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December 6, 1917 In the largest explosion to this date, 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 is devastated. Included in the losses: Intercolonial Railway's station (later CN) and associated facilities. Mark Tomlonson

December 9, 1881 The "Golden" Spike is driven three miles west of Newberry MI to complete the Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette Railroad (later DSS&A, SOO, CN). For the first time, Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas have a direct rail connection. Mark Tomlonson

December 12, 1859 The Grand Trunk Railway opens the Victoria Bridge, crossing the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and St. Lambert. It is the first bridge to span the river. 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. Mark Tomlonson

December 17, 1859 The first train crosses the Victoria Bridge in Montreal. The multiple-span bridge, now serving Canadian National trains, is the first to span the St. Lawrence River. December 17, 1954 First fully-automated railroad freight yard opens, on the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern in Gary IN. Mark Tomlonson

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

December 20, 1869 The Michigan Central begins joint operations with the Great Western Railway of Canada. December 20, 1918 "Canadian National Railways" is approved as the new name for Canadian Government Railways. December 21, 1948 Grand Trunk Western opens a new passenger depot in Grand Rapids MI. The structure and associated trackage costs $250,000. ($2.6 million in 2018 dollars.) December 22, 1886 The Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad is created from the merger of the Sault Ste. Marie & Marquette, Mackinaw & Marquette and Wisconsin, and Sault Ste. Marie & Mackinac Railroad Companies. Mark Tomlonson

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

December 24, 1878 The Grand Trunk and the Chicago & Lake Huron Railroads reach an agreement shaping the consolidated railroad, which will eventually be known as the Grand Trunk Western. December 24, 1954 Last steam on the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton. December 24, 2008 The United States Surface Transportation Board approves the sale fo the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern to Canadian National. Mark Tomlonson

December 26, 1896 The Lake Manitoba Railway and Canal Company operates its first train from Dauphin to Portage la Prairie. Within two years the company is renamed the Canadian Northern Railway Company. December 26, 1917 President Wilson announces that the U.S. federal government will be taking over operation of the railroads under the authority of the Army Appropriations Act of 1916. The railroads will be administered by the United States Railway Administration (USRA). Mark Tomlonson

December 27, 1902 During a raging blizzard, the “Pacific Express” slams into a freight train near Wanstead ONT. The two Grand Trunk trains collide as the freight was pulling into the siding for the meet. Thirty-one people are killed. December 27, 1906 Michigan Central buys the Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw (later NYC, PC, CR; one branch GTW, CN) to thwart plans by the Pere Marquette to make it a link in a shorter Chicago-Detroit route. The MC has little interest in operating the line and the Sergeant family continues to run it much as they had before the purchase. December 27, 1941 The U.S. Office of Price Administration begins the rationing of rubber. The lack of rubber for automobile tires will lead many travelers to choose the train. December 27, 1943 The War Department takes possession of all U.S. railroads. Mark Tomlonson

CN 369 through Les Coteaux, Qc this morning with an SD75I leader. https://www.railpictures.net/photo/720990/ Michael Berry

December 31, 1853 Canada's Great Western Railway opens between Hamilton and London Ontario. December 31, 1870 The Vermont Central Railroad leases The Rutland Railroad. December 31, 1887 Michigan's only international railroad bridge, the 1.2-mile series of spans across the rapids of the St. Mary's River at Sault Ste. Marie is opened. The double bascule spans are, at the time, the largest of this type of in the world. December 31, 1955 Grand Trunk Western drops passenger service between Pontiac and Caseville MI. The last run carried one passenger: a reporter covering the event. December 31, 1968 The Pullman Co., owned by the railroads to provide sleeping car services, ceases all operations, primarily due to Penn Central's insistence that it staff its own cars. December 31, 1983 All running boards are to be removed from box cars and refrigerator cars. December 31, 2011 The Canadian National fully absorbs the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range and the Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific railroads. The two roads are placed in the CN-controlled Wisconsin Central Ltd. family. December 31, 2012 The Canadian National reorganizes its holdings in the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern and places them in CN’s Wisconsin Central Ltd. Mark Tomlonson

January 1, 1850 The Vermont Central opens between Waterbury and Burlington. January 1, 1867 A third rail for standard gauge equipment is placed in service on the broad-gauge Great Western Railway of Canada, opening a continuous standard-gauge line from Chicago to New York with the new train ferry Great Western between Detroit and Windsor. The Great Western is the largest iron or steel vessel on the Great Lakes. Through sleeping car service is inaugurated between Suspension Bridge (Niagara Falls) and Chicago. January 1, 1888 Tracks of the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie & Atlantic Railway (later Soo Line) reach Sault Ste. Marie. January 1, 1954 "K" style air brakes are banned January 1, 1967 In honor of the Canadian Centennial, singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot debuts his "Canadian Railroad Trilogy". January 1, 1984 The Grand Trunk Western fully absorbs the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton. January 1, 1996 Canadian National absorbs the operations of Grand Trunk and the Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific. Both roads remain as "paper" companies. Mark Tomlonson

Hi all, I just joined up. I have been living trackside since 1992 on the old IC/CC&P in South Elgin, IL. I have the MP40 milepost almost directly behind my house. Those CC&P days were quite colorful. But I do enjoy anything that makes up the CN: IC, EJ&E, etc. Man, it's been a while since I have seen a GTW unit roll by. -- Grateful Fred Sugar Ridge Tower MP40 CC&P

January 6, 1918 The USRA makes major cuts in U.S. passenger service, saving $60 million per year. A la carte meals are abolished in diners, menus are limited and the number of dining cars is reduced. All passenger train advertising is eliminated (including train names). Consolidated ticket offices are established. During the war, the USRA will move 6,496,000 soldiers in 9,000 troop trains. January 6, 1930 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton drops passenger service between Napoleon OH & Tecumseh MI. Mark Tomlonson

January 7, 1883 The Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw (later MC, NYC, PC, CR (one section); MC, GT, CN (other section)) is incorporated. January 7, 1995 The Algoma Central Railway is purchased by the Wisconsin Central. (Some sources say February 1) Mark Tomlonson

January 9, 1969 The Canadian National pulls the Turbotrain from service due to problems operating in winter conditions. Mark Tomlonson

January 12, 1945 Bituminous Coal Research Incorporated's Locomotive Study Group, made up of representatives from eastern railroads and locomotive manufacturers, meets to find ways to combat the rise of the diesel locomotive. They decide reciprocating steam is dead, and to explore coal-fired turbines. January 12, 1958 The Duluth South Shore & Atlantic runs its last passenger train between St. Ignace and Marquette MI. Other passenger service will continue through 1968. January 12, 1977 VIA Rail Canada is created as a subsidiary of Canadian National. For the previous nine months, "VIA" has been CN's brand for its passenger service. Mark Tomlonson

CN B730 in Montreal this morning with 203 potash loads for Saint John, NB. https://www.railpictures.net/photo/722490/ Michael Berry

January 15, 1915 The final spike is driven on the transcontinental Canadian Northern Railway at Basque, British Columbia. January 15, 1937 The Pennsylvania Railroad, via trackage rights over the Grand Trunk Western, establishes new freight routes to the west. The ferry used for this service is the Grand Trunk's "Grand Rapids", running between Muskegon and Milwaukee. Mark Tomlonson