October 28, 1848 The first railroad in Spain opens between Barcelona and Mataro.
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October 28, 1892 A disastrous fire destroys many Chicago & North Western facilities in Milwaukee. At least 180 freight cars are destroyed.
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October 28, 1906 A three-car West Jersey & Seashore electric train falls into a river just west of Atlantic City. Fifty-seven are killed. The coroner's jury finds that rails on a drawbridge were not properly locked resulting in a vertical misalignment of the rails. A public relations consultant, Mr. Ivy Lee, who had just been hired by WJ&S¡¯s parent company, the Pennsylvania Railroad, suggests the railroad release its own version of the story. This release is the first press release ever written.
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October 28, 1909 The Chicago & West Pullman Railway and the Calumet & Southeastern Railroad merge to form the Chicago & West Pullman Railroad. The line is affiliated with the International Harvester company.
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October 28, 1912 In response to the disastrous wreck at Kingsland, IN in September 1910, the Indiana Railroad Commission issues an order for the installation of block signals on Indiana interurban lines. Ten lines and 276 miles of track are affected by the order, which is to be fulfilled by July 1, 1913.
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October 28, 1931 The Pennsylvania and Grand Trunk railroads agree to share their Milwaukee and Muskegon terminals. This is to serve the Great Lakes carferries run by the Grand Trunk-Pennsylvania Transportation Company formed today. Actual operation of the carferries is delayed due to the Depression.
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October 28, 1932 The Kalamazoo Transportation Company tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that rumors that streetcar service is about to end ¡°are unfounded¡±. Service will end 4 days later.
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October 28, 1953 Train Telephone service begins on the ¡°20th Century Limited" between Buffalo and Chicago.
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October 28, 1956 After a 2-year study, the New York Central introduces its "Travel Tailored Schedule Plan", an attempt to rationalize local and medium distance passenger service. The plan features short, fast trains with no head-end cars and few sleepers. Intermediate stops at smaller stations are curtailed.
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October 28, 1959 The Canadian National line between St. Felicien and Chibougamau QC opens.
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October 28, 1962 The Grand Trunk reduces the time for its Chicago-Montreal "International" by one hour and 45 minutes. Chicago-Detroit time is cut by 45 minutes.
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October 28, 1963 At 9:00 am demolition begins at Penn Station in New York.
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October 28, 1979 Amtrak adds Superliners to the ¡°Empire Builder¡±.
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October 28, 1983 Last revenue run of a GG-1, pulling New Jersey Transit train 3323.
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October 28, 1994 Norfolk Southern announces it is ending its 28-year-old steam excursion program.
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October 28, 2008 Cliffs Erie Mining Company runs its A-B-B-B-A F9's for the last time. The units were delivered in 1956 and never left the property.
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October 28, 2010 Amtrak announces an order with Siemens for 70 electric passenger locomotives. The ACS-64 motors will have a top speed of 125 mph and will be built at three U.S. plants.
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October 28, 2011 For the first time in 25 years, trains carry personnel to and from Fort Lee VA.
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Mark Tomlonson
