Decided to start a new thread for this. I’d like everyone to participate here, and post whatever they have for when events in railroad history took place. I’ll start with:
March 19, 1917: The Supreme Court upheld the eight-hour work day for railroads. (I personally believe that nowadays, railroad employees work more than an eight-hour day).
Does anyone else have anything to add for this date in railroad history? Let’s hear from you!!
Not for this date but on May 10 1869 the UP and CP Met a t Promintory Summit Utah. Didn’t really drive a golden spike though. Bet u didn’t know that.
MARCH 22, 1995: Colin Ferguson was sentenced to life in prison, for killing 6 people on a Long Island Railroad commuter train in 1993.
Anyone else know anything else that happened on this Date in Railroad History?
We want to hear from you!!
March 22, 1897
In United States v. Trans-Missouri Freight Association, the Supreme Court rules that 18 railroads are violating the Sherman Antitrust Act by banding together to fix rates.
March 22, 1913
Oregon Electric’s Corvallis branch opens.
March 22, 1942
Wreck of #3 at Eavan, Washington on the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
March 22, 1947
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian Pacific completes the installation of an automatic block signal system on the Chalk River subdivision between Smiths Falls and Chalk River as well as an automated interlocking at Carleton Place.
March 22, 1957
New York Central declared it’s Ottawa division from Rooseveltown to Ottawa abandoned. The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority was given the line from the border to 2nd Street West in Cornwall, Ontario. The sale did not include the bridges since the Roosevelt International Bridge Company now owned them.
March 22, 1967
Jersey Central files for bankruptcy.
March 22, 1970
March 23, 1858
Eleazer A. Gardner is issued the first cable car patent.
March 23, 1874
Iowa becomes the third state to enact the Granger Laws which regulate railroad freight rates.
March 23, 1907
26 people were killed in a train accident at Colton, California.
March 23, 1937
Los Angeles Railway Company starts using PCC streetcars.
March 23, 1970
The California Zephyr makes it’s last and final run.
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March 24, 1828
Philadelphia & Columbia Railway (first state owned) is authorized.
March 24, 1890
The Supreme Court rules that a Minnesota state law authorizing a commission to set rates that are not subject to judicial review is unconstitutional.
March 24, 1900
New York City’s Mayor Van Wyck breaks ground for that city’s first subway.
March 24, 1932
New York radio station WABC makes the first broadcast from a moving train, a variety show on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Maryland.
March 24, 1967
The last regular passenger service comes to an end on the Soo Line.
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March 25, 1901
25 people die as a Rock Island train derailed near Marshalltown, Iowa.
March 25, 1961
The Tallulah Falls Railway, which was used as a setting in the 1950 film, “I’d Climb the Highest Mountain”, and in 1960 by Disney for “The Geat Locomotive Chase” ceases operation.
March 25, 1986
Conrail goes public at $28.00 per share.
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March 26, 1884
High winds push eight coal cars for 100 miles on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad east of Denver.
March 26, 1891
Rogers Locomotive Works rolls out ten-wheeler #4493 which eventually becomes Sierra Railroad #3. Starting with the Virginian with Gary Cooper. Sierra Railroad #3 becomes the most photographed locomotive in the world. Other movie appearances include Dodge City, High Noon, Duel in the Sun, and Back to the Future III. It also had many TV appearances including The Lone Ranger, Rawhide, Bonanza, Petticoat Junction, Gunsmoke and Little House on the Prairie.
March 26, 1985
In the Canadian province of Ontario, Canadian National abandons the Smiths Falls subdivision between Smiths Falls and Strathcona.
March 26, 1987
Norfolk Southern fires up former Norfolk & Western 2-6-6-4 #1218.
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March 27, 1857
The Memphis & Charleston Railroad completes it’s 271 mile line from Memphis, Tennessee to Stevenson, Alabama.
March 27, 1887
The Treaty of Boston agreement was reached between the Denver & Rio Grande, The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, and the Union Pacific railroads. The D&RG agreed to not to build south of Espanola, New Mexico, the AT&SF was not to enter Denver or Leadville, Colorado for ten years and the Union Pacific agreed to stay out of the Colorado Rockies.
March 27, 1938
The Santa Fe begins San Diegan service between San Diego and Los Angeles, California.
March 27, 1953
21 people were killed in a train accident at Conneaut, Ohio.
March 27, 1960
Grand Trunk Western ran it’s last officially scheduled steam powered passenger train.
March 27, 1964
An earthquake in Alaska results in an estimated $30 million in damage to the Alaska Railroad.
March 27, 1976
In Washington, D.C., the fi
March 28, 1907
A misplaced switch causes the derailment of a Southern Pacific train at Colton, California, killing 22 people.
March 28, 1975
The American Freedom Train departs Washington, D.C. behind ex-Reading 4-8-4 #2101 and begins a two year, 17,000 mile tour.
March 28, 1980
The last train is operated on the former Rock Island track from Amarillo, Texas to Tucumcari, New Mexico.
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March 29, 1839
The Railway Express Agency was established.
March 29, 1916
28 people were killed in a train accident at Amherst, Ohio.
March 29, 1922
Rail Uniion asks President Harding to abolish the U.S. Labor Board.
March 29, 1924
In Washington, D.C. the C&O Canal finally ceases operating after another of many floods (the 5th) causes extensive damage. The canal had been owned for many years by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, keeping other would-be competitors (the Western Maryland Railway) from the property. The B&O keeps the canal serviceable though mostly dry until the 1936 floods and then sells the entire 184.7 mile long canal, Georgetown, DC to Cumberland, Maryland to the U.S. Park Service in October of 1938 for $2,000.00.
March 29, 1957
The New York, Ontario & Western Railroad is abandoned. at that time, it was the largest railroad abandonment in the United States (541 miles).
March 29, 2005
In Cornwall, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa division of the New York Central, a Cornwall citizen ma
March 30, 1883
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway reaches Salt Lake City.
March 30, 1908
Columbia Railway & Navigation Company (CR&N) is purchased by the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
March 30, 1954
Canada’s first subway line opens in Toronto.
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March 31, 1862
The “Oregon Pony” becomes the first locomotive in the Pacific Northwest.
March 31, 1941
In the Canadian province of Ontario, there was a serious accident on the Canadian Pacific Railway at Inkerman, milepost 91.1 on the Winchester subdivision which resulted in at least one death. The report or details of this accident are too lengthy to reproduce here.
March 31, 1946
First regular through sleeping-car service from the Atlantic to Pacific coasts.
March 31, 1963
Streetcar service in Los Angeles comes to an end after 90 years.
March 31, 1980
The 7500 mile Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific ceases operations, becoming the largest railroad abandonment in the United States.
March 31, 1986
Illinois Central Gulf sells 403 miles of track from Meridian, Mississippi to Shreveport, Louisiana to Midsouth Rail Corporation.
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April 01, 1857
The first southern link from the Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi River (Charleston to Memphis) is completed.
April 01, 1932
Oregon Electric’s Holley Branch opens.
April 01, 1946
A tsunami destroys a portion of the Oahu Railway.
April 01, 1947
E.B. Stanton replaces T.F. Dixon as Vice-President and General Manager of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
April 01, 1947
The 190 mile, Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern makes it’s last run.
April 01, 1949
Newfoundland becomes the tenth province of Canada and the Newfoundland Railway becomes part of the Canadian National system. This narrow gauge system had been operated by the island government since 1923.
April 01, 1961
Canadian National is authorized to abandon the Locksley subdivision, between m. 0.3, Golden Lake, and m. 19.5, Pembroke in the province of Ontario.
APRIL 02, 1834
The first train to run on a state owned railroad, was the Philadelphia & Columbia Railway.
APRIL 02, 1860
In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, passengers could now travel between Windsor and Halifax, on the Nova Scotia Railway, twice a day. The morning westbound train departed Richmond (Halifax) at 8:00 a.m. and arrived at Windsor at 11:00 a.m. The morning eastbound train departed Windsor at 8:20 a.m. and arrived in Richmond at 11:15 a.m. These two trains passed each other at Mount Uniacke; this was (still is) a single-track line, and trains going in the opposite directions could (and can) pass each other only where a siding is available. The afternoon westbound train departed Richmond (Halifiax) at 2:30 pm and arrived in Windsor at 5:30 pm; the afternoon eastbound train departed Windsor at 3:00 pm and arrived in Richmond at 6:00 pm; these two trains also crossed at Mount Uniacke. The end-to-end fare, one way, was $1.35 first class, and 87 1/2 cents second class. A resident of Windsor could now go to Halifax in the morning, have a clear three hours in the city to conduct business or fulfill appointments, and return to Windsor the same day. A resident of Halifax could now travel to Windsor in the morning, have nearly four hours to conduct business there, and return to Halifax the same day.
APRIL 02, 1917
Gales Creek & Wilson River Railroad incorporated.
APRIL 02, 1933
APRIL 03, 1883
Humphrey H. Reynolds was the first black inventor to patent an improved window ventilator for railroad passenger cars. His invention was adopted on all Pullman cars, but as an employee he received no payment from the Pullman Company. Reynolds quit his job as a porter and successfully sued Pullman for $10,000.
APRIL 03, 1900
The Vanderbilts take over the Reading, Lehigh Valley and Erie railroads.
APRIL 03, 1972
The Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad files for bankruptcy.
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APRIL 04, 1895
The Astoria & Columbia River Railroad (A&CR) was organized.
APRIL 04, 1976
Amtrak takes delivery from EMD of the first of 414 F40PH’s.
APRIL 04, 1993
The Sunset Limited becomes the first true coast-to-coast transcontinental train when it’s route is extended from New Orleans to Jacksonville and Miami, Florida.
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APRIL 05, 1995
Canadian National Railway opens the new 6,130 foot St. Clair tunnel which replaces the 104 year old tunnel beneath the St. Clair River between Port Hurn, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario.
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APRIL 06, 1898
The Astoria & Columbia River Railroad makes it’s last run.
APRIL 06, 1956
The East Broad Top Railroad runs it’s last revenue freight train.
APRIL 06, 1964
Earthquake damaged Alaska Railroad restores freight service between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
APRIL 06, 1988
Amtrak’s Auto Train makes it’s first run.
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APRIL 07, 1871
The Illinois Railroad Act creates a commission to fix maximum rates on railroad and warehouse use and forbids discrimination that favors large corporations over small businesses.
APRIL 07, 1920
500,000 (?) railroad workers go on strike, affecting 25 railroads.
APRIL 07, 1932
Great Northern opens it’s line from Bend, Oregon to Bieber, California.
APRIL 07, 1947
The Edaville Railroad opens two foot gauge railroad to tourists.
APRIL 07, 1989
The Chicago, Southshore & Southbend Railroad declares bankruptcy.
APRIL 07, 1991
Amtrak moves from New York’s Grand Central Terminal to Penn Station, consolidating, Amtrak operations in New York City.
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