April 8, 1867 A special excursion train departs Chicago on the first through run to New York over the new Michigan Central-Great Western of Canada-New York Central route. The train is ferried across the Detroit River. The route is uniform standard gauge. A through Pullman Palace hotel car is established between Chicago and Albany.
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April 8, 1870 A Pullman Palace Drawing Room Car intended for the Pennsylvania Railroad makes a demonstration run between West Philadelphia and Trenton. The car features 12 sections and 2 compartments, with 6-wheel trucks for a quiet ride.
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April 8, 1880 The Miami Valley Narrow Gauge Railway (OH) is sold under foreclosure. It will be reorganized as the Cincinnati Northern (later NYC)
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April 8, 1907 The Pennsylvania Railroad issues orders that trainmen are not to assist women dressed in white up and down steps unless requested. The order follows complaints of trainmen soiling women's clothes.
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April 8, 1908 The Chicago Elevated opens a branch to Union Stockyards.
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April 8, 1921 Canadian National closes the Henderson Avenue station in Ottawa, originally built by the Canadian Northern. Canadian National trains begin using Ottawa Union Station instead.
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April 8, 1932 Eau Claire WI loses its streetcars.
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April 8, 1936 The Pennsylvania Railroad declines an offer from Budd for streamlined passenger diesels, citing high costs for new support infrastructure.
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April 8, 1943 President Roosevelt, as one of several moves today to reduce inflation, bans common carriers such as railroads from increasing their rates.
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April 8, 1956 Detroit's Woodward Avenue PCC line is changed to bus, ending rail service. A parade of 24 PCC's have closed the line. All but 3 of the PCC's will go to Mexico City.
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April 8, 1960 Seventy feet of New York Central track on the south shore of Lake Ontario in New York State is destroyed by a rockslide.
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April 8, 1961 New York Governor Rockefeller signs a bill allowing the Port Authority to take over the operation of the Hudson Tubes and to construct a World Trade Center.
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April 8, 1961 The Ford Motor Company reveals plans for its "Levacar", an air cushioned tracked vehicle Ford claims will make 500 mph using a large fan for propulsion. The Pennsylvania, New York Central and Santa Fe express interest.
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April 8, 1968 Last run of the Rock Island/Southern Pacific “Golden State”.
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April 8, 1997 CSX and Norfolk Southern agree on a plan to buy Conrail. 58% of Conrail will go to Norfolk Southern, and 42% to CSX.
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Mark Tomlonson
