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
The heaviest single piece of freight to be carried by rail was a hydrocracker reactor weighing 549.2 tons, hauled from Birmingham, Alabama to Toledo, Ohio.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
November 13, 1906
New York Central's electrification of New York begins.
From Arcamax History & Quotes:
November 14, 1832
The first horse-drawn streetcar made it's appearance in New York City.
November 14, 1885
The first California Southern/Atlantic & Pacific/Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe through transcontinental train departed for the East from the California Southern depot at National City. The last spike actually connecting the California Southern to the Atlantic & Pacific was driven November 15. On November 16 the first through transcontinental train from the East arrived at the National City depot. Celebrations marking the completion were held in San Diego on November 18. These events mark the true end of the Central Pacific/Southern Pacific monopoly of California transcontinental rail transportation, and the start of a rate war between the two rail networks.
November 14, 1978
CSX Corporation was formed in Virginia.
November 14, 1981
VIA cuts nearly 20% of it's services.
November 14, 1988
The U.S. Department of Transportation announces random drug testing for 90,000 railroad workers.
November 14, 1989
CP Rail commences cabooseless train operations. CN Rail follows on February 1, 1990.
November 15, 1908
Oregon Electric's Forest Grove branch opened.
November 15, 1910
Penn Station opens in New York City.
November 15, 1920
W.F. Turner becomes President of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle 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 a gas-turbine-electric locomotive.
November 15, 1957
The longest and heaviest coal train (500 cars, 4 miles long, 42,000 tons) was hauled by Norfolk & Western Railroad between Iager, West Virginia and Portsmouth, Ohio. I for one, kind of wonder if this record may have been recently broken, in terms of overall weight.
November 15, 1965
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Canadian National abandons the former Canada Atlantic line from Chaudiere (mile 0.31) to Ottawa West (mile 1.71). Rail service to E.B. Eddy Ottawa Mills had ceased the previous month.
November 15, 1981
In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia: VIA Rail extends Halifax-St. John Passenger Train to Fredericton on this day, VIA extended it's passenger service Halifax-Moncton-Saint John, to run Halifax-Moncton-Saint John-Fredericton. These trains were operated with RDCs (Rail Diesel Cars, often known as Budd cars) and ran once a day each way. Between Halifax and Saint John they ran on CN track, and were shown in the CN timetable as trains 615 and 616. Between Saint John and Fredericton they ran on CP track and were shown in the CP timetable as trains 157 and 158. The 15th of November 1981 was the same day that VIA Rail canceled the Atlantic, a daily passenger train running between Montreal and Saint John. When the Atlantic was restored in 1985, trains 157 and 158 were cancelled, but trains 615 and 616 continued to operate between Halifax and Sain John.
November 16, 1952
The North Coast Limited begins interchange of coach and sleepers with SP&S Nos. 1 & 2 at Pasco, Washington. (Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway)
November 16, 1963
The Norfolk & Western Railway makes the last run of a mixed train on it's Abingdon Branch.
November 16, 1967
Canadian Pacific begins testing Canada's first remote-controlled mid-train diesel locomotives in regular freight service, using a new robot radio-command system.
November 16, 1972
GE introduces the E60C electric locomotive.
November 16, 1974 The WHISKEY WRECK AT INGRAMPORT, NOVA SCOTIA
In the evening of this day, CNR freight number 518, from Bridgewater to Rockingham, was wrecked at Ingramport. At the west end of the siding, mile 25.7 of the Chester subdivision, an open switch derailed two diesel locomotives and seven cars. The cause was traced to children who had broken the switch lock and left the handle raised above the proper locked position. The vibration of the train caused the switch points to move far enough to catch the wheel flanges. The diesel units were numbers 1330 and 1327. The derailed cars included two box cars loaded with cases of distilled spirits in bottles. These had been loaded at the Bridgetown bottling plant, which was served by a spur from the CN main line; the Bridgetown bottler was the last customer (nearest to the end of the line) after the track to Port Wade had been abandoned. These two cars had traveled from Bridgetown over the CN track through Middleton, Springfield, New Germany, Bridgewater, Mahone Bay, and Chester, to the wreck site. The news spread quickly, that two carloads of whiskey had been wrecked at Ingramport. The wreck site was only a 1-minute walk from Highway 3, and a crowd of onlookers gathered to view the proceedings, and to "case" the two box cars full of liquor, with their mostly intact cargo. CN police kept these cars under continuous surveilance, but it is said that, through the night following the wreck, some of the unbroken bottles found their way to unauthorized destinations. The next day, CN retrieved some of the liquor, but most of it was dumped at the wreck site and buried by a bulldozer. The dumped cases were pushed into a hole dug for the purpose, and covered with earth -- after the dozer driver, as instructed, ran the heavy machine back and forth over the dumped cases, to ensure that the bottles were crushed and the contents could not be salvaged by anyone. The CN track through Ingramport was abandoned in 1994, but, in 1997, the location of the wreck is easily found, and it could be that some future archeologist will dig through those piles of crushed glass. Some say that a few bottles of whiskey remained unbroken, despite the bulldozer's best efforts.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816November 15, 1957 The longest and heaviest coal train (500 cars, 4 miles long, 42,000 tons) was hauled by Norfolk & Western Railroad between Iager, West Virginia and Portsmouth, Ohio. I for one, kind of wonder if this record may have been recently broken, in terms of overall weight. CANADIANPACIFIC2816
I heard rumors of a longer and/or heavier train in Australia, I believe, but this move still holds (and probably will continue to hold for a long time) the North American record.
However, the date was 1967, not 1957. I remember when it was done--they used SD45s, three in front and three more in the middle. (In 1957, such a move might have been handled with steam yet!). My source says that the train's weight was even more impressive--47,250 tons. Operationally, this train was a nightmare, which is why it's not likely to be repeated.
Starting point was Iaeger, West Virginia.
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)
November 17, 1837
The "Sandusky", believed to be the first locomotive equipped with a whistle in the U.S, arrives on the Mad River & Lake Erie at Sandusky, Ohio.
November 17, 1855
The Grand Trunk Railway is opened between Montreal and Brockville, Ontario.
November 17, 1889
The first daily railroad service to the Pacific Coast, without a change was made between Chicago and Portland, Oregon, and between Chicago and San Francisco, California on the Union Pacific Railroad.
November 17, 1908
The Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway begins service between Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.
November 17, 1938
Today is the birthday of a well known, Canadian born folk artist, Gordon Lightfoot, who at the age of 70, is still out there performing. I mention this if only because he is known for having written such numbers as "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and "Steel Rail Blues" and a lot of other very good material. Lightfoot has always been my favorite and it's a shame that I have never seen him in concert and it's not likely that I ever will. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GORDON!!
November 18, 1881
Construction of the Georgia Pacific Railroad begins.
November 18, 1883
Standard time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific) were created, abolishing 100 different local times then in use in the United States.
November 18, 1889
Oahu Railway begins public service in Hawaii.
November 19, 1991:
A cargo train derailment in central Mexico, killed 70 people and injured 40 more, when boxcars crushed automobiles on a highway below the tracks.
November 19, 1891
Granville T. Woods receives a patent for a third rail to operate electrified railways. This black inventor from Columbus, Ohio dedicated his life to a variety of inventions relating to the railroad industry and held more than 60 patents.
November 19, 1957
Canadian National opens it's line from Bartibog to Heath Steele, New Brunswick.
November 19, 1986
Last run for Chicago & Northwestern's Alco C628's.
November 19, 1995
Canadian National shares begin to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
November 20, 1850
First train operated on the Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific.
November 20, 1918
By order in Council P.C. 2854 the management of the Canadian Government Railways is entrusted to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Northern Railway Co. On the same day the Government takes over the Canadian Northern Railway and appoints a new Board of Directors. Canadian Northern Railway is named a constituent company of Canadian National Railways.
November 20, 1961
Union Pacific's 4-8-4- #844 makes it's first post-regular service excursion run.
November 21, 1890
The Rio Grande Southern Railroad operated it's first train.
November 21, 1950
21 people were killed in a head-on collision between a passenger train and a troop train on the Canadian National.
November 21, 1980
The St. Louis - San Francisco Railway is merged into the Burlington Northern system.
November 22, 1882
The Denver & Rio Grande reaches Grand Junction from Gunnison, Colorado.
November 22, 1950
Two Long Island Railroad commutor trains collide, killing 79 and injuring 352 at Richmond Hill, in the borough of Queens, New York.
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
The Denver & Rio Grande Western operated it's last passenger train between Durango and Alamosa, Colorado.
November 24, 1905
The Canadian Northern completes tracklaying into Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The last spike, a silver one, was driven by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta.
November 24, 1912
The Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited makes it's first run.
November 26, 1832:
The first streetcar railway in America started public service in New York City, from City Hall to 14th Street. The car was pulled by a horse, and the fare was 12 1/2 cents.
November 26, 1867
The first patent for a refrigerated car is granted to J.B. Sutherland of Detroit, Michigan.
November 26, 1969
Southern Pacific Company was reorganized as Southern Pacific Transportation Company, itself a subsidiary of the newly formed Southern Pacific Company.
November 27, 1873
The Boston & Maine Railroad 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 the world's largest railway terminal.
November 27, 1957
Steam operations come to an end on the Pennsylvania Railroad.
November 27, 1964
The Pennsylvania Railroad ends it's 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
The first Budd dome cars enter service, connecting with the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway's North Coast Limited.
November 30, 1944
United Railways dissolved.
November 30, 1959
Passenger service ends on the Cotton Belt (St. Louis Southwestern Railroad).
November 30, 1962
In Cornwall, Ontario on the Ottawa division of the New York Central, a Canadian Pacific tank car was found to be leaking liquid chlorine at the Canadian Pacific/Cornwall street Railway exchange yard. The entire northeastern portion of Cornwall was evacuated, but no one lost their lives.
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 Pacific of Missouri Railroad.
December 01, 1881
Central Pacific assumed operating control of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio (GH&SA, known as the Sunset Route). Control returned to GH&SA's own organization (CP owned) Feb 01, 1883, under new Texas state railroad laws.
December 01, 1884
The Oregon Short Line and the Oregon Railway & Navigation Co (later forming Union Pacific's route to the northwest) officially open.
December 01, 1903
The first western film, The Great Train Robbery, is released.
December 01, 1909
G.B. French becomes President of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
December 01, 1952
Canadian Pacific launches an intermodal freight system by carrying truck trailers on railway flat cars between Toronto and Montreal.
December 01, 1955
The first remote control railroad passenger car is tested on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad between New Rochelle and Rye, New York.
December 01, 1959
The Norfolk & Western acquires the Virginian.
December 01, 1998
The St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad (Quebec) commences operation over the Canadian National's Sherbrooke subdivision between St. Rosalie, Quebec and Norton, Vermont.
December 02, 1856
The first patent was issued for a sleeping car.
December 02, 1892
Railroad financier, Jay Gould dies.
December 02, 1926
The Cleveland Railroad Company places the first all-aluminum streetcar into service.
December 02, 1980
The Pullman Company is dissolved.
December 03, 1855
The Great Western Railway "branch" between Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario is opened to traffic.
December 03, 1863
The ground breaking for the Union Pacific Railroad officially took place at Omaha, Nebraska.
December 03, 1909
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Canadian Northern Ontario Railway line from Hawkesbury to Ottawa passes inspection and through service between Montreal and Ottawa commences December 5. The official first train, hauled by locomotive no. 180, ran on December 12, 1909. A temporary station at Henderson Avenue, adjacent to the Ottawa and New York Railway depot, had to be built because the company was unable to obtain agreement to cross Hurdman Road run into Central Depot. This line was originally incorporated as the James Bay Railway in 1895. It became the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway in 1906. Hawkesbury was reached from Montreal via the Carillon and Grenville Railway and a bridge over the Ottawa River at Hawkesbury. The line was opened in sections as follows:
*Hawkesbury to South Nation River - June 8, 1909 (following an inspection by special train on the 31st of May)
*South Nation River to Rockland - July 10, 1909
*Rockland to Ottawa, Hurdman's bridge - December 3, 1909 (following an inspection November 30th)
There was a delay in bridging the South Nation River because the contractor used inferior concrete. The original piers had to be removed and new piers were constructed on a slightly different location.
December 03, 1913
The Canadian Northern Ontario Railway opens from Napanee to Hurdman, Ontario, the first through trip having been completed on October 3, 1913. Freight and mixed trains started running on January 5, 1914. The first through passenger train from Quebec to Toronto via this route ran on May 1, 1914 and regular through passenger train service between Toronto and Ottawa commenced June 24, 1914.
December 03, 1938
Canadian National opens it's line between Val D'Or and Rouyn Noranda, Quebec.
December 03, 1967
The last Twentieth Century arrives at Chicago's LaSalle Street Station.
December 4, 1967
The 20th Century Limited, the famed luxury train, completed its final run from New York City to Chicago.
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, 1884
Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. (OR&N) and Oregon Short Line (Union Pacific controlled) joined at Huntington, Oregon, completing transcontinental link. Union Pacific subsequently acquired control of the OR&N, lost it, then under Harriman reacquired permanent control.
December 04, 1967
Kansas City Southern tells the ICC it plans to quit the passenger business.
December 05, 1883
The Rock Island, Milwaukee Road and Union Pacific Railroads make an agreement for interchange of traffic at Omaha, Nebraska.
December 05, 1968
The Denver & Rio Grande Western operates it's last narrow gauge train westbound out of Alamosa, Colorado.
December 06, 1915
The Connaught Tunnel on the Canadian Pacific Railway opens beneath Mount McDonald. For 70 years, the five-mile tunnel was Canada's longest.
December 06, 1936
Canadian National opens it's line between Senneterre and Val D' Or, Quebec.
December 06, 1968
The last steam powered revenue run outside of the Silverton branch on the Denver & Rio Grande Western, takes place between Durango and Alamosa, Colorado.
December 06, 1971
Auto-Train begins daily service between Lotton (I'm not sure if I have the correct spelling on this one), Virginia outside Washington, D.C. and Sanford, Florida. The train transports 100 cars and 400 people.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816Auto-Train begins daily service between Lotton (I'm not sure if I have the correct spelling on this one), Virginia outside Washington, D.C. and Sanford, Florida. The train transports 100 cars and 400 people. CANADIANPACIFIC2816
Sounds like you're expecting me, Ray!
Lorton.
Ray,
Does your "source" tell you when Auto-Train started their run from Louisville,
Ky. to Sanford, Fl.; and ended it?
It was a "short-lived" run, but I can't remember the dates.
(was living here in Lou. also!)
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!!
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.