April 22, 1861 The Mobile & Ohio (later GM&O, ICG, CN) is completed. It will play a strategic role in the War Between the States.
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April 22, 1964 President Johnson announces the settlement of a five-year dispute over work rules. The issue was the future of firemen aboard diesel locomotives. Under the plan, 100,000 union members will receive raises and other benefits in return for eliminating firemen's jobs.
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Mark Tomlonson
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This Weekend in CNR History
April 19, 1908 The Illinois Central opens a line to Birmingham AL and begins through sleeper service between Chicago and Jacksonville.
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April 19, 1994 The north tube of the Detroit River Tunnels reopens after a $27.5 million ($56.3 million in 2023) clearance project, allowing 19'6" double-stack cars to use the tunnel.
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April 19, 2011 The Toronto Globe & Mail reports that the foundations of Grand Trunk's original roundhouse have been uncovered in the course of a construction project. The roundhouse, near the shore of Lake Ontario, is near the Bathurst Street Bridge and was uncovered during construction of a new library.
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April 20, 2023 While attempting to land at Bishop International Airport near Flint MI, a private plane loses power and crash lands on the Canadian National main line. No one on the plane is injured, and rail traffic is halted before any collision can occur.
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Mark Tomlonson
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April 18, 1976 A Turbo train, CN1, testing on Canadian National's Kingston Sub at Ingleside breaks a Canadian Speed Record set in March as it hits 138.5 mph (222.9 km/h).
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April 18, 1983 CNCP Niagara-Detroit is created by CP Rail and CN Rail to acquire the Canada Southern Railway. Conrail is not included in the deal. Conrail is in bankruptcy, and the U.S. Government does not want money earmarked for Conrail spent in Canada.
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Mark Tomlonson
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April 17, 1892 Central Atlantic Railway (later GTR, CN) leases the Central Counties Railway, running between Glen Robertson and Hawkesbury ON.
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April 17, 1905 Durand (MI) Union Depot comes close to being destroyed by fire.
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Mark Tomlonson
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Fallen Flags at Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago
Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago 7:30 pm Central Daylight Time Friday, April 19, 2024 Please do not arrive before 7:15 pm. Also, if you are joining us on Zoom, please do not join the meeting before 7:15 pm on the day of the meeting. Zoom meeting codes are at the end of this message. Our next meeting will be both an in-person meeting and a Zoom meeting. If enough people from outside the Chicago area attending Zoom meetings become Club members, this will encourage the Club to make hybrid meetings a permanent feature. Dues are $20 which includes four glossy newsletters sent by mail. The dues renewal is sent with the fourth newsletter. We still have slide shows which will not be presented via Zoom. Here are details about joining Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago: In-person meeting location Chicago Union Station Room 107A 500 W Jackson Blvd (enter between Clinton and Canal) Chicago, Illinois Fallen Flags by Russell Sharp Russell Sharp will present photographs of fallen flag railroads from his extensive travels. This should be a fun and nostalgic program. Upcoming programs: May 17, 2024: Batavia, IL: Three railroads, six lines by Leo Phillipp June 21, 2024: Wreck of the City of New Orleans, 1971 Amtrak derailment, Salem, Illinois, by William Howard and Thomas Nicholl Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago meets at Chicago Union Station at 7:30 pm Central on the third Friday of the month except in July and August. For program announcements, please subscribe to our groups.io mailing list. Send a blank email message To: [email protected]To obtain Zoom meeting credentials for future programs given by Zoom, the best way is to subscribe to our groups.io mailing list. Web site: Email: shortlinechicagoHS@... Facebook: Phone number answered during the program: 312 725-0432. At other times, leave message with your name and telephone number to receive a call back. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 810 8968 7625 Passcode: 997503 --- One tap mobile +13126266799,,81089687625#,,,,*997503# US (Chicago) +13092053325,,81089687625#,,,,*997503# US --- Dial by your location 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) 309 205 3325 US 646 931 3860 US 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) 305 224 1968 US 646 558 8656 US (New York) 720 707 2699 US (Denver) 253 205 0468 US 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) 346 248 7799 US (Houston) 360 209 5623 US 386 347 5053 US 507 473 4847 US 564 217 2000 US 669 444 9171 US 689 278 1000 US 719 359 4580 US Meeting ID: 810 8968 7625 Passcode: 997503 Find your local number:
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April 15, 1912 The R.M.S. Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage after striking an iceberg. Among the lost: Grand Trunk Railway President Charles M. Hays.
Mark Tomlonson
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This Weekend in CNR History
April 14, 2005 Nineteen cars of a Union Pacific freight, operating on Canadian National tracks south of Superior WI derail and start a forest fire.
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Mark Tomlonson
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April 9, 2004 The Surface Transportation Board approves CNNA taking over operation of the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range, Bessemer & Lake Erie and the Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Company.
Mark Tomlonson
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April 8, 1867 A special excursion train departs Chicago on the first through run to New York over the new Michigan Central-Great Western of Canada-New York Central route. The train is ferried across the Detroit River. The route is uniform standard gauge. A through Pullman Palace hotel car is established between Chicago and Albany.
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Mark Tomlonson
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My apologies for the tardiness
April 5, 1995 CN North America opens the new St. Clair Tunnel. Improvements made in the design of the new tunnel allow double-stack trains to cross under the St. Clair river for the first time.
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Mark Tomlonson
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April 4, 1909 The Kensington & Eastern Railroad, built and owned by the Illinois Central is leased to the Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend (interurban) which today extends its service from Hammond IN through to Kensington IL and then into Chicago over the IC.
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April 4, 1910 An amendment to the Safety Appliance Act requires freight cars to be equipped with ladders, handholds and running boards.
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Mark Tomlonson
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April 3, 1848 The Oakland & Ottawa (later D&M, GT) is chartered by the Michigan State Legislature to construct a railroad from Pontiac to Lake Michigan in Ottawa County.
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Mark Tomlonson
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April 2, 1976 CN Tower is completed. Built by Canadian National, it was the tallest tower and tallest free-standing structure in the world when built. It remains the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere.
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Mark Tomlonson
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April 1, 1893 The Grand Trunk Railway of Canada merges several rail companies it has owned into itself.
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April 1, 1933 The Canadian National Radio Department and its network of stations, developed to entertain passengers on long distance runs, is turned over to the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, and will eventually become the CBC.
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April 1, 1949 With the entry of Newfoundland into the Confederation of Canada, the Newfoundland Railway is transferred to Canadian National Railway.
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April 1, 1960 U.S. Class 1 railroads report a total of only 519 steam locomotives on their rosters.
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April 1, 1966 A U.S. Federal ban on running boards goes into effect for box and similar house cars ordered after this date.
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April 1, 1967 The United States Department of Transportation begins operation.
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April 1, 1978 VIA Rail Canada becomes an independent company, emerging from CN Rail. They also acquire the Turbotrains.
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Mark Tomlonson
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Re: OS: Business train on Freeport Sub
Thanks. I didn't know they had a P symbol (P69931) for that move, all I kept hearing was OCS. That's one that is not on the CN train symbol page I was looking at. I am wondering about the axles count. Both times it was 34. With two six axle units for power, that would account for 12 axles out of the 34. Cars that come through here are all 4 axle, but there are 22 axles to account for. Weird.
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Grateful Fred
Sugar Ridge Tower MP40 CC&P
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This Weekend in CNR History
March 29, 1919 A narrow-gauge Canadian National train reaches Alberton PE, after taking 10 days to travel the last 2 miles in the worst blizzard locals can remember. The train has a plow, locomotive and 4 coaches.
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March 29, 1957 The Central Vermont dieselizes.
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March 29, 1960 Revenue steam ends on the Grand Trunk Western as 2-8-2 4070 pulls a 50 car freight from Pontiac to Durand MI.
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March 30, 1959 The New York Central agrees to pay the Illinois Central $5 million (2024: $54 million) for breaching its contract to have Michigan Central trains terminate at Central Station in Chicago. NYC has moved them to LaSalle Street station.
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March 30, 2021 CN and Watco announce an agreement for Watco to buy 900 miles of rail lines in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario owned by Wisconsin Central Railroad and Algoma Central. Watco states that it would like to reinstate the Agawa Canyon passenger train out of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
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March 31, 1978 All high-carbon steel wheels are to be removed from cars carrying dangerous materials.
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Mark Tomlonson
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Re: OS: Business train on Freeport Sub
according to my notes, the symbol i have down for OCS they should have ran as train P69931
On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 18:47 Fred Hilgenberg < hilgy1954@...> wrote: I heard that the train symbol was "OCS". It's already on the return trip, as the CN 3309 "wafer logo" was reported eastbound Earlville, IA at 17:22 on the Heritage Units website. Doesn't seem like they spent much time inspecting the IANR. From what I understand, they want the train back in Homewood by midnight. I don't know if the eastbound manifest will put a kink in those plans (or the other way around).
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Grateful Fred
Sugar Ridge Tower MP40 CC&P
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Re: OS: Business train on Freeport Sub
Train came back:?CN 3331 & CN 3309 in charge of an eastbound business special (OCS) on Thursday March 28, through South Elgin at 22:52. Detector reported 34 axles, 35 MPH.?
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Grateful Fred
Sugar Ridge Tower MP40 CC&P
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Re: OS: Business train on Freeport Sub
I heard that the train symbol was "OCS". It's already on the return trip, as the CN 3309 "wafer logo" was reported eastbound Earlville, IA at 17:22 on the Heritage Units website. Doesn't seem like they spent much time inspecting the IANR. From what I understand, they want the train back in Homewood by midnight. I don't know if the eastbound manifest will put a kink in those plans (or the other way around).
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Grateful Fred
Sugar Ridge Tower MP40 CC&P
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Re: OS: Business train on Freeport Sub
the planned stop at Dubuque might be for a recrew or something. but usually i think they can make it to Waterloo within 12 hours
On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 09:04 Fred Hilgenberg < hilgy1954@...> wrote: CN 3309 & CN 3331 in charge of a westbound business train on Thursday March 28, through South Elgin IL (MP 40) at 08:44. They have the lineup to at least Seward (MP 100.1). I hear they are going to inspect the Iowa Northern, but there is one planned stop in Dubuque, IA.
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Grateful Fred
Sugar Ridge Tower MP40 CC&P
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Fred Hilgenberg
Andrew Gray