October 15, 1870 Service on the Chicago & Lake Huron, Western Division (later GT, GTW, CN) between Climax Prairie (now Climax) and Battle Creek MI begins.
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October 15, 1949 The Gulf, Mobile & Ohio retires its last steam locomotive, 2-8-2 #404, becoming the first major U.S. railroad to dieselize. The event is covered in a "Life" magazine feature.