 1912
J.H. Young becomes the fifth President of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
MAY 10, 1946
In the Canadian province of Ontario: A Canadian Pacific passenger train, #7, "The Dominion", westbound, hit an open vandalized switch just west of Renfrew station and the locomotive, Royal Hudson 2858 and a baggage car rolled onto their sides. There were no injuries. Auxilary cranes from Smiths Falls and Chalk River rerailed them. 2858 is currently sitting in the locomotive bay at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, Ottawa.
MAY 10, 1948
All railroads in the United States are seized by the government in order to forestall a national strike.
MAY 11, 1892
The first locomotive to be owned by an industrial company, the Whitin Machine Works in Whitinsville, MA, is placed in service.
MAY 11, 1893
New York Central's engine number 999 sets a world speed record of 112.5 MPH near Batavia, New York. This record would hold for over 12 years.
MAY 11, 1894
Workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company go on strike to protest wage cuts.
MAY 11, 1956
The Chicago & Northwestern dieselizes it's Chicago commutor trains.
MAY 11, 1961
Canadian National installs Canada's first hot axle box detector near Coteau, Quebec.
MAY 12, 1884
The first through train between Ottawa and Toronto, Canada is operated over the Ontario and Quebec Railway (Canadian Pacific) newly opened from Perth to Toronto. Regular through trains between Montreal and Toronto commenced over this route on July 28, 1884.
MAY 12, 1890
The operation of Cable car service begins in Washington, D.C.
MAY 12, 1936
The Santa Fe's Super Chief makes it's maiden run.
MAY 12, 1955
A crowd of about 850 ride on the last run of New York's longest operating elevated railroad, the 3rd Ave. El, which had been in service for almost 80 years.
MAY 12, 1989
The last graffiti covered New York City subway car is retired.
MAY 13, 1829
The Stourebridge Lion arrives in New York from England for service on the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company.
MAY 13, 1933
The Oregon Electric Railway discontinues passenger service.
MAY 13, 1968
The Santa Fe Chief makes it's last run.
MAY 14, 1851
President Millard Fillmore is present for the opening of the first direct rail route from the Hudson River to Lake Erie on the New York and Erie Railroad connecting Piermont, NY with Dunkirk, NY (on Lake Erie). It was built at 6-foot gauge, making it both the broadest gauge in the US, and the longest mainline in the world.
MAY 14, 1906
Oregon Electric Railway (OE) icorporated.
MAY 14, 1909
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad completes it's line to Seattle, Washington.
MAY 14, 1945
The Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway receives it's first Alco road switcher, an RS-1 #52.
MAY 15, 1907
Service begins over the entire length of the Yosemite Valley Railroad.
MAY 15, 1974
Amtrak's Texas Chief is renamed the Lone Star.
MAY 16, 1853
The Toronto, the first steam locomotive manufactured in Canada, makes it's first run on the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron Union Railway. The name was changed to Northern Railway of Canada on August 16, 1858 and it became part of the Northern and Northwestern Railway on June 6, 1879, and is now part of the Canadian National.
The first section of the Illinois Central Railroad is completed between LaSalle and Bloomington, Illinois.
MAY 16, 1883
The Denver & Rio Grande reaches Ogden, Utah.
MAY 16, 1889
The assests of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway are absorbed into the newly formed Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway. The reorganization is part of a strategy to convert from a narrow gauge railroad to standard gauge.
MAY 16, 1956
The New York Central unveils it's lightweight Xplorer streamliner.
MAY 16, 1988
The ICC approves the purchase of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy) by Union Pacific subsidiary, Missouri Pacific.
MAY 17, 1853
Ten railroad companies agree to form the nation's first important railroad merger, creating the New York Central Railroad System.
MAY 17, 1895
The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway, the first electric elevated railroad, opens in Chicago.
MAY 17, 1908
In the Canadian province of Ontario, electric operation begins through the St. Clair Tunnel between Sarnia and Port Huron. This ended steam operation which had asphyxiated sveral crew members. A formal inspection and opening ceremony took place on November 12.
MAY 17, 1914
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway becomes part of the Canadian Northern Railway.
MAY 17, 1939
The Royal Tour of Canada commences with the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Wolfe;s Cove, Quebec on the Empress of Canada. The 12 car train, (five from Canadian Pacific, five from Canadian National and the two vice-regal cars), in royal blue and aluminum, left Quebec City on May 18. A pilot train, carrying officials and the press, preceeded the royal train by one hour and no other trains were permitted to travel within this period. The travel arrangements were shared by the two railways with CP being responsible for the westward journey to Victoria. CP used 4-6-4 locomotives 2850 and 2851 for the royal and pilot trains respectively, except for the Ottawa to Brighton, Ontario section, which was over CN track. 2850 hauled the royal train without change right through to Vancouver, a total distance of 3224 miles. Royal crowns were affixed to the running boards of both locomotives and these were eventually fitted to the entire class (2820-2864) which, following approval from their majesties, came to be known as Royal Hudsons.
MAY 17, 1945
The Federal Communications Commission allocates radio freguencies for use by railroads.
MAY 17, 1946
The U.S. government seizes railroads to avert a strike.
MAY 17, 1957
Canadian National opens a 40 mile diversion of it's Montreal to Toronto main line which was required in the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
MAY 17, 1961
The last steam locomotive to be used in passenger terminal switching service, Dallas Union Terminal 0-6-0 #7 is replaced by a diesel.
MAY 17, 1996
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian National abandons it's Beachburg subdivision between Pembroke (mile 89.20) to Nipissing (mile 215.36) through Algonquin Provincial Park. The last train ran over this line through Algonquin Park on November 24, 1995, (train 101 with CN 9551 westbound and train 114 with CN 9542 eastbound) after which time trains only operated east from Pembroke to Ottawa. Track removal was completed by Cando Contracting by September of 1997.
MAY 18, 1896
In Plessy v. Ferguson, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds Louisiana's Jim Crow law which required railroads to provide equal but separate accomodations for the white and colored races. This separate but equal doctrine remained in place for 58 years until reversed by the Court in Brown v. the Board of Eduacation of Topeka.
MAY 18, 1901
Sriking railroad workers in Albany, New York are forced back on the job by state militia.
MAY 19, 1851
The first train to run on the Erie Railroad reaches it's terminus at Dunkirk, New York at Lake Erie.
MAY 19, 1909
The Puget Sound extension on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific is completed.
MAY 19, 1918
The Federal Government provides $1 billion to U.S. railroads for upkeep.
MAY 19, 1955
Noting that there are still 6500 coal-burning steam locomotives in service, the National Coal Association protests that a planned ceremony by the Interstate Commerce Commission to commemorate the passing of steam locomotives from America's transportation scene is premature.
MAY 19, 1974
Amtrak's Super Chief is renamed to the Southwest Limited.
MAY 19, 1990
The Alaska Railroad begins using new passenger equipment for daily express service between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
MAY 20, 1830
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad publishes the first railroad timetable.
MAY 20, 1879
In Canada, the Department of Railways and Canals comes into effect with a Minister having jurisdiction over all railways pertaining to the Dominion Government. Previously this function had been covered by the Department of Public Works.
MAY 20, 1880
Southern Pacific reaches Tucson, Arizona.
MAY 20, 1926
The Railway Labor Act becomes law.
MAY 20, 1956
The Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway makes the last run of it's E-1 class 4-8-4 #700.
MAY 20, 1998
Canadian Pacific (St. Lawrence and Hudson) announces discontinuance of service on the Prescott subdivision (originally Bytown and Prescott Railway) between Kemptville and Leitrrim Road. The rails were removed in May of 1999.
MAY 21, 1852
The Northern Indiana Railroad was the first railroad to enter Chicago from the east.
MAY 21, 1877
At Altoona, Pennsylvania, Alexander Graham Bell's assistants began tests which result in the permanent installation of telephones in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops.
MAY 21, 1920
Grand Trunk became the property of the Canadian Government.
MAY 21, 1927
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific's Pioneer Limited becomes the first Pullman train to be completely equipped with roller bearings.
MAY 21, 1932
To promote ticket sales, the Missouri Pacific Railroad runs the first Mystery Excursion from St. Louis. Passengers purchased tickets without knowing their destination until they arrived, which turned out to be Arcadia, Missouri.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.