December 25, 1830 First common carrier steam train in regular service in the U.S. on the South Carolina RR, later Southern Railroad.
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December 25, 1848 The New Haven Railroad begins operation.
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December 25, 1858 The Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago (later PRR) opens between Englewood and Van Buren Street, Chicago, completing the line from Pittsburgh to Chicago. The PFW&C is the third railroad entering Chicago from the east and the first from Philadelphia.
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December 25, 1865 Union Stockyards open on the southwest side of Chicago, outside what was then the city limits. The yards have been built in six months at cost of $1.4 million and are the largest stockyards in the world.
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December 25, 1871 The Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad opens between Winchester and Adams IN on the Pittsburgh Ft. Wayne & Chicago, completing the line between Richmond IN and Fort Wayne. The Grand Rapids & Indiana immediately begins operation of the CR&FtW. The added track will cause the GR&I to form two Divisions, centered on Grand Rapids MI.
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December 25, 1880 Actress Sarah Bernhardt is snowbound while traveling on the Ann Arbor Railroad.
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December 25, 1891 Streetcar service begins in Lincoln IL.
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December 25, 1950 The Peoria & Eastern ends the use of steam locomotives.
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December 25, 2002 The 5,758 mile Trans-Siberian Railway is completely electrified.
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December 25, 2005 The former carferry "Lansdowne", built in 1884 and at one time the largest vessel on the lakes sinks in its moorings at Erie, PA. Converted to a barge after leaving Detroit ferry service in 1956, she carries two ex-MILW "Skytop" observation cars as she sinks.
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Mark Tomlonson
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Merry Christmas and a Blessed Hanukah!
