December 31, 1853 Canada's Great Western Railway (later CN) opens between Hamilton and London ON.
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December 31, 1870 The Vermont Central Railroad leases The Rutland Railroad.
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December 31, 1955 Grand Trunk Western drops passenger service between Pontiac and Caseville MI. The last run carried one passenger: a reporter covering the event.
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December 31, 1978 All high-carbon steel wheels are to be removed from all rail equipment.
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December 31, 1983 All running boards are to be removed from box cars and refrigerator cars.
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December 31, 2011 The Canadian National fully absorbs the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range and the Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific railroads. The two roads are placed in the CN-controlled Wisconsin Central Ltd. family.
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December 31, 2012 The Canadian National reorganizes its holdings in the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern and places them in CN’s Wisconsin Central Ltd.