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May 13, 1954 President Eisenhower signs the St. Lawrence Seaway Bill providing for joint U.S. - Canadian construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The bill is bitterly opposed by the railroads, who see it as a threat to their freight business.

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May 13, 1971 The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers agrees to end the "Divisional Rule", which defined 100 miles as 1 day's work. Many engineers were being paid a full day's wage for 150 minutes of train operation.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 12, 1910 To promote immigration into western Canada, Canadian Northern Railway's subsidiary "Canadian Northern Steamships" begins sailing between England and Canada. The service will end at the start of World War I as the two ships are commandeered for troop transport.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 9, 1928 Grand Trunk and the Chicago & Kalamazoo Terminal railroads merge. The C&KT has been owned by GT since 1907.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 7, 1896 The Central Vermont's lease of the Rutland Railroad is cancelled.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 6, 1995 Canadian National and the Grand Trunk Western conduct opening ceremonies for the new St. Clair Tunnel.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 5, 2004 CNNA announces the closing of Nichols Yard in Battle Creek MI and Hawthorne and Centralia Yards in Illinois. Hawthorne Yard, however, will remain open.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 2, 1917 The Drayton-Ackworth Report recommends the Canadian Government take over the operations of the Grand Trunk, Grand Trunk Pacific and Canadian Northern Railways and operate them as one system with the Intercolonial and National Transcontinental Railways. The report is accepted.

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May 2, 2002 An eastbound Canadian National train collides with a semi trailer near Firmdale, MB. The resulting spill of plastic pellets, benzene, glycol, and hexane catches fire and forces the evacuation of nearly 200 local residents.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 1, 1905 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railway is organized at the receiver's sale of the Detroit Southern Railroad.

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May 1, 1942 The last pre-war streamliner, Illinois Central's refurbished "Panama Limited" is put into service.

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May 1, 1952 This month, for the first time the number of diesel-electric locomotives on U.S. railroads exceeds the number of steamers, 19,082 to 18,489.

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May 1, 1954 New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is dedicated.

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May 1, 1960 In its current issue, Trains magazine correctly predicts that the ultimate shape of a diesel locomotive will be a streamline-type cab (i.e. full width) with a narrow hood following.

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May 1, 1994 Carferry service between Detroit and Windsor ends.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 30, 1900 In Vaughan, MS Illinois Central engineer John Luther "Casey" Jones becomes a hero and a legend. Jones stays with his train, the "Cannonball Express" when the track ahead is blocked by a freight train. Jones slows his train down enough to save his passengers, but not himself.

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April 30, 1959 Grand Trunk passenger Train 21 makes its final run between Durand and Muskegon MI.

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April 30, 1971 Railroad-operated intercity passenger service ends on most U.S. railroads; Rock Island, Rio Grande, Southern and Georgia Railroads being notable exceptions.

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April 30, 1985 Canadian National and Canadian Pacific assume joint operation of the former Canada Southern line in Ontario.

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Mark Tomlonson

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

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April 27, 1882 The Great Western merges with the Grand Trunk.

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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. The train has a St. Louis section, meeting the mainline train at Carbondale IL, and a Louisville section, meeting the mainline train at Fulton KY. Also, the “Green Diamond” trainset, having been completely rebuilt, enters service between Jackson MS and New Orleans as the “Miss-Lou”.

Mark Tomlonson

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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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Mark Tomlonson

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 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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Mark Tomlonson

A note about "Wet Noodle": this was the nickname given at the time to the then-new CN logo by writers in both "Railway Age" and "Trains" magazines.

April 23, 2004 Amtrak runs its last Toronto to Chicago "International". The train is replaced by the Chicago-Port Huron "Blue Water".

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Mark Tomlonson

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

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

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