JUNE 14, 1876
California Street Cable Car Railroad Company gets franchise.
JUNE 14, 1929
The first air-rail transcontinental service departs New York City on the New York Central. Passengers were taken by rail to Cleveland, where they were transferred to a Universal Air Express plane, which flew them to Garden City, Kansas. From there the passengers boarded a Santa Fe train bound for Los Angeles. The entire trip required 62 hours, 15 minutes.
JUNE 14, 1931
The steepest railroad in the U.S., a cable-worked incline to the bottom of Royal Gorge, Colorado and a gradient of 64.6 percent, opens.
JUNE 14, 1936
A new streamlined train, the City of San Francisco, begins service.
JUNE 14, 1951
EMD delivers it's 10,000th unit, an E8 to the Wabash.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
JUNE 15, 1882
In the Canadian province of Quebec, a ceremony for the turning of the first sod for the Ottawa & Gatineau Valley Railway is held at Hull. Mr. Alonzo Wright M.P. performed the ceremony in the absence of of the honorable J.A. Chapleau, Premier of Quebec.
JUNE 15, 1902
Canadian Pacific transcontinental trains begin running between Montreal and Ottawa via Vaudreuil and the short line instead of on the north side of the Ottawa River. From the Central Station Ottawa the trains then crossed over the Interprovincial bridge to Hull, thence over the north shore line to the Union Station at Lebreton Flats.
JUNE 15, 1905
New York Central's Twentieth Century Limited makes it's first run.
JUNE 15, 1927
The first two-way radio communication between a caboose and a locomotive on a moving train is demonstrated by General Electric.
JUNE 15, 1928
First transfer of mail from a dirigible to a train. A mail sack from an Air Corps blimp was lowered by rope to an Illinois Central train near Belleville, Illinois.
JUNE 15, 1938
New York Central's Twentieth Century Limited makes use of first fluorescent tail sign.
JUNE 15, 1945
19 people killed in train accident at Milton, Pennsylvania.
JUNE 15, 1964
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Canadian Pacific abandons it's Sussex Street subdivision from Beechwood Avenue (m. 5.6) to the Sussex Street yard (m. 6.7). The last train ran through to Sussex Street on June 12th with 8469.
JUNE 15, 1966
Canadian Pacific abandons the Sussex Street subdivision from Beechwood Avenue (m. 5.6) to Hurdman (m. 3.5). The last train ran on June 14th with 8446.
JUNE 15, 1973
The Chessie System is formed with the merger of the B & O, C & O and Western Maryland.
JUNE 15, 1974
The final use of electrification occurs on the Milwaukee Road.
JUNE 16, 1941
Brooklyn's Fulton Street Elevated Railway is closed.
JUNE 16, 1949
Gas turbine-electric locomotive demonstrated at Erie, Pennsylvania.
JUNE 16, 1957
The last scheduled passenger trains, 612 and 613, run over Canadian Pacific's Kingston subdivision, formerly Kingston and Pembroke Railway. The last train southbound was hauled by D4 417, the last northbound was hauled by 492. A mixed train operated until June 21, 1960, after which wayfreights operated.
JUNE 16, 1964
Canadian Pacific Railway opens a new automated hump marshalling yard at Agincourt, Toronto, Ontario.
JUNE 16, 1974
Electric operation ends on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific.
JUNE 16, 1997
Corporation du chemin de fer de la Gaspesie takes over the former Canadian National line between Chandler and Gaspe, Quebec. This is a non profit corporation owned by local municipalities. Operation of the line is sbu-contracted to the Chemin de fer Baie des Chaleurs which commenced operation between Matapedia and Chandler, Quebec in December 1996.
JUNE 17, 1831
The first steam locomotive boiler explosion in the U.S. occurs when the fireman ties down the safety valve of the Best Friend of Charleston.
JUNE 17, 1925
50 killed in train accident at Hackettstown, New Jersey.
JUNE 17, 1953
The Southern Railway makes it's last regular run of steam at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
JUNE 17, 1966
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Canadian National is authorized to abandon it's Hurdman Line (formerly part of the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway) from Ottawa Junction, m. 0.0, to the end of track at Mann Avenue. This allowed the removal of the former Canadian Norther bridge over the Rideau River.
JUNE 18, 1886
Transcontinental train service begins on the Canadian Pacific Railway.
JUNE 18, 1899
The Canadian Pacific line from Lethbridge through the Crows Nest Pass to Kootenay Landing is opened for traffic. This was built with subsidies afforded by the Crows Nest Pass Agreement of 1897 which also set fixed rates on grain traffic.
JUNE 18, 1910
Congress expands the enforcement and regulatory powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission through the Mann-Elkins Act.
JUNE 19, 1872
The first Narrow Gauge Convention is held in St. Louis, Missouri. Representatives of several narrow gauge railroads discussed the promotion, economics and technology of narrow gauge construction and operation.
JUNE 19, 1913
The Supreme Court rules that a state may establish railroad rates within it's own borders if there is no conflict with federal laws.
JUNE 19, 1930
Canadian Pacific Hudson (4-6-4) No. 2808 makes a continuous run from Fort William to Calgary, 1,251 miles and return with the Toronto to Vancouver train. It left at 08:20 on June 19, arrived in Calgary at 07:00 June 21. It returned from Calgary at 14:50 on June 22 and arrived at Fort William at 05:35 June 24.
JUNE 19, 1938
Olympian Flyer express train crashes in Montana, killing 47.
JUNE 19, 2000
The last rail on the order books of Sysco (Sydney Steel in Canada) is rolled.
Semi pertaining to Trains.
In 1905, Pittsburgh showman Harry Davis opened the world's first nickelodeon, showing the silent Western film "The Great Train Robbery." The storefront theater boasted 96 seats and charged 5 cents and prompted the advent of movie houses across the nation.
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!!
JUNE 20, 1841
Samual F.B. Morse patents the telegraph.
JUNE 20, 1893
The first industrial railroad union, the American Railroad Union, is formed with Eugene Debs elected as it's first president.
JUNE 21, 1870
Congress approves the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad entering Washington via a bridge across the Anacostia River and a tunnel under Virginia Ave, SE from 11th to 8th Street and tracks on Virginia Ave to 6th Street SW with a location for it's station on the Mall at 6th & B St NW (today's Constitution Ave). The Baltimore & Potomac station was built on the present-day site of the National Gallery of Art. Today's freight only Virginia Avenue trackage was the original freight and passenger mainline until Union Station's opening.
JUNE 21, 1960
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Canadian Pacific operates it's last mixed train on the Kingston subdivision between Renfrew and Sharbot Lake. After this date freight trains only operated on this section.
JUNE 21, 1970
Penn Central files for bankruptcy.
JUNE 21, 1986
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Thurso and Nation Valley Railway mainline between Thurso and Lac Fascinant is abandoned.
JUNE 22, 1909
Canadian Pacific Railway completes the viaduct on the Crows Nest Pass Line at Lethbridge, 5,327 feet long and with a maximum height of 314 feet above the Oldman River. This is the highest railway bridge in Canada. The bridge was opened to traffic on the 3rd of November 1909 although it had been used by construction trains before this time.
JUNE 22, 1915
Brooklyn Rapid Transit, begins subway service.
JUNE 22, 1918
A circus train rammed by a troop train kills 68 people at Ivanhoe, Illinois.
JUNE 22, 1956
The last regular run of steam power occurs on the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, when Z-8 class #910 leaves Yardley on the Scribner turn.
JUNE 22, 1957
Kansas City streetcar service ends.
JUNE 22, 1972
Amtrak's first own locomotives, SDP40F's from EMD, debut on the Chicago to Los Angeles Super Chief.
JUNE 22, 1973
A Canadian National Turbo set broke down in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.
JUNE 22, 1992
Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter RR commences service from Northern Virginia.
JUNE 23, 1900
A stone bridge near McDonald, Georgia on the Southern Railway is washed away in front of a work train. The train fell into the gap and caught fire, killing 35.
JUNE 23, 1908
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Ottawa and New York Railway swing bridge over the Cornwall canal collapses. It was caused by the undermining of the centre piere of the bridge by the rush of water and masonry from a large break in the canal bank. Through train service to New York state was halted until Monday, August 4th when temporary repairs could be completed. A permanent bridge was completed in February 1909.
JUNE 23, 1938
New York City Mayor LaGuardia assigns 21 police officers to patrol New York's subway system.
JUNE 23, 2002
VIA Rail Canada commences to use Renaisance equipment in the Montreal - Toronto corridor. Service was subsequently extended to Montreal - Quebec and Montreal - Ottawa on the 25th of November 2002. Renaisance equipment was acquired from the United Kingdom and modified for Canadian service.
JUNE 24, 1886
The first special train of fruit for eastern markets leaves Sacramento, California.
JUNE 24, 1908
First streetcar service to Union Station in Washington, DC, over 8 months after opening (compliments of DC City Commissioners).
JUNE 24, 1980
The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton is acquired by the Grand Trunk Western.
JUNE 24, 1997
Port Colbourne Harbour Railway, a division of the Caledonia and Hamilton Southern Railway (Trillium Rail), starts operation between Welland and Port Colbourne on the following lines in Ontario, Canada:
* CN Port Colbourne Spur (6.6 miles).
* Macy Spur (west of the Welland Canal).
* Government Spur (off Macy Spur).
* a new 1.1 mile connection between the Port Colbourne Spur and Macy Spur.
JUNE, 24, 2000
Quebec Central Railway reopens for business between Sherbrooke and Vallee Junction. The new Quebec Central is operated by Express Marco Inc.
JUNE 25, 1894
The American Railway Union goes on strike.
JUNE 25, 1913
A Winnipeg bound Canadian Pacific passenger train is derailed at McKellar (Westboro), near Britannia, on the Carleton Place subdivision. Eleven people were killed and 40 were injured in this accident which was caused when a track crew had not completed repairs. Three colonist, one first class, one tourist and one dining car were derailed, several lying close to the Ottawa River.
JUNE 26, 1870
The Denver & Pacific becomes the first railroad to reach Denver, Colorado by completing it's connection to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
JUNE 26, 1894
Eugene Deb's American Railway Union calls on every signalman, brakeman, switchman, fireman and yardman to not handle, move or in anyway assist in running a Pullman car or any train carrying such a car in support of the Pullman strike.
JUNE 26, 1929
The following railways in Canada are jointly acquired by the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific and operated under a newly incorporated company, the Northern Alberta Railways:
* Edmonton, Dunvegan & British Columbia Railway (447 miles)
* Alberta & Great Waterways Railway (286 miles)
* Central Canada Railway (98 miles)
* Pembina Valley Railway (26 miles)
A total of 857 miles
JUNE 26, 2006
In Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, once part of the New York Central Railroad's Ontario division, the Cornwall City Council, with advisory by Heritage Cornwall, passed a by-law to place a heritage designation on Cornwall Street Railway locomotive #17. This is the first and only such designation on a piece of railway rolling stock in Ontario.
JUNE 27, 1861
The Central Pacific Railroad is organized in California.
JUNE 27, 1906
The Gilpin Tramway is sold to the Colorado & Southern.
JUNE 27, 1920
This is the effective date of the amalgamation of the Grand Trunk Railway into Canadian National Railways. On July 6, it was announced that the Canadian Northern Ontario yard at Rideau Junction will be abandoned.
JUNE 27, 1974
Amtrak's computerized ticketing becomes operational.
JUNE 27, 1999
Alberta Railnet takes over the former Canadian National Grand Cache (from Swan Landing to Grande Prairie, m. 1.80 to m. 232.90), Grande Prairie (from Rycroft to Hythe, m. 0 to m. 89.19) and Smoky (Tangent to Spirit River, m. 306.2 to m. 357.80) subdivisions in Alberta.
JUNE 28, 1834
An engine explodes on the Harlem Railroad in New York City shortly after making it's first run.
JUNE 28, 1886
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The first Pacific Express passes through Ottawa to inaugurate transcontinental passenger service. It reached Ottawa via Lachute, Hull and the Prince of Wales Bridge.
JUNE 28, 1888
The first train, a ballast train, is run over the Canada Atlantic Railway's Chaudiere Extension from Broad Street to Chaudiere Falls. The first revenue train, nearly 100 cars of lumber, departed on September 18.
JUNE 28, 1895
The first electric train service in the U.S. begins on the New Haven & Hartford Railroad on the 7-mile Nantasket Branch.
JUNE 29, 1864
99 people were killed at Beloeil, Quebec on the Grand Trunk Railway in Canada's worst railroad accident. This accident occurred when a special passenger train carrying German immigrants went through an open drawbridge.
JUNE 29, 1898
The first through passenger train across Newfoundland leaves St. Johns at 19:20 and arrives Port aux Basques at 22:45, June 30.
JUNE 29, 1906
President Roosevelt signs the Hepburn Act, which allows the Interstate Commerce Commision to investigate and set railroad rates.
JUNE 29, 1914
Campbellford, Lake Ontario and Western Railway, which was leased to the Canadian Pacific for 999 years on April 16, 1913, is authorized to open from Glen Tay to Agincourt, via Tichborne. Regular train service commenced the same day, the first train leaving Ottawa, Broad Street at 10:00.
JUNE 29, 1935
Last day of operations on the 2 foot gauge Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad.
JUNE 30, 1831
The Baltimore & Ohio becomes the first railroad to carry troops, transporting about 100 troops to Sykes Mills, Maryland to quell a riot by striking railroad workers.
JUNE 30, 1934
In the Canadian province of Canada: The bridge across the St. Lawrence River at Cornwall is formally opened at a ceremony that is presided over by the Earl of Bessborough, Governor-General of Canada, and George H. Dern, Secretary of War, representing the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The Governor-General, with Lady Bessborough, a guard of honour of the entire batallion of the Stormont-Glengarry-Dundas Highlanders, accompanied by more than 100 representative Canadians and Hon. W.D. Robbins, United States Minister to Canada, marched in an impressive parade from the Canadian shore. At the same instant the United States Secretary of War and the American delegation stepped out from United States soil. Only a flimsy ribbon separated the two as they met in the centre of the bridge. This was swept away with a single gesture of the Governor-General, and the boundary between Canada and the United States was once again freed from barriers. The Governor-General and Mr. Dern shook hands after the ribbon was snapped.
JUNE 30, 1936
Canadian National abandons trackage between Clarence Creek and Rockland, Ontario. This was authorized on June 12, 1936 under BRC order 53224. The 5.10 miles were dismantled in May of 1937.
JUNE 30, 1947
After an anti- trust suit, the Pullman Company sells sleeping car service to 57 railroads.
JUNE 30, 1952
The first welded rail is laid in the St. John's cut of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
JUNE 30, 1961
Canadian National is authorized to discontine passenger service between Ottawa and Barry's Bay. The last train left Ottawa at 8:10 pm, Friday, July 5, 1961.
JUNE 30, 1964
The White Pass & Yukon Railroad phases out the use of steam locomotives One of these locomotives, #93 was sold to the Black Hills Central (otherwise known as the 1880 Train) in the Black Hills of South Dakota where she operated for a couple years. The Black Hills Central had dubbed the 93 as "Klonike Casey". #93 is now back in the hands of the White Pass & Yukon Route and has undergone an extensive rebuilding in the last couple years.
JUNE 30, 1965
The Missouri-Kansas-Texas becomes freight only.
JUNE 30, 1977
The last railway post office in the U.S. departs Washington, D.C. bound for New York City.
JUNE 30, 1999
Southern Rails Cooperative (Red Coat Road and Rail) takes over operation of the 71.5 mile Canadian Pacific line from Pangman to Assiniboia in Saskatchewan, Canada.
JULY 01, 1851
The first refrigerated car in the U.S. carries eight tons of butter from Ogdensburg, New York to Boston on the Northern New York Railroad in a wooden box car insulated with sawdust.
JULY 01, 1862
The transcontinental railroad from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean is authorized by an act signed by President Lincoln.
JULY 01, 1867
The Dominion of Canada is formed by Confederation of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. One of the conditions of Confederation was the building of a railway by the newly constituted Dominion Government to connect Halifax with the St. Lawrence at or near Quebec. Sir Sanford Fleming directed the surveying and construction of the trackage to fill in the gap in the railway system between Riviere du Loup and Truro, the Grand Trunk having previously constructed eastward as far as Riviere du Loup and the Province of Nova Scotia having built a line between Halifax and Truro.
The Canadian Government Railway, also known as the Intercolonial Railway, was formed to take over the lines in Nova Scotia and construct the trackage between Riviere du Loup and Truro.
JULY 01, 1868
New York City's 9th Avenue El, the oldest elevated railroad in the world, makes it's first trial run.
JULY 01, 1873
Canada's Prince Edward Island joins the Confederation. One of the conditions was that the Dominion Government take over and complete the Prince Edward Island Railway which had been commenced in 1871. The Intercolonial Railway became responsible for the Prince Edward Island Railway and opened the line between Charlottetown and Tignish for traffic on January 4, 1875.
JULY 01, 1876
Through rail travel between Halifax, Quebec and the rest of the Canadian rail system is made possible.
Boston & Maine's Hoosac Tunnel opens in western Massachusetts. It was the oldest of the long railroad tunnels still in use at the end of the steam era.
JULY 01, 1893
Through service on the Great Northern's line from the Great Lakes to Everett, Washington began.
JULY 01, 1901
Work begins on Pennsylvania Station.
JULY 01, 1922
400,000 railroad workers go on strike in protest of a 12.5% wage cut ordered by the Railroad Labor Board. The strike lasted until September 15 when a Federal Judge issued an injuction banning all strike activities against the railroads.
JULY 01, 1935
New York Central Lines was renamed to New York Central System.
JULY 01, 1962
Norfolk & Western ends Virginian electrification.
JULY 01, 1965
The Missour-Kansas-Texas Texas Special makes it's final run.
JULY 01, 1968
The Chicago Great Western is taken over by the Chicago & Northwestern.
JULY 01, 1973
Ex-Canadian Pacific steam locomotive #1057, a 4-6-0, makes an inaugural run in excursion service from Ottawa to Carleton Place, Ontario. 1057 was also used the next year to Wakefield and ex-Canadian Pacific 4-6-2, #1201 was used in the following years.
JULY 01, 1988
Virginia becomes the last state to repeal the law requiring cabooses on all trains.
JULY 02, 1867
New York's first el or elevated railroad opens.
JULY 02, 1872
The B & P Railroad enters Washington, DC. via Magruder Branch, breaking the Baltimore & Ohio's Baltimore-Washington monopoly. B & P also gains control of the Long Railroad Bridge (1870) and the Alexandria & Washington Railroad (April 1872) and builds the connection between Alexandria and the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac at Aquia Creek, Virginia. (the Alexandria & Fredericksburg Railroad opens July 18, 1872).
JULY 02, 1881
President James A. Garfield is shot at a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad station in Washington, DC. Garfield died on September 19, 1881.
JULY 02, 1894
The U.S. government issues an injunction against railroad strikers on the grounds that it interferes with interstate commerce and postal service. U.S. Attorney General Olney has a personal interest in the injunction as a former railroad director and still an attorney for several railroads.
JULY 02, 1901
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid rob a train of $40,000 at Wagner, Montana.
JULY 02, 1907
In the Canadian province of Ontario: 100 men start grading the Kingston, Smiths Falls and Ottawa Railway. Little progress was made on this Grand Trunk Railway controlled line, which would have run practically in a direct line between Kingston and Ottawa.
JULY 02, 1927
A special train is run from Ottawa Union Station in Ontario, Canada to Fenton, Michigan to convey the body of US aviatior Lieutenant J. Thad Johnson who was killed on "Lindbergh Field" (Uplands) while attempting to make a landing during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Both the station and train were specially draped and there were floral decorations in the mortuary car. The arrangements amounted to what was practically a State Military funeral.
JULY 02, 1969
Canadian National abandons Newfoundland passenger trains 101 and 102.
JULY 02, 1981
Canadian Pacific is authorized to abandon the Brockville Loop Line from m. 1.02 to m. 1.2.
JULY 03, 1894
President Cleveland sends an army regiment to Chicago to enforce a court injunction against railroad strikers.
JULY 03, 1904
First run of the Ocean Limited passenger train between Montreal, Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia. This is the longest running train in Canada having operated continuously over the same 840 mile route.
JULY 03, 1920
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Canadian National opens a 2879 foot connection from Pembroke Junction to the Grand Trunk (Locksley sub.) in Pembroke. At this time the former Canadian Northern station is renamed Pembroke Junction. Local trains from Ottawa to Pembroke used the former Grand Trunk station in Pembroke, while transcontinental trains continued to use Pembroke Junction.
JULY 03, 1922
Illinois militia called to combat striking rail workers.
JULY 03, 1957
Passenger service ends on the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin.
JULY 03, 1971
Canadian Pacific's rail division is renamed to CP Rail.
JULY 03, 1986
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Canadian Pacific abandons the Maniwaki subdivision between Laman and Wakefield.
JULY 04, 1828
Construction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad begins.
JULY 04, 1835
The oldest stone viaduct still in use in the U.S., the B & O's Thomas Viaduct over the Patapsco River in Maryland, is completed.
JULY 04, 1869
The first railroad bridge over the Missouri River was opened at Kansas City.
JULY 04, 1886
Canada's first scheduled transcontinental passenger train reaches Port Moody, British Columbia.
JULY 04, 1912
40 killed in train accident at Corning, New York.
Oregon Electric extended from Salem, Oregon to Albany, Oregon.
JULY 04, 1966
Canadian Pacific D10 class steam locomotive #1095 "The Spirit of Sir John" is placed on display in Kingston, Ontario.
JULY 04, 1980
Canadian Pacific sells it's 50% interest in the Northern Alberta Railway to Canadian National.
JULY 04, 2005
Canadian National freight #786 derailed near Prescott, Ontario, derailing 51 empty tank cars. There were no injuries but both main lines were blocked.
JULY 05, 1966
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Canadian Pacific's M. & O. subdivision is abandoned between the west leg of the wye at Hurdman, m. 85.9 and Dustbane siding, m. 85.2. Canadian Pacific passenger trains gained access to the old Union station via the Canadian National Alexandria subdivision and the Hawthorne connection.
JULY 05, 1989
Santa Fe paints it's Super Fleet FP45's red and silver.
JULY 06, 1875
Jesse James robs train at Otterville, Missouri.
JULY 06, 1881
15 year old Kate Shelley crawls across a flood damaged bridge 50 feet above the Des Moines River to reach a telegraph office in Moingona, Iowa a mile and a half away in time to to warn an approaching Northwestern train.
JULY 06, 1894
Two railroad strikers are killed and several wounded by troops near Chicago.
JULY 06, 1944
35 killed in train accident at High Bluff, Tennessee.
JULY 06, 1961
The New Haven files for bankruptcy.
That's "Kate Shelley". She was 15 years old at the time of the incident.
She is also credited with saving two crewmen whose engine fell into Honey Creek when that bridge collapsed. (Two others were lost.) Her and her mother lived on a farm in the area and heard the crash. They knew what must have happened and she took a small candle lantern to go see about it. When she got to the Honey Creek bridge she could see two men clinging to a tree in the flood swollen creek and had to go west to the nearest station to get help. The Des Moines River had to be crossed on the RR bridge. The river was also at flood stage due to the storms that had been, and were still, occuring. The candle lamp went out and she had to crawl across the bridge on her hands and knees. The only light being an occassional lightning flash. The Station Agent in Moingona did not believe her story until he noticed her bloody knees. Another engine was procured and she rode with them to Honey Creek where the two men were rescued. The other two men were found downstream the next day.
Actually, the credit for saving the passenger train is a bit misplaced. The engine that fell through the bridge was out checking the track for the later passage of the passenger train. If it had not returned, the passenger train would have to have stopped in Moingona to wait for it, since it was single track and the pilot engine would have been in the way. She did risk her life in what she did and as such is a hero (heroine!) to me and her story should never be forgotten.
Unfortunately, she was a "sickly" girl and the hubbub over what she did was hard on her and her mother. She "took to her bed" for several weeks after the incident due in part to an illness that it was claimed she acquired in the rain that night, as well as the hordes of people that showed up to see her. She and her mother were given lifetime passes on the railroad and apparently used them often. She was offered several jobs on the railroad and eventually took the job of Station Agent in Moingona. She never married and died at an early age (January 21, 1912).
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Interesting story, thanks for sharing it with the rest of us! One of the sources for much of the information that I am posting every morning in this thread is Railwaystation.com. I went back to that source, and sure enough, Kate's last name was misspelled. I've been familiar with the story for a long time, and I should have caught this one. My mind is often a bit fuzzy in the mornings until I've had two or three cups of coffee. Thanks for filling me in on this, Semper!
JULY 07, 1862
The first railway post office was established on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad.
JULY 08, 1932
America's largest 2 foot gauge railroad, the Sandy River & Rangely Lakes Railroad in Maine, ceases operation.
JULY 08, 1948
On New York Central's Ottawa division in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada: A Canadian Pacific engine had it's throttle stuck and accidently drove onto Cornwall Street Railway tracks and tipped over when it tried to negotiate the turn onto Pitt Street.
JULY 08, 1956
Santa Fe introduces all Hi-level coaches for it's Chicago to Los Angeles El Capitan.
JULY 08, 1959
In the Canadian province of Ontario: Canadian Pacific is authorized to discontinue passenger service between Ottawa and Waltham. The last trains ran on September 29-30, being mixed trains hauled by #6552.
JULY 08, 2006
Phase 1 of the Cornwall Street Railway locomotive #17 restoration was completed (erection of the original plaque; repaint of the body in the proper CPR Tuscan Red and placement of picnic tables and garbage bins).
JULY 09, 1905
A special train chartered by Walter Scott (Death Valley Scotty), departs Los Angeles and makes record run to Chicago in 44 hours, 54 minutes.
JULY 09, 1908
Ruth Trust Company incorporated (SP&S Ry).
JULY 09, 1918
The worst railroad accident in U.S. history occurs when two passenger trains collide near Nashville, Tennessee killing 101.
JULY 10, 1862
Construction begins on the Central Pacific Railroad.
JULY 10, 1888
In Oregon, the Union Pacific opens the first steel bridge on the Pacific coast.
JULY 10, 1894
Eugene Debs is indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for failing to comply with the government's injunction against the American Railway Union strike.
JULY 10, 1907
Mr. J.G.G. Kerry is appointed to recommend on the most favorable route for the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway line between a crossing of the Bay of Quinte Railway and Ottawa. Mr. Kerry, who reported on the 18th of May, 1908, found in favor of a route through Smiths Falls with a branch to Lanark. Final route approval for this line, which made a junction with the line from French River at Federal, just outside Ottawa, was granted on October 30, 1909.
JULY 10, 1910
The Pacific Coast Extension of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad opens for through passenger service.
JULY 10, 1945
Oregon Electric's electrified operation is discontinued.
JULY 10, 1985
Illinois Central Gulf sells 757 miles of trackage to the Gulf & Mississippi.
JULY 11, 1908
In the Canadian province of Ontario: The Little Castor River bridge on the New York Central line, about two miles south of Embrun is destroyed by fire late Saturday night. A gang of men was sent down from Ottawa on Sunday and it was possible to run trains over it first thing on Monday morning. With no trains running on Sundays, the bridge was repaired without interrupting traffic.
JULY 11, 1923
The Pennsylvania Railroad tests the first continuous locomotive cab signals.
JULY 11, 1967
Canadian Pacific Railway runs Canada's first unit train, 3,700 tons of sulfuric acid from the Copper Cliff plant of CIL nr. Sudbury to Sarnia, Ontario.
Southern Pacific opens it's Palmdale cutoff.
JULY 11, 1974
A turntable, originally from the Canadian Pacific Railway at Kingston, Ontario, is installed at Wakefield, Quebec to allow steam locomotives to be turned there.
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