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May 14 in CNR History
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May 14, 1955 Canadian National Railways opens a causeway on its Hopewell Subdivision, ending the use of carferries in that location. May 14, 2003 Canadian National officially drops the "Illinois Central" name. All United States operations are now under the CN name. Mark Tomlonson
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This Weekend in CNR History
May 15, 1915 The Interstate Commerce Commission orders the Pennsylvania, Northern Central, Lehigh Valley, New York Central, Rutland, Erie, Grand Trunk and Lackawanna railroads to divest themselves of their Great Lakes steamship lines by December 1. The Great Lakes car ferrries are not affected. May 15, 1923 Due to operational problems in the United States, the American lines of the former Grand Trunk Railway of Canada in New England are reorganized as the "Grand Trunk". May 15, 1942 Motorists in the eastern United States are hit with gas rationing. The normal limit is three gallons per week. Transit and rail systems will see a marked increase in passengers. May 16, 2005 The last Canadian National revenue train pulls off the Kinghorn Sub at Current River. May 17, 1908 The last steam engine passes through the St. Clair Tunnel as operations become fully electric. May 17, 1936 Illinois Central's streamliner "Green Diamond" makes its debut. May 17, 1945 The Federal Communications Commission allocates radio channels for exclusive railroad use. May 17, 1946 President Truman seizes control of U.S. railroads in the hopes of preventing a nationwide strike. The action delays, but does not prevent the strike May 17, 1957 Canadian National Railways opens a 40-mile diversion of its Cornwall Subdivision due to the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. This subdivision will later be merged with the Gananoque and Oshawa Subdivisions to form the Kingston Subdivision. May 17, 1965 Canadian National Railways opens "Toronto Yard", later known as "MacMillan Yard". Mark Tomlonson
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History, May 16th
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Mark: Your message for the 16th states " The last CN revenue train pulls off the Kinghorn Sub. at Current River". Should that not be Current Junction. Mileage 195.5 Junction with CP Rail was 195.7 Per 1994 CTG. Doug Renshaw Burlington, ON.
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May 18 in CNR History
May 18, 1979 The State of Michigan purchases the Grand Trunk Western car ferry "City of Milwaukee". Mark Tomlonson
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May 19 in CNR History
May 19, 1968 Last run of Illinois Central's "Green Diamond". May 19, 1980 The Grand Trunk Company merges into CN Rail. Mark Tomlonson
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May 20 in CNR History
May 20, 1852 The Michigan Central is completed to Calumet (Kensington) south of Chicago, forming an unbroken line from Detroit. It enters the city over the Illinois Central from Calumet to 22nd Street after Illinois refuses to grant the MC an Illinois charter. (Some sources say 5/21, others say 5/22) May 20, 1940 Sixty-six railroads in the United States, in cooperation with the Travelers' Credit Corporation, begin selling railroad tickets, Pullman accommodations and all-expense tours on an installment basis, known as the Travel Credit Plan. Purchases over $50 [2020: $916] could be charged. May 20, 1983 Canadian National abandons its Haliburton Sub. Mark Tomlonson
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May 21 in CNR History
May 21, 1920 Canadian National is assigned the management of the Grand Trunk. Mark Tomlonson
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Toronto Railway Museum Birthday Presentation - May 28th 2020
You folks may be interested in this presentation (see below). Derek Boles is presenting it and is a well published railway historian. The presentations are well crafted with tons of visuals and carefully scripted. Feel free to share this with anyone else you think may enjoy it. Attendance is free with only a suggestion of welcome donations. Happy Birthday to the Toronto Railway Museum 2020 marks the Toronto Railway Museum’s tenth anniversary! As part of our anniversary programming, the Toronto Railway Historical Association (TRHA) presents “Toronto’s Locomotive Roundhouses”, an online lecture presented by the museum’s Historian, Derek Boles. It will be delivered online from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28th 2020, the Museum’s birthday. Historian Derek Boles will focus on the history of the city’s sixteen locomotive roundhouses that were built between 1856 and 1929. Although the Canadian Pacific Railway John Street Roundhouse was the last of these, the history of the site extends back to 1860 when a ship carrying the Prince of Wales docked at the foot of the street. The first John Street Roundhouse opened in 1897 and remained in service until 1929. This presentation will also deal with the history of roundhouses in general, the development of the Railway Lands over 150 years, the extensive preparations required to prepare for the present roundhouse, and its construction in 1929. You need to register for this great event and reserve your space! Please note that lecture capacity is limited due to the hosting platform used so act soon by visiting this page on our website for more information and to register: https://torontorailwaymuseum.com/trm2018/events/online-lecture-torontos-locomotive-roundhouses/
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May 28 in CNR History
May 28, 1932 Due to the effects of the Depression, Illinois Central suspends operation of the "Panama Limited". Mark Tomlonson
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This Weekend in CNR History
May 30, 1908 In the United States, the "Ash Pan Act" requires all steam locomotives to be equipped with an ash pan that can be opened without crawling under the engine. May 30, 1957 The last official steam-powered passenger train leaves Halifax NS. Steam will make at least one additional appearance before the end. May 30, 1960 Canadian National announces that its conversion from steam to diesel is complete. May 31, 1947 The Gulf, Mobile & Ohio acquires the Chicago & Alton. May 31, 1949 This past month, airline passenger-miles exceed Pullman passenger-miles for the first time. May 31, 1972 At 12:28 pm Canadian National sends its last communication by Morse code, ending the use of Morse code for official railroad purposes in Canada. The message is sent from the Winnipeg Dispatcher to an agent in Morris, Manitoba. Mark Tomlonson
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June 1 in CNR History
June 1, 1867 The Great Western Railway of Canada begins direct interchange of cars with the Michigan Central Railroad at Detroit. June 1, 1905 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton first gains control of the Ann Arbor Railroad. June 1, 1923 In part to keep passengers entertained on cross-country trips, Canadian National announces the formation of its Radio Department. The Radio Department will eventually become the CBC Radio and Television network. June 1, 1925 Henry Ford begins trial runs on the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton with two D-D+D-D electric locomotives. Ford has plans (never realized) to extend his electrification project to a connection with the Virginian Railway. June 1, 1985 CSX Transportation begins running rights over the Canada Southern Subdivision of CP Rail and CN Rail. Mark Tomlonson
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June 2 in CNR History
June 2, 1913 The U.S. Department of Labor settles a strike by Railroad Clerks, the first use of Federal Mediation. June 2, 1995 Last day of operation of Z-1-a, Z-4-a, and Z-5-a electric locomotives, EP-59a and EP-69a electric multiple units, and Canadian Flyer coaches on the Montreal -Deux-Montagnes line. Locomotives Z-1-a 6710 and 6711, built for Canadian Northern in 1914, powers the last train. Locomotive 6711 had also powered the very first revenue train on this line. Mark Tomlonson
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This Weekend in CNR History
June 6, 1910 The U.S. Safety Appliances Act of 1893 is amended to require no less than 85% of cars in a train be equipped with air brakes. June 6, 1919 Incorporation date of Canadian National Railways. June 6, 1968 Stuart Saunders proposes the establishment of a "National Railroad Passenger Council" to study the United States passenger rail network, decide what is worth saving, and arrange a Federal Subsidy. June 7, 1939 The Royal Train carrying King George VI and Queen Elizabeth enters the United States at Suspension Bridge NY. It is the first visit by a reigning British monarch to either the United States or Canada. The train is made up of Canadian National and Canadian Pacific cars and Government of Canada cars 1 and 2. Mark Tomlonson
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June 10 in CNR History
June 10, 1953 The Board of the Pennsylvania Railroad votes to drop its participation in the Muskegon-Milwaukee car ferry run with Grand Trunk. Mark Tomlonson
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June 11 in CNR History
June 11, 1888 The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (The Soo Line - later WC, CN)) is formed as four railroads merge. Mark Tomlonson
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June 12 in CNR History
June 12, 1967 The first "Paducah Geep," IC 8109, comes out of the Paducah KY shop. The former IC 9109 is the first in a series of first-generation Geep rebuilds at the Paducah Shops that will serve the Illinois Central and Illinois Central Gulf before finding their way to many shortlines. Mark Tomlonson
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June 15 in CNR History
June 15, 1924 Debut of the "Montrealer" and its twin, the "Washingtonian". Following a Canadian National/Central Vermont/Boston & Maine/New Haven/Pennsylvania routing, they will be favorites for diplomatic traffic between Ottawa and Washington. The "Washingtonian" will also be popular among rum-runners during Prohibition. Mark Tomlonson
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CN A49291 17 Dead 2400s
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Hey A49291 17 out of mile 98.7 South Bend Sub. CN3261 5291 2414 2400 2426 and dp EMDX 7201. First bath of several 2400s for K&K in Pickering. Planned 2250 at Sarnia I am sure it will fall way back. Chris
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Attached are a few of X114 on the Caramat and a few on the way home. ~June 17, 2020 Home Day!~ We have been starting very early all week to utilize the track time and it would get us all out of dodge nice and early as well! We would clear off at Wagaming just as Q180 came to the approach and got a good light. **Railpictures : https://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=4201 **Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1CAyifXO4c **Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/47866988@N05/ ~CN Wagaming - MP 233.5 CN Caramat Subdivision (Wagaming, ON)~ 0616 CN Q18051 12 [Intermodal; Prince Rupert Fairview, BC Toronto BIT, ON] 192 platforms CN 2945 (ES44AC) -train- CN 2858 (ES44AC) We head back into Armstrong to take care of some business, exchange shifts, and slowly pack it in. As we arrived M314 was pulling into town to set off 1 car, and remarshal a few empty lumber cars for the sawmill at Exton. Train M314 would be staging their train until 1230. ~CN Armstrong - MP 243.8 CN Caramat Subdivision/MP 0.0 CN Allanwater Subdivision (Armstrong, ON)~ 0623 CN M31441 13 [Manifest; Winnipeg Symington, MB - Toronto MacMillan, ON] 95 cars CN 8876 (SD70M-2) CN 8961 (SD70M-2) -89 mixed/6 platforms- **dropped 1 car off into yard, stage/depart 1227 https://www.flickr.com/photos/47866988@N05/50037746097 1008 CN Q10251 14 arrives and crew changes 1019 CN Q10251 14 [Intermodal; Kamloops, BC - Toronto BIT, ON] 184 platforms CN 8880 (SD70M-2) -139 platforms- CN 2523 (C44-9W) -45 platforms- https://www.flickr.com/photos/47866988@N05/50037746097 I grab a few things and I am on my way done for another round! As I got closer to the highway I thought about zipping into Thunder Bay to get a bite to eat. With nothing really out there for trains I had lots of time to kill. There was a work train out there and as I was on Highway 17 he called the light to Current River. Well now, turn left on Balsam and zip it to Marina Park. Just a bit of time to spare as we was already within the two mile tangent! ~CP Current River - MP 126.0 CP Nipigon Subdivision (Thunder Bay, ON)~ 1338 CP 4WNI-17 [OCS; Schreiber, ON - Thunder Bay, ON] 27 cars **CP 5866 (SD40-2) **CP 5922 (SD40-2) -22 CWR empties- CP 420820 (Threader) CP 420821 (Threader) CP 409006 (Tool Car) CP 424962 (Generator) CP 420991 (Caboose) https://www.railpictures.net/photo/739699/ After a very quick capture I head to Wendy’s and get fully fuel and depart for home. Maybe 20 minutes spent in the city?! I would make very good time and pull into Rossport just after 101’s train departed Schreiber. Perfect time for a whiz and stretch the old legs! ~MP 14.1 CP Nipigon Subdivision (Rossport, ON)~ 1633 CP 101-16 [Intermodal; Toronto Yard, ON - Vancouver IMS, BC] 134 platforms CP 8839 (ES44AC) CP 9759 (AC4400CW) -76 platforms- CP 8912 (ES44AC) -58 platforms- https://www.railpictures.net/photo/739707/ With that I walk back to the truck and depart. I knew a pretty nice 421 was on deck but really wanted to get home. I pushed for home, and texted the wife I have to make a slight detour to Carden Cove first. As I turned into town he was calling lights around Pringle so not to bad of a hit. He seemed to be quite a bit slow across but now I see why! ~MP 66.0 CP Heron Bay Subdivision (Marathon, ON)~ 1832 CP 421-16 [Manifest; Toronto Yard, ON - Winnipeg, MB] **170 cars** **CP 7010 (SD70ACU in heritage script livery) **CP 7043 (SD70ACU) -3 platforms/165 mixed/2 racks- https://www.railpictures.net/photo/739701/ Close to a year into the SD70ACU’s and this would be my first pair. Finally, it seems to bugs have been worked out and I am sure these will be leading the money trains soon enough! I head to the house and relax for the evening. Just a pair of west bounds to cap things off. A 12 hour late 113 (made for a good picture) and a 119 with a CMQ barn. ~CP Marathon - MP 61.3 CP Heron Bay Subdivision (Marathon, ON)~ 1932 CP 113-15 [Intermodal; Montreal Hochelaga, PQ - Vancouver Coquitlam, BC] 118 platforms- CP 8917 (ES44AC) -train- CP 8608 (AC4400CW) https://www.railpictures.net/photo/739705/ 2356 CP 119-16 [Intermodal; Mon
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Webinar: History of the John St Roundhouse – June 25th 2020 at 8 pm
Tomorrow, Thursday, June 25th at 8:00 p.m. Derek Boles, our Historian at the Toronto Railway Museum will present the third in our 10th Anniversary Series of free online webinars on railway history in our area. Almost 200 people enjoyed each of the first two webinars. These webinars will not be recorded so do register for it ASAP to get access and then come and enjoy it in person online. To learn more about this webinar, click on this link: https://torontorailwaymuseum.com/trm2018/events/online-lecture-the-history-of-the-john-street-roundhouse/
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