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April 27, 1947 The Illinois Central launches “The City of New Orleans”, scheduled at 16 hours for the Chicago to New Orleans run.

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Mark Tomlonson

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April 24, 1902 Per Diem freight car rates are formally set for the first time. Experiments date back to 1888, and general use started in the 1890's. These rates allow car owners to be paid rent while their cars are on foreign roads.

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April 24, 1932 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton ends passenger service between Detroit and Springfield OH.

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April 24, 1955 Canadian Pacific debuts its new train "The Canadian" and Canadian National debuts its new "Super Continental", claimed as the first streamliners in Canada. Both trains will carry some heavyweight equipment.

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April 24, 1962 Grand Trunk Western paints its first locomotive in the "wet noodle" scheme recently adopted by parent Canadian National.

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April 25, 1960 Canadian National operates its last steam locomotive in regular service, 4-8-2 #6043, on train #76 from The Pas to Winnipeg.

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April 25, 1976 Canadian National issues a timetable calling its passenger service "VIA". Turbotrains are the first to carry the new name.

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April 25, 2011 Canadian National issues a Press Release naming Microsoft founder Bill Gates as its largest single shareholder, owning just over 10% of the company.

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April 26, 1875 The Prince Edward Island Railway opens between Royalty Junction and Georgetown.

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April 26, 1926 First run of the Boston to Montreal "Ambassador", routed Boston & Maine/Central of Vermont/Canadian National.

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April 26, 1946 The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy “Advance Flyer” is struck from behind by the “Exposition Flyer”, which stopped to check its running gear. The “Exposition Flyer” had been traveling at 85 mph and was only able to reduce its speed to 60 mph at the point of collision. Forty-seven people are killed in the accident and 125 injured. The ICC rules after the crash that trains traveling over 79 mph in the United States must have “an automatic cab signal, automatic train stop or automatic train control system”. Because these items are considered too expensive by most railroads, train speeds are reduced to comply with the order.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 22, 1861 The Mobile & Ohio is completed. It will play a strategic role in the War Between the States.

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April 22, 1964 U.S. President Lyndon 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.

Mark Tomlonson

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April 17, 1905 Durand (MI) Union Depot is almost destroyed by fire.

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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.

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April 18, 1983 CNCP Niagara-Detroit is created by CP Rail and CN Rail to acquire the Canada Southern Railway.

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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 ($47 million in 2019) 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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Mark Tomlonson

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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Mark Tomlonson

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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April 8, 1943 President Roosevelt, as one of several moves today to reduce inflation, bans U.S. common carriers such as railroads from increasing their rates.

Mark Tomlonson

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April 3, 1848 The Oakland & Ottawa (later D&M, GT) is chartered.

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April 3, 1987 The Soo Line sells its Lake States Transportation Division to the newly-formed "Wisconsin Central Ltd."

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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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April 5, 1995 CN North America opens the new St. Clair Tunnel.

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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

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. 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

March 30, 1856 The Chicago Burlington & Quincy and the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad (later C&NW) begin using the Illinois Central Terminal in Chicago.

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March 30, 1959 The New York Central agrees to pay the Illinois Central $5 million (2019: $44 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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Mark Tomlonson

March 27, 1960 The last regularly scheduled steam-powered passenger train on a major U.S. railroad runs from Durand to Detroit on the Grand Trunk Western.

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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 in Michigan.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 26, 1962 Canadian National's eastbound "Ocean Limited" becomes the first train painted entirely in CN's new passenger paint scheme. A few engines and cars started appearing in the new scheme last year.

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March 26, 2013 Hartsdale Interlocking, between Canadian National’s former Elgin Joliet & Eastern and the former Pennsylvania Railroad Panhandle line in Indiana is closed and the diamond removed. CN begins service to the single customer, Midwest Pipe Coating, affected by the closing.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 20, 1896 The Grand Trunk Railway purchases the Central Vermont Railway and begins operating it as a wholly owned subsidiary.

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March 20, 2017 Canadian National announces it will be closing the ore dock at Escanaba by the end of April. Ore has been shipped form Escanaba since 1852.

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March 21, 1918 President Wilson signs the Railroad Control Act, setting terms for operation of the railroads by the United States Railroad Administration (USRA). U.S. railroads are to be paid rent for use of their lines and equipment.

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March 22, 1957 The New York Central abandons its line from Rooseveltown to Ottawa, Ontario. In April, Canadian National will purchase the portion of the line between Cornwall and Ottawa.

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Mark Tomlonson