April 21, 1846 The Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad (later Lehigh Valley) is incorporated.
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April 21, 1856 The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi opens between Rock Island and Davenport. When a steamboat strikes the bridge two weeks later, the railroad is sued for causing a hazard to navigation. Lawyer Abraham Lincoln persuades the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the legality of the bridge.
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April 21, 1873 The Texas & Pacific Railway begins grading at San Diego.
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April 21, 1873 The Ware River Railroad (later B&A, NYC) is incorporated.
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April 21, 1935 The "Twin Zephyr" begins service between Chicago and the Twin Cities.
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April 21, 1936 After tests, the Pennsylvania Railroad decides not to buy copies of EMC diesel demonstrators for passenger service on the grounds they are too noisy, too smelly and only marginally more powerful than a K-4s. PRR does note that fuel costs are only 61% of steam.
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April 21, 1941 The New York Central puts its new, streamlined "James Whitcomb Riley" on display at Indianapolis Union Station. Henry Dreyfus has designed the new train.
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April 21, 1959 New York Central passenger service between Grand Rapids and Jackson MI ends.
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April 21, 1962 The American Institute of Architects denounces the destruction of Penn Station in New York.
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April 21, 1975 Southern Pacific 4-8-4 4449 is test-fired and moves under steam in preparation for its use on the American Freedom Train.
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April 21, 1993 The first Amtrak "Genesis" locomotive leaves GE.
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April 21, 2011 Three musical groups begin a tour in Oakland CA, using a private 15-car train as sole intercity transportation.
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Mark Tomlonson
