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 Ontario, Canada: Electric operation begins through the St. Claire Tunnel between Sarnia and Port Huron. This ended steam operation which had asphyxiated several crew members. A formal inspection and opening ceremony took place on November 12.
MAY 17, 1914
Canadian Northern Ontario Railway becomes part of the Canadian Northern Railway.
MAY 17, 1939
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 and 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, preceded 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 Canadian Pacific being reponsible 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.
The Royal Train, carrying King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, ties up for the night at Caledonia Springs on the Canadian Pacific's M & O subdivision. To give the royal couple a restful night, between 12:01 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. other trains were not permitted to exceed ten miles per hour through the area and did not whistle for public crossings which were manually protected. Similar provisions were made at Gananoque Junction on the night of May 20-21.
MAY 17, 1945
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocates radio frequencies for use by railroads.
MAY 17, 1946
U.S. government seizes railroads to avert strike.
MAY 17, 1957
Canadian National opens a 40 mile diversion of it's Montreal to Toronto mainline required in the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
MAY 17, 1961
Last steam engine used in passenger terminal switching service, Dallas Union Terminal 0-6-0 #7 is replaced by a diesel.
MAY 17, 1996
Canadian National abandons it's Beachburg subdivision from 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.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
MAY 16, 1853
The first train in Ontario, Canada runs between Toronto and Aurora on the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Union Railroad Company. 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, now part of Canadian National. The first train was driven by W.T. Hackett who also took the first locomotive into Kansas City.
The Toronto, the first steam locomotive manufactured in Canada, makes it's first run on the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron Union Railway.
First section of the Illinois Central Railroad completed from LaSalle to Bloomington, Illinois.
MAY 16, 1883
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway reaches Ogden, Utah.
MAY 16, 1956
New York Central unveils lightweight Xplorer streamliner.
MAY 16, 1988
ICC approves purchase of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy) by Union Pacific's subsidiary, Missouri Pacific.
MAY 16, 1996
In Ottawa, Canada: Canadian Pacific runs the last train (headed by #3111) out of the terminal at Walkley Yard. Beginning the next day until the yard's ultimate dimise on the 11th of November, 1997, all trains to Ottawa originated at Smiths Falls with Walkley Yard used simply to facilitate a transfer to the Gatineau road switcher.
MAY 15, 1907
Service over the entire length of the Yosemite Valley Railroad begins.
Yosemite Valley Railroad begins service from Merced to El Portal.
MAY 15, 1952
Scribner Turn initiated, ending 10 year alternating switching betweem Hillyard and Yardley on the SP&S Railway.
MAY 15, 1974
Amtrak's Texas Chief is renamed to the Lone Star.
MAY 14, 1851
President Millard Fillmore is present for the opening of the first direct rail route from the Hudson River to Lake Erie on the New York & Erie Railroad connecting Piermont, New York with Dunkirk, New York (on Lake Erie). It was built at 6-foot gauge, making it both the broadest gauge in the U.S., and the longest mainline in the world at that time.
MAY 14, 1906
Oregon Electric Railway (OE) incorporated.
MAY 14, 1909
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad completes it's line to Seattle.
MAY 14, 1945
The first Alco road switcher, RS-1, #52 is received by the SP&S Railway.
MAY 14, 1955
A causeway is completed across the Strait of Canso between Cape Porcupine and Balache Point, Nova Scotia. This involved a 14 mile mainline diversion for the rerouting of railway traffic linking directly Cape Breton Island with the mainland. Previous movements were by car ferry across the Strait of Canso. The line was officially opened on August 13th.
MAY 13, 1829
The Stourebride Lion arrived in New York from England for the Deleware & Hudson Canal Company.
MAY 13, 1933
Oregon Electric discontinues passenger service.
MAY 13, 1968
The Santa Fe Chief makes it's final run.
MAY 12, 1884
The first through train between Ottawa and Toronto is run over the Ontario & 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
Operation of cable cars in Washington, D.C. commences.
MAY 12, 1936
The Santa Fe's Super Chief makes it's maiden run.
MAY 12, 1955
A crowd of about 850 people ride on the last run of New York's largest operating elevated railroad, the 3rd Avenue El, which had been in service for almost 80 years.
MAY 12, 1989
New York City's last graffiti covered subway car is retired.
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
NewYork Central's engine number 999 sets world speed record of 112.5 MPH near Batavia, New York. The record holds for over twelve years.
MAY 11, 1894
Workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company go on strike to protest wage cuts.
MAY 11, 1956
Chicago & Northwestern dieselizes it's Chicago commuter trains.
MAY 11, 1961
Canadian National installs Canada's first hot axle box detector near Coteau, Quebec.
MAY 10, 1869
Golden Spike Ceremony completes Transcontinental railroad at Promontory, Utah.
MAY 10, 1893
Empire State Express makes first 100 MPH run between Syracuse and Buffalo, New York.
MAY 10, 1912
J.H. Young becomes the fifth President of the SP&S railway.
MAY 10, 1946
On May 10, 1946, Canadian Pacific passenger train #7, "The Dominion", wesbound, hit an open vandalized switch just west of Renfrew station and the locomotive, Royal Hudson 2858 and a baggage car rolled over 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 09, 1850
The second rail connection to the Western Waters was made from Charleston 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 the control of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
MAY 08, 1837
First American type steam locomotive (4-4-0) completed in Philadelphia.
MAY 08, 1863
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers formed.
MAY 08, 1968
ICC decides to drop Santa Fe Chief in favor of keeping Grand Canyon.
MAY 07, 1964
Railroads begin eliminating firemen from locomotives.
MAY 07, 1977
Chessie System Steam Special begins operation to celebrate Baltimore & Ohio sesquicentennial.
MAY 06, 1912
The body of C.M. Hays, the President of the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific Railways, who was lost in the Titanic disaster, was landed at Hallifax by the Mackay-Bennett cable steamship Minia. It was immediately placed on a special GTR train which had been waiting at Hallifax for several days and which reached Bonaventure Station in Montreal May 7. The funeral took place the next day at Mount Royal Cemetary and the GTR offices were closed for a portion of the afternoon so that staff could attend.
MAY 06, 1960
Last steam operation on the Norfolk & Southern Railroad.
MAY 06, 1983
Last mixed train on the Georgia Railroad #103 and #108 Atlanta-Augusta.
MAY 05, 1865
America's firs 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
Canadian National holds a ceremony for the opening of a new tunnel between Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan. The tunnel can handle full heighth, double stack container cars.
MAY 04, 1845
The first iron-truss bridge is completed on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad.
MAY 04, 1941
Last train 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 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
Pasco, Washington to Marshall, Washington opened; through service begins Portland, Oregon to Spokane, Washington on the SP&S Railway.
MAY 03, 1967
In Ottawa, Canada: The first train to pass through the Dows Lake tunnel is a ballast train headed by Canadian Pacific RS-3 no. 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 no. 94, with 8795 (first southbound) and 8575 on the freight from Montreal (first northbound), 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, Northwest Territory.
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".
MAY02, 1881
Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway begins.
MAY 02, 1917
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 Commissioners 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 Transcontinental Railway. The recommedations are accepted by the Government.
MAY 02, 1933
London, Midland and Scottish Railway 4-6-0 Royal Scott and eight-car train is exhibited at Ottawa, Canada on it's way from Montreal to the Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago. 22,000 viewed the train which received 16,979 visitors.
MAY 02, 1960
For the first time, a Canadian National passenger train conveys piggyback flatcars carrying highway trailers. This was on train 44 from Saint John, New Brunswick to Moncton, N.B.
MAY 02, 1966
In Ottawa, Canada: 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 mile post 86.08 and mile post 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 operation of the former Canadian National Pine Falls subdivisions.
MAY 01, 1885
In Ottawa, Canada: Canadian Pacific Railway opens the branch from Buckingham Junction (Masson) to Buckingham.
MAY 01, 1888
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad completes route from Chicago to California.
First trials 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. (I think this was a predesscor of the SP&S Ry)
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 effective 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
In Ottawa, Canada: Carleton Place ceases to to be a division point on the Canadian Pacific Railway. After this date, train crews on the Canadian Pacific Chalk River subdivision operated out of Smiths Falls. This move affected some 250 train crews formerly living in and working from Carleton Place.
The Hepburn Law, which bars railroads from handling products in which they hold an interest, goes into effect.
May 01, 1911
C.F. Gray becomes the fourth President of the SP&S Railway.
MAY 01, 1915
Canadian Government Railways is 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
The Southern Pacific Railroad abandons the Keeler branch, it's last narrow gauge operation.
MAY 01, 1971
Amtrak takes over most passenger service in the U.S.
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.
APRIL 30, 1900
Locomotive engineer John Luther Jones, known as Casey Jones, dies in train wreck while at the throttle of Illinois Central #382.
APRIL 30, 1939
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's General Pershing Zephyr becomes the first train with all flourescent lighting.
APRIL 30, 1970
The first coal unit train on the Canadian Pacific Railway, comprising 88 cars and carrying more than 9,000 tons of coking coal destined for Japan, arrives at Roberts Bank superport after a 700 mile run from Sparwood, British Columbia.
APRIL 30, 1981
Last departure by Auto-Train.
APRIL 30, 1985
Conrail sells 237-mile Canada Southern to Canadian National and Canadian Pacific.
CN and CP take over Canada Southern (Michigan Central/New York Central/Penn Central/Conrail) line through southern Ontario.
APRIL 29, 1851
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad makes the first test run of a battery powered electric locomotive.
APRIL 29, 1873
Patent #138,405 is issued to Eli H. Janney for a type of automatic coupler still in use today.
APRIL 29, 1900
Inaugural run of Northern Pacific's North Coast Limited.
APRIL 29, 1960
Last run for Southern Pacific narrow gauge.
APRIL 28, 1869
Central Pacific crews lay over ten miles of track in one day, winning a $10,000 bet with Union Pacific track layers.
APRIL 28, 1941
The Supreme Court rules unanimously that Negroes are entitled to all first class services on trains.
APRIL 28, 1973
A train carrying ammunition bound for South Vietnam explodes in a daylong series of blasts near Roseville, California.
APRIL 28, 1982
In Ottawa, Canada: Canadian National is authorized to remove the siding serving Texaco Canada (formerly McColl Frontenac Oil) at Johnstown, just east of Prescott. The siding ran off the National Harbours Board Elevator Spur which was jointly used by CN and CP.
APRIL 28, 1987
Illinois Central sells 633 miles of ex-Gulf, Mobile & Ohio to Chicago, Missouri & Western.
APRIL 27, 1952
In Ottawa Canada: Canadian Pacific is authorized to discontinue the operation of mixed trains nos. 592 and 593 between Soulanges and Cornwall. This took effect as of September 23, 1953.
APRIL 27, 1958
The first transcontinental through Pullman sleeping car service, which began in 1946, is discontinued.
APRIL 26, 1875
First scheduled train over the Prince Edward Island Railway from Charlottetown to Georgetown.
APRIL 26 - 27, 1900
In Ottawa, Canada: The disasterous great fire of Hull, Ottawa destroys a great deal of railway infrastructure including 13 cars of the Ottawa and Gatineau and Pontiac Pacific Junction Railways and 175 Canadian Pacific freight cars valued at $130,000. The fire created a shortage of lumber in the area and, as a result, the Canada Atlantic Railway car shops in Ottawa East were forced to temporarily cease building new freight cars.
APRIL 26, 1915
The DP&AN, a predesscor of the SP&S was sold.
APRIL 26, 1954
Pullman Standard introduces trailer-on-flatcar with the name piggyback.
APRIL 26, 1956
C & O introduces RoadRailer trailers for hauling mail on the PereMarquettes.
APRIL 26, 1960
General Electric enters the domestic diesel locomotive market with the introduction of the U25B demonstraters.
April 25, 1995
The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad company ceases to exist.
Dan
APRIL 25, 1831
The first streetcar company in the U.S., the New York and Harlem Railway, is incorporated.
APRIL 25 - 26 1912
Canadian Northern Railway demonstrates a gasoline-electric passenger car in Ottawa, Canada. This was the first sign of a trend which was to end the use of steam locomotives.
APRIL 25, 1924
Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway Company begins operation of the first railroad-owned bus company.
APRIL 25, 1946
Rear end collision of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy' Exposition Flyer and Advance Flyer kills 47 at Naperville, Illinois.
APRIL 25, 1955
Canadian Pacific Railway inaugurates it's new stainless steel, scenic-domed transcontinental passenger train, "The Canadian" between Montreal/Toronto and Vancouver.
APRIL 25, 1960
Last regular steam-powered revenue service train on the Canadian National. Locomotive number 6043 made it's last scheduled run on train 76 between The Pas and Winnipeg.
Steam locomotives withdrawn from service on the Canadian National Railway.
APRIL 25, 1963
President Kennedy signs executive order making the Alaska Railroad tariff rates subject to the Interstate Commerce Commission.
APRIL 25, 1979
Consumers Gas is authorized to construct a self supporting pipe bridge over the Canadian National at m. 0.76 Walkley Line.
APRIL 25, 2004
Hundreds of victims of a North Korean train explosion were reported being treated in an ill-equipped hospital lacking beds and medical equipment. At least 161 people were reported killed and about 1300 others were wounded.
APRIL 25, 2005
The crash of a Japanese commuter train near Osaka killed more than 70 people and killed more than 300 others.
APRIL 24, 1834
APRIL 24 and 25, 1880
In Ottawa, Canada: The gauge of the Canada Central Railway, including the former Brockville and Ottawa Railway is changed from 5'6" to standard gauge. The work, carried out by 300 men, was accomplished without interruption to train services. Since the shops were unable to convert all motive power and rolling stock immediately to standard gauge, a number of broad gauge locomotives and cars were sent to the extension, and construction of the extension between Mackey's Station and Mattawa was carried out on the broad gauge. The track between Mackey's Station and Mattawa was narrowed to standard gauge on Saturday, the 17th of September, 1881. At this time, the broad gauge engines and cars were moved back to Carleton Place shops, aboard flat cars, for gauge conversion.
Long Island Railroad incorporated.
APRIL 24, 1900
Cable car pioneer, Andrew Halliday, dies.
APRIL 24, 1912
In Ottawa, Canada: Canadian Pacific installs an electric train staff system between Hull and Ottawa, Chaudiere, following a serious accident on the 8th of March in which five were killed and many injured in a collision between the Pontiac passenger train and an extra movement.
APRIL 24, 1955
Canadian Pacific introduces transcontinental Canadian.
APRIL 24, 1970
Budd puts carbuilding division up for sale.
APRIL 24, 1983
Last run of the Rio Grande Zephyr by the Denver & Rio Grande Western.
APRIL 23, 1823
The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company obtains a charter for a rail line from Carbondale to the canal at Honesdale in the Lackawanna Valley.
APRIL 23, 1827
First board of directors for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad elected.
APRIL 23, 1831
The first railroad in the Mississippi Valley, the Ponchartrain Railroad, is opened with horse-powered operations.
APRIL 23, 1983
Last branch line mixed service on the Georgia Railroad.
APRIL 22, 1833
Richard Trevithick, inventor of the steam locomotive, dies at age 62.
APRIL 22, 1884
Orange Jull receives patent for the first practical rotory snowplow. Jull's design mounted a large revolving fan on a railroad car to cut through snowdrifts and throw snow to one side while being pushed by locomotives.
APRIL 21, 1901
IN Ottawa, Canada: The first scheduled train across the Interprovincial bridge was Ottawa, Northern and Western train #2 from Gracefield arriving in Ottawa at 09:35. The first train out of Ottawa over the bridge would have been O&NW train #1 which left at 17:00 later that day. The Pontica Pacific Junction Railway was authorized to build a bridge from Hull to Ottawa in 1882. The Interprovincial Bridge Company was incorporated in 1890 and the rights of the Pontiac Pacific Junction were transferred to the Ottawa Interprovincial Bridge Company in 1898.
APRIL 22, 1942
Baldwin delivers prototype T-1 4-4-4-4 duplex locomotives to the Pennsylvania Railroad.
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