March 6, 1834 The London & Gore Railroad in Upper Canada receives its charter; the first railroad charter in what is now Ontario. Running between Niagara Falls and Windsor, it will be later part of the Great Western, Grand Trunk and Canadian National Railways.

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March 8, 1855 The first train crosses the suspension bridge over Niagara Falls. Before this time, goods and passengers were ferried across the river. The bridge does not end the transfer, as the change in track gauge between lines in New York and Ontario remains, although the bridge itself has three gauges (56.5", 66" and 72"). The Bridge will allow the Michigan Central via the Great Western to reach markets in the east and will be a major selling point for the line. (Some sources say March 17)

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March 8, 1926 The Illinois Central installs the first electro-pneumatic car retarders in the United States at Markham Yard near Chicago.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 4, 1889 The Grand Trunk carferry "Transit I" is destroyed by fire in its dock at Windsor ONT.

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March 4, 1908 In the United States, a new Hours of Service law takes effect: 9 hours for train operators and 16 hours for trainmen.

Mark Tomlonson

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March 2, 1893 The United States Safety Appliance Act is signed into law, mandating that all cars in interchange service be equipped with air brakes, automatic couplers and grab irons.

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March 2, 1902 The first segment of the James Bay RR (later Canadian Northern, Canadian National) is opened between Parry Sound and Canada Atlantic Junction, 3.7 miles.

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Mark Tomlonson

February 28, 1908 First test run through Grand Trunk's St. Clair tunnel using electric locomotives.

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February 28, 1920 In the U.S., the Transportation Act is passed, allowing the ICC to set intrastate rates in some cases and forming the Railway Labor Board. It also sets a date for the end of USRA control.

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February 28, 1931 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton is sold to Pennroad Corporation (PRR subsidiary) and the Wabash Railroad.

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February 28, 1986 The last official move is made at Canadian National's Spadina Roundhouse in Toronto. The facility will later be demolished to make room for the Skydome.

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February 29, 1988 IC Industries spins off the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, which then reforms as the Illinois Central Railroad.

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March 1, 1877 The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the regulation of railroads.

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March 1, 1898 The "Maritime Express" between Montreal and Halifax begins service on the Intercolonial Railway. Later Canadian National will operate the train.

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March 1, 1920 USRA control of railroads ends.

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Mark Tomlonson

February 21, 1879 The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee passes a bill on transporting livestock, sponsored by Senator John R. McPherson. The Bill reads that livestock must not be carried in railroad cars more than 28 hours at a time, but may be carried for 60 hours if fed and watered in cars. (Senator McPherson and his friends have recently obtained patents for devices that allow this.) The Bill also calls for federal inspection of cargo at major ports.

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February 21, 1954 Since Mississippi does not require advance notice, Gulf Mobile & Ohio terminates the Mississippi portion of their "Little Rebel" trains in mid-run. Passengers are taken by bus and car to their destinations.

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February 22, 1855 The first common carrier railroad in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the Iron Mountain Railroad (later DSS&A, SOO, CN) is charted.

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February 22, 1910 The U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission denies a petition filed by several railroads to allow them to increase their shipping rates to cover recent wage increases.

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Mark Tomlonson

Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago
7:30 pm
Friday, February 21, 2020

Chicago Union Station
500 W Jackson Blvd Rm 107A
Chicago, Illinois

The History of the Burlington in Downers Grove
by Leo Phillipp, Burlington Route Historical Society

Downers Grove on the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy was a suburban service terminal until 1952 with a roundhouse and turntable. This presentation will cover the suburban terminal, industries served, the major wrecks that have occurred, including the 1947 plunging of the Twin Cities afternoon Zephyr into the depot. Find out how and why it happened.

Leo Phillipp is a noted historian of the Burlington Route and a board member of the Burlington Route Historical Society.

Note: The Illinois Amtrak Program has been rescheduled for the fourth time and will be presented on March 20, 2020.

Please enter Chicago Union Station at 500 W Jackson Blvd between Clinton and Canal.
Call 312 725-0432 during meeting for assistance.

Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago meets at Chicago Union Station on the third Friday of the month at 7:30 pm, except in July and August.

Web site:
Email: shortlinechicagoHS@...

Phone number for program announcements: 312 725-0432; leave message to receive a call back

Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago is now on Groups.io!
For program announcements by email, send a blank message
To: rscc+subscribe@groups.io

February 17, 1872 The President of the Peninsular Railway (later GTW, CNR) writes to the Pennsylvania Company noting that his road is laid from Lansing MI to a point 12 miles west of South Bend. He proposes joining the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago (later PRR) at Valparaiso for a route to Chicago in exchange for Bonds and a favorable freight rate.

Mark Tomlonson

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February 15, 1855 The Joliet & Chicago Railroad (later C&M, StlA&C, C&A, GM&O, ICG, CN) is chartered. It will be completed next year.

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February 15, 1997 The former Detroit, Toledo & Ironton lines making up Grand Trunk's Flatrock Subdivision south of Diann become part of the Indiana & Ohio Railway. Grand Trunk retains rights north of Diann.

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Mark Tomlonson

February 13, 1849 The Vermont Central Railway opens from White River Junction south to Windsor VT.

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Mark Tomlonson

February 11, 1998 Canadian National purchases the Illinois Central for $2.4 billion (US - $3.81 billion in 2020 dollars) in cash and shares.

Mark Tomlonson

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February 10, 1851 The Illinois Central Railroad receives its charter.

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Mark Tomlonson

February 7, 1880 The first Grand Trunk passenger train leaves Chicago for points east.

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February 7, 1983 Elizabeth Dole, the first female U.S. Secretary of Transportation is sworn in.

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February 8, 1918 The USRA announces that it will standardize rolling stock for all new equipment orders.

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February 8, 1986 A Canadian National freight runs a red signal in Dalehurst AB, possibly because the crew was asleep, and crashes head-on into VIA's train No. 4. Twenty-three people are killed; 71 are injured. Most of the first responders come from Hinton, just over 11 miles away.

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Mark Tomlonson

开云体育

February 4, 1887 In the United States, the Interstate Commerce Act is signed into law, setting up a commission to regulate rates on the railroads and ensure that the interests of farmers and small businessmen are represented. Thomas Cooley of Michigan is the commission's first Chairman.

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February 4, 1911 In honor of the work being done on the canal, Illinois Central names its premier passenger train the "Panama Limited".

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Mark Tomlonson

Thanks for the info mark... I work right off the main in Windsor..
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Ian Deck
Windsor, Ontario

February 3, 1862 Thomas Edison becomes the first newspaper publisher to distribute his paper on a train. He sells his one-page Weekly Herald on a Grand Trunk train between Port Huron and Detroit.

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February 3, 1958 Railway Age Magazine reports 1,377 active steamers on U.S. rails and 1,709 in Canada. Mikados (2-8-2) are the most common type still steaming. The editors add, "The future of steam is in a museum."

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Mark Tomlonson

January 31, 1932 Railway unions in the United States accept a 10% pay cut in hopes of easing the effects of the Depression on the railroads which will in turn allow them to keep their jobs.

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January 31, 2009 Canadian National takes control of most of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. CN has acquired the line to connect its Wisconsin Central, Illinois Central and Grand Trunk lines while avoiding the congestion of Chicago.

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February 1, 1890 Canada Atlantic Railway (later GT, CN) bridges the St. Lawrence River.

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February 1, 1936 Railway Express Agency begins offering coordinated rail-air express service for the United States and 33 countries reached by Pan American Airways.

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February 1, 1971 Canadian National again withdraws the Turbos from service to begin a rebuild program.

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February 1, 1975 Railway Express Agency declares bankruptcy. The company will be liquidated later in the year.

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February 1, 1990 CN Rail begins running trains without cabooses (aka “vans”).

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February 2, 1927 Canadian National opens Spadina Yard in Toronto. It is built on a former Grand Trunk yard that dates back to the 1850's. Construction on the yard will continue for at least two more years.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 30, 1923 The Grand Trunk is absorbed into the Canadian National. The Grand Trunk within the United States is spun off and becomes the Grand Trunk Western. CN will operate the GTW as a subsidiary.

Mark Tomlonson

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