Walt, one of my sources of information for this particular thread is Railwaystation.com, and this is where I got the information regarding Amtrak's Auto Train service between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida. At this point I know that I would have to do a lot of looking with this one source to find an answer to your question, if indeed there is an answer.
I am always looking for sources of historical information, given in a chronological order, and if ANYONE can provide me with any tips, it would be greatly appreciated!
Ray
CANADIANPACIFIC2816Walt, one of my sources of information for this particular thread is Railwaystation.com, and this is where I got the information regarding Amtrak's Auto Train service between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida. At this point I know that I would have to do a lot of looking with this one source to find an answer to your question, if indeed there is an answer. I am always looking for sources of historical information, given in a chronological order, and if ANYONE can provide me with any tips, it would be greatly appreciated! Ray
Thanks Ray;
At one point in time, Auto-Train did run from Louisville, Ky. to Sanford, Florida.
I just can't remember the dates. It was right next to the Amtrak station here.
When I worked at Safetran, I had business with some of their people.
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!!
December 07, 1891
Passenger service begins in the first international tunnel, under the St. Clair River between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario.
December 07, 1941
New York Central streamlines the Empire State Express with 32 new cars from Budd.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
December 21, 1829
The first stone arch railroad bridge in the world, the Carrollton Viaduct, is officially opened on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad over Gwynn's Falls at Baltimore, Maryland.
December 21, 1833
The Georgia Railroad is chartered.
December 21, 1836
The Georgia Legislature charters the Western & Atlantic Railroad.
December 21, 1896
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway opens throughout between Ottawa and Parry Sound.
December 21, 1907
F.B. Clarke becomes President of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
December 21, 1949
Operations cease on the Gales Creek & Wilson River Railway.
December 21, 1962
The last Budd RDC manufactured is delivered to the Reading.
December 22, 1829
The Baltimore & Ohio begins passenger operations between Baltimore and Ellicott's Mills.
December 22, 1885
Patent #332,762 is issued to La Marcus Adna Thompson for a gravity switchback railroad.
December 22, 1904
The New York & Ottawa was sold at an auction held in Utica, New York by the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad interests.
December 22, 1950
2 self-propelled of the Long Island Railroad collide, killing 77.
December 22, 1965
The Pennsylvania Railroad sells the Long Island Railroad to the state of New York.
December 22, 1982
The Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific Railroads are merged into the Union Pacific.
December 23, 1851
Illinois Central Railroad begins construction.
December 23, 1852
The Pacific Railroad of Missouri (later known as the Missouri Pacifc Railway) begins first passenger service west of the Mississippi River.
December 23, 1889
In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia: On this day, the Nova Scotia Central Railway, between Middleton and Bridgewater, opened for regular traffic. NSCR connected with Windsor & Annapolis Railway at Middleton. There now was a continuous line of railway track (owned by various companies), with daily trains (operated by various companies but with connecting schedules), from Lunenburg through Mahone Bay, Bridgewater, New Germany, Springfield, Nictaux, Kingston, Aylesford, Amherst, Moncton, and Saint John. There was a connecting railway line, with daily trains, between Middleton and Annapolis Royal. (There was a railway between Digby and Yarmouth, but the only passenger connection between Digby and Annapolis was by stage coach.) There was a connecting railway line, with daily trains, between Truro and New Glasgow. (East of New Glasgow, the only scheduled service was by stage, but many people traveled by horseback or on foot.)
December 23, 1907
The first all-steel railroad passenger coach is completed.
December 23, 1914
The New York Central Railroad was renamed to New York Central Lines.
December 23, 1926.
20 people were killed in a train accident at Rockmont, Georgia.
December 23, 1946
The highest ridership in the history of New York City's subway system was recorded at 8.8 million passengers.
December 23, 2000
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Ottawa Central Railway purchases the Ontario L'Original Railway. The effective date of the transfer is the first week of January 2001.
December 24, 1852
The Baltimore & Ohio's tracks reach the Ohio River at Wheeling, West Virginia.
December 24, 1985
Illinois Central Gulf sells it's 681-mile division to Chicago, Central and Pacific.
December 24, 2007
Canadian National purchases the Athabasca Northern Railway from Boyle to Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Hello Canadian Pacific 2816
Don't know if this fits your category or not, but it may be of interest.
During the evening of 27th December 1956, I was on a troop train special consist enroute to Montreal from St. Jean Quebec. At Brosseau, a station roughly 10 miles south of Montreal, our train hit an iced switch.
The engineer and fireman were killed. Along with the engine and tender, the consist was a baggage car and 7 sleepers; everything left the tracks - the baggage car was cut in half and a couple of the sleepers were very heavily damaged; along with the station platform itself. The Brosseau station was located immediately south of a river crossing - the engine and tender ended up in that river, overturned.
The accident disrupted service for about 12 hours on the CNR main line from Montreal south to US border points.
Robert
[
CANADIANPACIFIC2816 December 24, 1852 The Baltimore & Ohio's tracks reach the Ohio River at Wheeling, West Virginia.
At the time, 1852, it would have actually been Wheeling, Virginia. West Virginia bcame a separate state in 1863 during the Civil War.
December 25, 1830
The Best Friend of Charleston, owned by the South Carolina Railroad, becomes the first American locomotive in service in the United States.
December 25, 1848
The New Haven Railroad opens.
December 25, 1854
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Bytown and Prescott Railway was opened between Prescott and Bytown (now Ottawa), 54 miles. It was the first rail service to what is now Canada's Capital city. Bytown was renamed Ottawa in 1855 and the railway became the Ottawa and Prescott Railway Company, now a part of the Canadian Pacific.
Christmas 1983
VIA Rail Canada discontinues the 25-year tradition of making plum puddings available on VIA trains at Christmas time. Sales had dropped from 50,000 to less than 5,000 per year.
December 25, 1995
Canadian Pacific abandons it's Cornwall subdivision.
December 26, 1917
President Wilson takes possession and control of the nation's railroads by proclomation. This resulted in the formation of the United States Railroad Administration, which operated the country's railroads until March 3, 1920.
December 26, 1956
The Denver & Rio Grande Western operated standard gauge steam power for the last time.
December 27, 1859
The Grand Trunk Railway completes it's line between Toronto and Sarnia and establishes a ferry service across the St. Claire River to Fort Gratiot (Port Huron).
December 27, 1942
In the Canadian province of Ontario: A 13 coach troop train, with Hudson 2802, runs into the rear of Canadian Pacific train 550, with Pacific 2518, at Almonte. This accident, in which 155 people were injured and 36 killed, is the most serious to have occurred in the Ottawa area. Following an investigation, the Board of Transport Commisioners approved, on April 3, 1943, the installation of automatic signals to be installed at Almonte.
December 27, 1943
Fearing a threat to national security, President Franklin Roosevelt orders the government to seize the nation's railroads in order to avert a strike.
December 27, 1951
The last train runs on the Rio Grande Southern.
December 28, 1912
The first municipally owned streetcars begin operation in San Francisco.
December 28, 1917
A wartime emergency, which was called for by the Federal government, would take control of U.S. railroads on January 1, 1918.
December 28, 1966
13 people were killed in a train accident in Everett, Masachussetts.
December 28, 1972
Amtrak announces the purchase of French-built Turboliners.
December 29, 1876
A bridge collapsed beneath Lakeshore & Michigan Southern's Pacific Express, killing 92 and injuring 64 others. Eleven cars fell into the Ashtabula River and stoves in the train's cars started fires after the bridge collapsed.
December 29, 1879
The locomotive J.G. HAGGART is taken over the ice of the Red River into Winnipeg, Manitoba by the contractor Joseph Whitehead to start construction westward across the prairies in the spring of 1880.
December 29, 1982
The Louisville and Nashville was merged into the Seaboard Coast Line, which changes it's name to Seaboard System.
December 30, 1906
In the Washington, D.C. area: There was a train wreck at Terra Cotta, near present day Fort Totten. 52 people were killed on train & platform, resulting in the ICC banning future wooden body passenger car construction.
December 30, 1907
United Railways begins passenger service.
December 31, 1860
The first railway tunnel in Canada opens on the Brockville & Ottawa Railway beneath the town of Brockville. This tunnel was a third of a mile in length.
December 31, 1943
The Gales Creek & Wilson River Railway is purchased by the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
December 31, 1944
50 people are killed in a train accident at Bagley, Utah.
December 31, 1961
In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia: On this day, the Dominion Atlantic Railway officially abandoned all of the Cornwallis Valley Railway, except 2.2 miles from Kentville to Steam Mill (which remained in operation until 1994). The track abandoned included included most of the Kingsport Subdivision, from Steam Mill to Centreville (2.55 miles) and from Centreville through Sheffield Mills, Canning, and Pereau to Kingsport (8.84 miles), and all of the Weston Subdivision from Centreville through Billtown, Lakeville, Woodville, Somerset, to Weston (14.47 miles).
December 31, 1968
The last and final Pullman service in the United States was run on this date.
The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad becomes part of the Penn Central Railroad.
December 31, 1969
In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia: This date marks the final day of operation of electric trolley coaches in Nova Scotia. The next day, the Halifax transit system was taken over by the City, and a fleet of new diesel buses was put into service. The last trolley coach, number 243, driven by Bill Forbes, pulled into the Young Street terminal shed at 12:45 am on New Year's Day. This was the last ellectrically-powered public transit vehicle to run in Nova Scotia.
December 31, 1978
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific's Peoria Rocket makes it's last run.
January 01, 1839
The New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Co. is opened between New Brunswick and Trenton, New Jersey.
January 01, 1872
The Denver & Rio Grande Railway begins service between Denver and Colorado Springs.
January 01, 1881
The Denver & Rio Grande Railway reaches Chama, New Mexico.
January 01, 1882
William Cornelius Van Horne is appointed General Manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Van Horne succeeded in laying 480 miles of track across the Prairies in the summer of 1882.
January 01, 1908
The Oregon Electric Railway is opened between Portland and Salem, Oregon.
January 01, 1913
In the Canadian province of Ontario: the Kingston and Pembroke Railway is leased to the Canadian Pacific Railway. The CPR had exercised control over the K&P since November 1901.
January 01, 1914
The first part of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway is opened for service between North Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay, 12 miles.
The last spike is driven in the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway line from Montreal to Port Arthur at White Otter River, about 400 km east of Port Arthur.
January 01, 1946
Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast merged into Atlantic Coast Line.
January 01, 1948
14 people were killed in a train accident at Syracuse, Mousourri.
January 01, 1952
The first gas-turbine-electric locomotive in the U.S. begins service on the Union Pacific Railroad.
January 01, 1953
J.C. Moore is elected Vice-President of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
January 01, 1962
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian Pacific abandons it's Kingston subdivision between Calabogie and Snow Road. The last through freight ran over the Kingston and Pembroke line on December 29, 1961.
January 01, 1966
A transit worker strike shuts down the New York City subway system for 12 days.
January 01, 1971
The Alabama, Tennessee & Northern Railroad merges with the Frisco.
January 01, 1983
The Fort Worth & Denver Railroad is merged into the Burlington Northern system.
January 01, 1986
The Soo Line merged with what was left of the Milwaukee Road.
Canadian Pacific takes over the Vancouver and Lulu Island Railway in Vancouver.
January 02, 1849
Chicago & Eastern Illinois predecessor, Evansville & Illinois chartered.
January 02, 1899
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Pembroke Southern Railway, incorporated May 27, 1893, opens from Golden Lake to Pembroke. The first train into Pembroke had arrived on November 14, 1898. The company was leased to the Canada Atlantic Railway on August 21, 1899 which took over operation on September 01, 1899.
January 02, 1907
33 people were killed in a train accident at Volland, Kansas.
January 03, 1954
The last steam powered passenger train departs Washington D.C.'s Union Station behind Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac #622. It departed at approximately 1:40 PM.
January 03, 1965
The State of Maine loses it's passenger train connection with the rest of the United States when the Boston & Maine ends it's Boston to Portland trains.
January 03, 1967
The Chesapeake & Ohio acquires the Chicago, South Shore & South Bend.
January 03, 1986
The Skytrain commences operation between Vancouver and New Westminster, British Columbia.
January 04, 1831
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad makes the first bid for a locomotive of American Manufacture by placing advertisements in the Baltimore American.
January 04, 1877
Railroad mogul Cornelius Vanderbilt dies at the age of 83. He was probably the wealthiest man in the world at that time.
January 04, 1892
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Central Counties Railway, incorporated on June 23, 1877 as the Prescott County Railway, opens from Glen Robertson to Hawkesbury. The line was leased to the Canada Atlantic Railway on April 17, 1891. A formal inspection was made by Inspector Marcus Smith on December 3, 1891 who found the line ready to be opened to the public provided two culverts were strengthened and proper provision made for turning the engine at Hawkesbury. The first sod had been turned at Glen Robertson on March 31, 1891.
January 04, 1955
The use of steam power on the Milwaukee Road comes to an end when 2-8-4 #239 arrives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
January 04, 1962
New York City gets it's first automated subway train.
January 04, 1970
The Erie Lackawanna's Lake Cities makes it's last run.
January 04, 1987
16 people were killed when Amtrak's northbound Colonial collided with errant Conrail diesels which had run through a stop signal and a switch at Chase, Maryland.
January 05, 1885
The Long Island Railroad creates the first Piggyback service with a train consisting of flat cars for carrying farmer's wagons and horses and a coach for teamsters.
January 06, 1893
The Great Northern Railway completed it's line from the Great Lakes to Everett, Washington. This was the first transcontinental line built without federal land grant support.
January 05, 1905
Baltimore & Ohio introduces the first electric freight locomotive.
January 05, 1956
General Motors introduces the Aerotrain.
January 05, 1984
Delaware & Hudson becomes part of Guilford Transportation Industries.
January 06, 1866
The first robbery of a train enroute occurred on this date, $500,000 in bonds and government securities were taken from an Adams Express company safe on the New Haven Railroad between New York City and Boston.
The Great Northern Railway completes it's transcontinental route at Everett, Washington.
January 06, 1936
Great Northern Steamship Company (GNPSS) disolved.
January 06, 1985
The Federal Railroad Administration turns over ownership of the Alaska Railroad to the State of Alaska.
January 07, 1830
The first commercial railroad service begins with horse drawn carriages in Baltimore on the first stretch of track on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
January 07, 1912
Through service is initiated on the Oregon Trunk line between Wishram and Bend, Oregon.
January 07, 1946
The Baltimore & Ohio shifts passenger trains from Detroit's Fort Street Union Depot to Michigan Central Station.
January 07, 1969
Canadian National's Turbo passenger train, which ran between Montreal and Toronto, is taken out of service until problems with it are worked out.
January 07, 1995
The New Brunswick Southern Railway commences operation over former Canadian Pacific trackage from McAdam to Saint John, New Brunswick with a branch from McAdam to St. Stephen.
The Algoma Central Railway is taken over by the Wisconsin Central Railroad.
January 08, 1863
The Central Pacific Railroad begins construction.
January 08, 1914
A through fast freight service is inaugurated by the Canadian Northern Railway between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec using the recently opened section between Ottawa and Toronto.
January 08, 1954
New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal opens.
January 08, 1999
RailAmerica Inc. takes over the operation of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway from Canadian Pacific. The new company, known as E & N Railway Company (1998) Ltd, purchased the line between port Alberni and Nanaimo and leased the section from Victoria to Nanaimo.
January 09, 1830
Construction begins on the South Carolina Canal and Railroad in Charleston, South Carolina.
January 09, 1899
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Hull Electric purchases, for $100,000, the Canadian Pacific line between Aylmer and the main line at Hull. Before this the Hull Electric had used the line under lease.
January 09, 1990
Gateway Western buys Chicago, Missouri & Western's Kansas City-St. Louis line.
January 09, 2003
The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Canada Company commences operations through the purchase of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad and it's operating subsidiaries, the Canadian American Railroad, the Northern Vermont Railroad, the Quebec Southern Railway and the Van Buren Bridge Company.
Here's one for you (courtesy of the C&NWHS calendar):
January 09, 1836
The Galena & Chicago Union Railway is chartered.
(This didn't go anywhere for over twelve years, until late 1848, when the G&CU became Chicago's first railroad.)
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)
From Arcamax History & Quotes:
January 18, 1993:
Several people were killed and nearly 70 more injured, when two commuter trains collided on a bridge, in Gary, Ind.
Does anyone else have any railroad facts to add for this date?
February 7, 1940:
British railroads were nationalized.
February 9, 1996: A bomb exploded in a London rail station, killing two and wounding 100. The IRA announced that the Northern Ireland cease-fire was over.
Anyone else have anything else to add for today?
February 18, 1991:
One person was killed and 40 more injured when the IRA bombed two railroad stations in central London.
February 18, 2004:
40 chemical and fuel-laden runaway railroad cars derailed in northeastern Iran, producing a massive explosion that killed at least 265 people.
February 18, 2007:
An explosion on a train in northern India and the resulting fire, killed 66 people and injured more than 50 others. India's railways minister called it "an act of terrorism".
February 28, 1827:
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. was incorporated.
February 28, 1975:
A subway train smashed into the end of a tunnel in London's Underground, killing more than 40 people.
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