September 30, 1877
The Southern Pacific enters Arizona at Yuma, becoming the first railroad in the Arizona Territory.
September 30, 1914
Great Northern Pacific Steamship Co. (GNPSS) is incorporated.
In the Canadian province of Ontario, construction starts at Russell on the first section of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Electric Railway Which was planned to run from Ottawa to Morrisburg and Beaudette with a branch from Metcalfe to Russell. There was a public ceremony of the turning of the first sod and the day was observed as a general holiday in Russell. However, little work was done and no trains ever operated over this line.
September 30, 1981
Amtrak's Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa Black Hawk is discontinued.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
October 01, 1834
A patent is issued to Ross Winans for the first locomotive with six or eight drive wheels.
October 01, 1861
Theodore Judah recommends the Donner Pass route for the Central Pacific through the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
October 01, 1905
The Grand Trunk assumes control of the 460 mile Canada Atlantic system by an agreement dated August 15, 1904.
October 01, 1931
The Cotton Belt's Blue Streak freight service begins.
October 01, 1943
T.F. Dixon becomes Vice President & General Manager of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
October 01, 1964
San Francisco's cable cars are declared a national landmark.
October 01, 1967
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's Fast Mail makes it's final run.
October 01, 1979
Amtrak's National Limited, Lone Star, North Coast Hiawatha and Hilltopper are discontinued.
The Canadian National's narrow gauge operations in Newfoundland come to an end with a final run.
October 01, 1996
The St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway is formed by merging the CP Rail routes in southern Ontario and Quebec with it's Delaware and Hudson subsidiary in northern USA. The STLH name was first used about June 1st, although the legal entity was not established until October 1st.
October 01, 1998
Southern Rails Cooperative takes over the Canadian National's Avonlea subdivision from Avonlea to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
October 02, 1872
Colorado's second largest narrow gauge railroad, the Denver, South Park & Pacific is incorporated.
October 02, 1882
When asked whether he operates his railroads for the public benefit, William Vanderbilt 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
Steam power is operated for the last time on the Illinois Central.
October 02, 2000
VIA Rail Canada operates the funeral train of the right honourable Pierre Elliot Trudeau from Ottawa to Montreal. It ran as a passenger extra with VIA units 6433 and 6436 and VIA club cars 4007, 4008 and 4009 with dome observation car 8718 "Yoho Park" bringing up the rear. The train left Ottawa at 08:50 and was observed by many people along the route. A CBC helicopter followed overhead. At the request of Mr. Trudeau's family the train slowed down at many towns, villages and settlements along the route to greet wellwishers.
October 03, 1837
The Sandusky, the first locomotive equipped with a whistle, makes it's first run from Patterson to New Brunswick, New Jersey.
October 03, 1873
In Canada, the Grand Trunk Railway converts the gauge of it's line between Stratford and Montreal, 421 miles together with 60 miles of sidings, from 5'6" to 4' 8 1/2". The track work was completed in 24 hours and occaisioned but 16 hours interuption in the use of the main line.
October 03, 1937
Railroad unions win a 44 cent per day pay raise.
October 03, 1995
Canadian Pacific abandons it's Lachute subdivision east of Thurso, Quebec to St. Augustin, Quebec.
October 04, 1904
The New York City subway has 350,000 riders in it's first day of operation.
October 04, 1922
The Canadian National Railway Company becomes a corporate entity (order in council P.C. 2094).
October 04, 1960
Canadian National opens it's hump yard in Moncton, New Brunswick.
October 04, 1967
Santa Fe President John Reed announces that the railroad plans to drop all but a handful of first class passenger trains.
October 04, 1969
The last wooden subway passenger cars were retired at Brooklyn, New York.
October 04, 1970
The first excursion train is operated on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
October 04, 1980
The Smithsonian reactivates 2-4-0 John Bull.
October 04, 1981
Amtrak's Chicago to East Peoria Prairie Marksman is discontinued.
October 04, 2007
Canadian Pacific completes the acquisition of the Duluth, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad.
From Arcamax History & Quotes:
October 4, 1883:
The first run of the Orient Express.
October 06, 1846
George Westinghouse was born on this date.
October 06, 1866
The four Reno brothers, hold up their first train, taking $13,000 from the safes on a moving Ohio & Mississippi train. This was the first robbery of a train in motion.
October 07, 1826
The first American railroad is completed in Quincy, Massachusetts. Horse drawn wagons carrying granite were pulle from a quarry along a three-mile long track for the Bunker Hill Monument.
October 07, 1834
The first American railroad tunnel was opened 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 on board a moving train.
October 07, 1949
The Gulf, Mobile & Ohio becomes one of the first major railroads to completely dieselize after it's last operation of steam power.
October 07, 1957
Canadian National opens it's line from Beatyville to Chibougamau, Quebec.
October 07, 1960
General Manager N.S. Westergard assumes the additional post of Vice-President of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
October 08, 1979
Amtrak's Chicago to Miami Floridian is discontinued.
October 09, 1877
A Presidential order allows Southern Pacific to expand into Arizona and New Mexico.
In Canada, the locomotive Countess of Dufferin arrives at St. Boniface on a barge towed by the steamer "Selkirk". It was brought in by the contractor Joseph Whitehead to work on the Selkirk - Emerson line and was the first locomotive in Manitoba and on the prairies.
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 others 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.
Ocober 10, 1888
55 people are killed in a railroad accident at Mud Run, Pennsylvania.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 wrote: 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.
I think that, given the fact that the G&CU made its first runs in late 1848, and the Pioneer later made the first run on the Aurora Branch Railroad, the correct statement would be that the locomotive arrived by boat from New York on this date. It wasn't until four years later that Chicago was connected by rail with the eastern network.
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 27, 1904:
The first rapid ransit subway opened in New York City.
Does anyone else have any railroad history facts to share for this date?
October 30, 1955
Union Pacific shifts Omaha-Chicago streamliner routes from the Chicago & Northwestern to the Milwaukee Road.
October 30, 1965
The Canadian National-Canadian Pacific passenger pool train arrangement is terminated.
October 30, 1972
Two Illinois Central Gulf commuter trains collide in Chicago, killing 35 and injuring 356.
October 30, 1983
Amtrak begins tri-weekly Auto Train service from Lofton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida.
October 30, 1996
Raillink-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 30, 2008
The Canadian Pacific Railway officially takes over the control of the DM&E and IC&E.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816October 30, 1983 Amtrak begins tri-weekly Auto Train service from Lofton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida.
That's Lorton.
Welcome back!
Carl, Thank You for correcting me on this one! It is not too unusual I guess, to find mis-spellings in some of my sources of historical information. I have decided to come back with On This Date in Railroad History based on what you had to say to me back in July. I was never aware of your post to me until after TRAINS MAGAZINE made all the changes in it's web site. And I hope you will forgive me for this, but for a long time I kind of assumed you were just another "Mr. Know-it-all" But now having a better understanding of where you are coming from, I appreciate your commentary and corrections!
Ray
Glad to help when I can. I hope that someday we'll get an entire year of historical information here that can be referred to.
I've never claimed to "know it all"--like perfection, knowledge is a goal that can only be striven toward, but never fully achieved. It's best to go through life with eyes and ears (and mind!) open!
I hope that more other people would not only correct these references as needed, or comment on them, but would add to this column from their own sources. And don't forget to add the merger to the October 30 listing!
October 31, 1956
Brooklyn, New York ends street car service.
October 31, 1957
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian National Railways is authorised to acquire and operate the New York Central line in Ottawa, abandoned on February 15, for access to industries as well as the Ramsayville Spur which ran east from Hawthorne.
October 31, 1965
Canadian National begins Montreal-Toronto "Rapido" passenger service. This was extended to Quebec in the following year.
October 31, 1970
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, known as Amtrak is created.
October 31, 1976
Canadian Pacific and Canadian National issue a joint VIA timetable.
October 31, 1978
The last 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) trackage.
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. The next day, two 20 seat "rail shuttle vehicles" commenced to provide service to isolated communities between Lillooet and D'Arcy, British Columbia.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 October 30, 1955 Union Pacific shifts Omaha-Chicago streamliner routes from the Chicago & Northwestern to the Milwaukee Road.
I couldn't help but comment on this since I remember the "Cities" trains so well when I was a kid in elementary school in the late 60's/early 70's. God, watching those things come into Marion, Iowa; they were the most beautiful passenger trains in the world IMHO. To this day, it still hurts that they're gone.
Interestingly enough, I couldn't help but think of how ironic it would be that something good would happen some 53 years later on the same date (at least between Pingree Grove and Sabula where the "Cities" trains plied the former MILW) as the ICE and sister road DME became part of my employer, Canadian Pacific Railway!
November 01, 1834
Philadelphia and Trenton, New Jersey are connected by rail.
November 01, 1855
More than 30 people were killed when 12 of thirteen cars from an excursion train plunged into the Gasconade River near St. Louis after a bridge over the waterway collapesed. 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, 1856
The opening of the Grand Trunk Railway is celebrated in Montreal, Canada.
November 01, 1864
In the Canadian Province of Ontario, the Brockville and Ottawa Railway opens it's between Almonte and Arnprior. To mark this event, "The Great Railway Celebration" was held in a "large and commodius two story brick school", likely the Arnprior public school situated on Ottawa Street. The dinner-dance was the most elaborated 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 shipping bulk oil enters service Titusville, Pennsylvania. It was a flat car fitted with two wooden tanks shaped like inverted tubs.
November 01, 1878
The Chicago & Alton Railroad completes the first all-steel bridge over the Missouri River at Glasgow, Missouri.
November 01, 1884
The Harbour Grace Railway, the first railway in Newfoundland, is opened for traffic between St. Johns and Harbour Grace. The last spike was driven by Prince George, later to become King George V, who at the time was visiting Newfoundland as a midshipman aboard the Royal Navy's H.M.S. Cumberland.
November 01, 1885
The first train service on the Canadian Pacific was established 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 were killed in the wreck known as the Malbone Street Wreck. Instead of taking the curve at 6 mph, the train was traveling between 30 and 40 mph.
November 01 - 04 1925
Canadian National diesel electric car No. 15280 makes a run from Montreal to Vancouver in a total elapsed time of 72 hours and an actual running time of 67 hours, 7 minutes.
November 01, 1942
In Washington, D.C. the first train crosses the 3,360 foot long Sheperd's Landing Bridge connecting the Baltimore & Ohio's Alexandria branch with Potomic Yard, Alexandria.
November 01, 1976
Amtrak discontinues use of the Louisville & Nashville depot in Louisville, Kentucy (?)
November 01, 1980
The Chessie System merges with Seaboard Coast Line Industries to form the CSX Corporation. (Another source of information that I have tells me this happened Nov 01, 1978, so I am not sure which is closer to being accurate.)
November 01, 1985
Southern Pacific and Santa-Fe begin repainting diesel locomotives in red and yellow in anticipation of a merger which never really happened.
November 01, 1995
Commuter service commences over CP Rail between Vancouver and Mission, British Columbia.
November 01, 2005
In Canada, Thunder Rail takes over the operation of the Arborfield, Saskatchewan subdivision from Hudson Bay Rail.
November 02, 1887
The Canada Atlantic Railway commences using the first passenger cars in Canada to be fitted with electric lighting.
November 02, 1953
In Washington, D.C., the last regularly scheduled steam run on the Baltimore & Ohio was train #22, "The Washingtonian" with engine #5306, Class P7 departing Washington at 6:30 pm for Baltimore's Camden Station.
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 02, 1998
Quebec Gatineau Railway commences operation over the former CN Montfort Spur between Mirabel and Saint-Jerome, Quebec. Access to the CN network is continued through an interchange agreement between CN, OGRY and St. L&H.
November 03, 1908
The Cow Creek viaduct was completed on the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
November 03, 1909
Oregon Trunk Railway (OT) incorporated.
November 03, 1969
The last Kansas City Southern Southern Belles arrive in Kansas 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 05, 1959
Canadian National opens a new international marshalling yard at Sarnia, Ontario.
November 05, 1973
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) begins service in San Francisco, California.
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, 1960
The Last steam locomotive to operate officially on the Canadian Pacific Railway pulls a special train to St. Lin from Montreal. The locomotive itself was a class A-1-e No. 29, a 4-4-0 built in 1887.
November 06, 1968
A 101-day strike by the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen against the Belt Railway of Chicago comes to an end.
November 07, 1835
Construction begins on the Erie Railroad.
November 07, 1884
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe purchased full control of the California Southern, securing it's outlet to the west coast.
November 07, 1885
The last spike is driven in the first Canadian transcontinental mainline at Craigellachie, British Columbia in the Eagle Pass. Van Horne makes his famous fifteen-word speech "All I can say is that the work has been well done in every way."
November 07, 1909
24 hour train service begins between New York and St. Louis.
November 07, 1970
The second longest tunnel in the United States, the 7 mile 1327 yard Flathead tunnel opens on the Great Northern.
November 08, 1869
Central Pacific's overland passenger terminus was transferred from Alameda to Oakland, California.
November 08, 1885
A Canadian Pacific special train arrives in Port Moody at Pacific Tidewater, the first railway train ever to travel across Canada from sea to sea.
November 08, 1905
Union Pacific's Chicago to San Francisco Overland gets electric lighting.
November 08, 1969
The last train to depart Chicago's Grand Central Station was #8 of the C&O which left for Grand Rapids, Michigan.
November 08, 1985
Downtown passenger service to Quebec is restored with the reopening of Palais station.
November 09, 1833
Twelve passengers on the Camden & Amboy Railroad were injured in the first passenger train accident in the United States.
November 09, 1872
In the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, the Intercolonial Railway between Truro and Amherst was opened for regular traffic. This completed the Halifax - St. John route, so that a passenger could now ride all the way between these two cities in a railway car.
November 09, 1933
Canadian National opens it's line to Lynn Lake, Manitoba.
November 09, 1953
Canadian National opens it's line between Lynne Lake and Sherridon, Manitoba.
November 09, 1998
St. Thomas and Eastern Railway, a division of Trillium Rail, commences operation over the former Canadian National Cayuga Spur between St. Thomas and Delhi, Ontario.
November 10, 1887
Canada Atlantic Railway commences heating passenger cars by steam from the locomotive thus eliminating the danger of fire from stoves. This is the first such use in Canada. The railway completed the conversion of it's entire passenger car fleet in October of 1891, thus becoming the first railway in Canada to use steam exclusively to heat it's passenger rolling stock.
November 10, 1905
Willamette Valley Traction incorporated.
November 10, 1952
The United States Supreme Court upholds a 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.
The Pennsylvania Railroad runs steam power for the last time.
November 11, 1997
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Quebec Gatineau Railway takes over the operation of the former Canadian Pacific Lachute subdivision between Outremont Yard and Hull and reopens the section between St-Augustin and Thurso abandoned in October 1995. On November 10, Canadian Pacific locomotives 4231 and 4240 (C-424) hauled the last loads off the Thurso to Hull section and the next morning moved the traffic to Smiths Falls for the last time.
With no customers remaining in Ottawa, Canadian Pacific's presence in Ottawa comes to an end with the last train on the SL&H (CP) Prescott subdivision between a point north of Kemptville and Leitrim Road (20.13 miles) on the southern edge of the Macdonald Cartier Airport (Ottawa). This was the first line to enter Ottawa, then Bytown, in 1854. The last CP train into Walkley Yard was handled by two CP C-424 locomotives, 4231 and 4240.
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