December 23, 1851 Ground is broken in both Chicago and Cairo IL for the Illinois Central.

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December 23, 1930 The Detroit-Toledo Railroad merges with the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton. Detroit-Toledo has been a DT&I subsidiary for the last 15 years.

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December 23, 1968 Canadian National Railways begin using Turbos in revenue service.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 20, 1918 "Canadian National Railways" is approved as the new name for Canadian Government Railways.

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December 20, 2021 After several challenges to the motion, the Surface Transportation Board approves the sale of 650 miles of Canadian National branch lines in Wisconsin and in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to WATCO.

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December 21, 1948 Grand Trunk Western opens a new passenger depot in Grand Rapids MI. The structure and associated trackage costs $250,000. ($3.3 million in 2024 dollars.)

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Mark Tomlonson

December 19, 1881 The land grant railroad Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette (later DSS&A, SOO, WC, CN, GDLK) reaches St. Ignace, spanning Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

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December 19, 1887 The Illinois Central completes its line to Sioux Falls SD.

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December 19, 1919 The Canadian National Railways is created by an Order in Council. The creation is meant to unite and rescue five bankrupt railroads: the Grand Trunk, Grand Trunk Pacific, Canadian Northern, Intercolonial and Canadian Government Railways. The new CNR is the longest railroad in North America, with over 50,000 km (31,000 miles) of track in Canada and the United States.

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Mark Tomlonson

From CN: Free transportation will be provided but the buyer has to ship/return the trucks within 20 days of movement.

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See below from CN:

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"If you are interested in this unit, please send us your bid by Wednesday ?Dec 18th, 2024 17:00 EST.

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Car is safe to travel and could be delivered to a designated location. However CN will retain the 4 wheel sets, so once they are removed from the railcar, they must be returned to their original location at the buyer’s expenses within 20 days after the railcar is received.

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***Note***

CN will cover the portion on the CN line. If the customer is off the CN line, they will need to cover the freight after the interchange."

December 18, 1893 The Ottawa, Amprior & Parry Sound Railway (later GT) opens an extension from Amprior to Eganville ON.

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December 18, 1962 The Interstate Commerce Commission approves Detroit, Toledo & Ironton control of the Ann Arbor Railroad.

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December 18, 1983 Canadian National abondons track between Renfrew Junction and Whitney ON on its Renfrew Subdivision.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 17, 1954 First fully-automated railroad freight yard opens, on the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern in Gary IN.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 16, 1910 In Kinmundy IL, a standing Illinois Central freight is struck by another train that could not slow on a grade due to icy track. No injuries are reported, but the collision breaks open a live poultry car. Many residents of Kinmundy will enjoy a Christmas turkey dinner courtesy of the railroad.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 15, 1896 The first section of what will become the Canadian Northern (later CN) is laid between Gladstone and Dauphin, Manitoba.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 12, 1859 The Grand Trunk Railway opens the Victoria Bridge, crossing the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and St. Lambert. Until 1873 it will use 5 foot 6 inch (1.68 meter) gauge. It is the first bridge to span the river. The first train will cross the bridge December 17.

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December 12, 1968 United Aircraft's "Turbotrains" are placed in regular service on the Canadian National. On the press run two days earlier, the train hit a meat truck, an accident viewed on closed circuit TV by over 300 newsmen on board.

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Mark Tomlonson

CN has the below Caboose ?that need to be dismantled on site in CN Edmonton, AB. If you are interested in dismantling this unit, please submit your pricing and your earliest start date as well as the estimated duration for completing the demo by Wednesday ?Dec 18th, 2024 13:00 EST.

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December 11, 1998 Canadian National Railway operates its last train in Ottawa ON. Operation in Ottawa will begin in two days by the Ottawa Central Railway.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 10, 1908 The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (later CN) completes its 846 meter (2,775 foot) bridge over the Battle River. The bridge is 60 meters (195 feet) above the water.

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December 10, 1968 The Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, the Switchmen's Union of North American and the Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen vote to merge their four unions into a single organization, the United Transportation Union.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 6, 1917 In the largest explosion to this date (comparable to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945), two ships collide and explode in Halifax NS. The “Imo” is loaded with ballast, the “Mont Blanc” with explosives. Roughly 2,000 people are killed when the “Mount Blanc” explodes. The city suffers extensive damage. Included in the losses: Intercolonial Railway's station (later CN) and associated facilities.

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December 8, 1919 All passenger train service in Michigan, including on the Grand Trunk, is temporarily halted due to the effects of a month-long national coal miner's strike. 250,000 Michigan workers are also laid off.

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Mark Tomlonson

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December 5, 1922 The Illinois Central introduces its all-Pullman train, “The Floridian”.

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December 5, 1996 For the last time, Canadian National hauls grain in 12 meter (40 foot) boxcars.

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December 5, 2003 The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers votes to merge their union with the Teamsters. The Brotherhood will remain autonomous within the merged union.

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Mark Tomlonson