March 10, 1910 A home for aged and disabled former railroad employees opens in Highland ParK IL.

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March 10, 2009 Canadian National routes its first two trains over the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. CN's purchase of the line was finalized on January 31. Traffic is expected to grow to six daily trains in the near future.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 7, 1834 The Detroit & Pontiac (later D&M, GT) receives its charter from Michigan Territory.

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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, 1920 Canadian National’s Board of Directors assumes management control of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

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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 6, 1834 The London & Gore Railroad in Upper Canada receives its charter; the first railroad charter in what is now Ontario. (However it will not be the first to actually operate trains.) 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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Mark Tomlonson

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

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

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Mark Tomlonson

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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 United States, 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, 1947 The Illinois Central withdraws the “Green Diamond” trainset from service between Chicago and St. Louis.

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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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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, 1911 Grand Trunk begins operating the Oshawa Railway in Oshawa ON. Next year it will purchase the line.

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March 1, 1913 The Federal Valuation Act takes effect, authorizing the Interstate Commerce Commission to set a value on the nation's railroads for rate-making purposes. In future years these Valuation Reports will be excellent tools for railroad historians.

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March 1, 1920 USRA control of railroads ends.

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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 ON and Canada Atlantic Junction, 3.7 miles.

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Mark Tomlonson

February 27, 1912 The Pacific Great Eastern Railway (later BCR, CN) is incorporated to build a line from Vancouver north to a connection with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway at Prince George BC.

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Mark Tomlonson

February 24, 1888 The Grand Trunk Railway acquires the Northern & Northwestern Railway.

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Mark Tomlonson

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, GDLK) is charted.

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Mark Tomlonson

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. His proposal will be declined.

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February 17, 1911 In the U.S., the Locomotive and Boiler Inspection Act sets regular and mandatory boiler inspections, to be performed by the ICC.

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Mark Tomlonson

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February 14, 1867 The first car of flour shipped using the new Blue Line, a cooperative traffic agreement among several railroads, arrives in Boston from St. Louis via the New York Central, Great Western of Canada, Michigan Central and Chicago & North Western. The line also operates over the Illinois Central, St. Louis, Alton & Chicago, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Hudson River Railroad, Boston & Albany, Housatonic, Worcester & Nashua, and Providence & Worcester railroads.

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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, 1926 Canadian National begins service between Kamloops and Kewlowna BC.

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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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February 16, 1865 The Cairo & St. Louis Railroad (later M&O, GM&O, IC, CN) is chartered.

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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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February 13, 1855 The Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad (later GTW) is formed by the merger of the Detroit & Pontiac and Oakland & Ottawa Railroad. This will create a continuous line from Detroit to Lake Michigan. (Some sources say February 12)

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Mark Tomlonson

February 11, 1998 Canadian National purchases the Illinois Central for $2.4 billion (US - $4.68 billion in 2025 dollars) in cash and shares.

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Mark Tomlonson

February 10, 1851 The Illinois Central Railroad receives its charter. It is the first land-grant railroad in the United States.

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February 10, 1950 Canadian National Railway gains control of Temiscouta Railway, operating in Quebec and New Brunswick.

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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 8, 1855 The first passenger train leaves Halifax NS.

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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 18 km (11 miles) away.

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Mark Tomlonson

February 5, 1998 Canadian National confirms that it is in negotiations to buy Illinois Central Corporation. This will add 3,450 miles (5,552 km) of track to CN at a proposed price of $2.3 billion. [2025: $4.5 billion]

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Mark Tomlonson

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

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, 1930 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton ends freight service between Tecumseh and Dundee MI. Passenger service to Dundee was dropped last month.

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February 3, 1995 Canadian National sells the former Central Vermont line from New London CT to East Alborg VT to RailTex. RailTex will operate the line as the New England Central Railroad.

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Mark Tomlonson