April 23, 1831 The Pontchaitrain Railroad (later L&N), the first in the Mississippi valley, begins horse car operation between New Orleans and Milneburg.
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April 23, 1835 The New Castle & Frenchtown Railroad appoints a committee to meet with officials of the Camden & Amboy Railroad. Their goal: To set up a through line that would allow travel from New York to Baltimore in one day.
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April 23, 1849 The Michigan Central line is completed to New Buffalo, the first railroad to cross the state. On this same day it enters negotiations with a steamship line for a connection to Chicago.
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April 23, 1853 A westbound Michigan Southern Immigrant train ignores a stop signal and slams into an eastbound Michigan Central Express train at Grand Crossing, Chicago. Twenty-one German immigrants are killed, 40 people are injured. (Some sources say April 25 or May 5)
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April 23, 1860 The Staten Island Railway begins operation. As of 2025, it is the oldest rapid transit right-of-way in New York City.
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April 23, 1867 The Chicago & Lake Shore Railroad (later PM, C&O, CSX) is formed to build a line from New Buffalo to St. Joseph MI.
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April 23, 1873 The Pennsylvania Railroad Board rejects a proposal of the American Railway Literary Union to control the sale of all publications in PRR trains and stations as part of its nationwide campaign to stamp out "smut". The Board decides to police the sale of objectionable materials with PRR employees. PRR Vice-President A. J. Cassatt notes that travelers demand light reading and romantic novels to alleviate boredom while traveling and would rebel at a diet of religious tracts.
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April 23, 1874 The Pennsylvania Company Board authorizes the construction of an eating-house at Valparaiso, IN.
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April 23, 1900 The Dayton-Xenia Traction Company opens its Belmont to Spring Valley branch.
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April 23, 1905 Pontiac IL begins streetcar service.
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April 23, 1927 Pennsylvania passenger trains leaving Chicago Union Station switch from the former "Panhandle" route through Washington Heights to the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago.
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April 23, 1930 The Baltimore & Ohio installs air conditioning in the dining car "Martha Washington". It is the first air-conditioned car in revenue service.
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April 23, 1938 Richmond IN streetcars give way to buses.
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April 23, 1941 The Pennsylvania Railroad Board authorizes $375,000 [2025: $8.3 million] for the development of a steam turbine locomotive. The efforts will result in the Class S2 6-8-6.
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April 23, 1954 The air space over Penn Station's approach between 9th and 10th Avenues is sold. The developers plan to construct a Post Office expansion, commercial office space and a heliport.
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April 23, 1955 Passenger service ends on Canadian Pacific Railway's two interurbans: the Grand River Railway and the Lake Erie & Northern Railway.
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April 23, 1955 Regular passenger service ends on the former Grand Rapids & Indiana, as the Pennsylvania Railroad drops service between Sturgis and Grand Rapids MI. Summer-only service will continue on the former GR&I until 1961.
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April 23, 2004 Amtrak runs its last Toronto to Chicago "International". The train is replaced by the Chicago-Port Huron "Blue Water".
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Mark Tomlonson
