July 12, 1871 The first narrow gauge railroad in North America (i.e. the first railroad deliberately built to a gauge smaller than "standard" for economic or engineering reasons), the 3? foot gauge Toronto & Nipissing Railway, (later MR, GT, CN) opens for business.
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July 12, 1903 The Canadian Northern Railroad (later CNR) opens between Winnipeg MB and Port Arthur (now Fort William) ON.
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July 12, 1919 The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, which declared bankruptcy in March is turned over to Canadian National.
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July 12, 1965 Canadian National buys 14 ex-Boston & Maine RDC's.
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July 13, 1915 Trans-Canada passenger service begins on a collection of lines that will become the Canadian National.
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July 13, 1957 Sim Webb, Casey Jones' fireman on Jones' famous last run, dies of cancer at age 83.
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July 14, 1921To simplify operations, the Grand Trunk Railway and Canadian Northern Ontario Railway open a 0.56 km (1800 feet) connection in Lyn ON.
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July 14, 1943 Opening ceremonies are held at Gare central de Montreal, owned by Canadian National. The structure had been first proposed in 1929. Regular service will begin tomorrow. The station will subsequently be owned by Homburg Invest Inc. (Canmarc) and Cominar REIT.
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July 14, 2000 The United States Surface Transportation Board¡¯s moratorium on railroad mergers is upheld in court. The moratorium contributes to the failure of a proposed BNSF/CN merger.
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Mark Tomlonson
