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March 21, 1948 Baltimore PCC route 6 (Curtis Bay) was converted to bus operation.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? March 22, 1953 Cleveland's Superior Avenue trolley route, one of the first two to get PCC cars, was converted to trolleybus operation with used Pullman-Standard equipment purchased from Providence. Two weeks earlier, on March 8, Cleveland's East 55th Street trolley route, the last to get PCCs, was converted to bus operation.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? March 23, 1953 Philadelphia trolley route 36 (Elmwood Avenue) was rerouted east via 23rd, Chestnut, and 20th to Market and west via Market, 19th, and Walnut to 22nd. These changes became necessary due to construction of the Market Street subway extension at 23rd Street.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? March 23, 1959 Brooklyn trolleybus route B-45 (Livingston Street and St. John's Place) was converted to bus operation.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis?M Linsky? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

March 21, 1837 Today and tomorrow, the Michigan Legislature will pass the Internal Improvements Act, authorizing the Central Railroad of Michigan (later MC) to build across the state. It will follow the route charted by the largely unbuilt Detroit & St. Joseph Rail Road. Also authorized: The Southern Railroad of Michigan (later LS&MS), the Northern Railroad of Michigan (never built), canals and plank roads.

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March 21, 1840 The West Feliciana Railroad becomes the first in the United States to announce regular freight and passenger rates.

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March 21, 1853 The Baltimore, Carroll & Frederick Railroad is renamed the Western Maryland Railroad.

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March 21, 1874 The first meal is served on board a British train.

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March 21, 1906 Fifty striking women car cleaners, who have been denied a meeting with Pennsylvania Railroad Division Superintendent S.C. Long, force their way into his home at 9:00 p.m. to present their grievances.

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March 21, 1910 Four miles outside Green Mountain IA the tender on the lead engine of a double headed Chicago Rock Island & Pacific passenger train derails. Forty-five people are killed and fifty injured in Iowa’s deadliest train crash. The CRI&P train was on Chicago & Northwestern tracks due to an earlier freight derailment on the CRI&P.

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March 21, 1918 President Wilson signs the Railroad Control Act, setting terms for operation of the railroads by the United States Railroad Administration (USRA). Railroads are to be paid rent for use of their lines and equipment.

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March 21, 1937 Southern Pacific's "Daylight Limited" debuts the new red/orange/black "Daylight" paint scheme.

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March 21, 1950 The State of New York forms its New York Thruway Authority to construct a network of toll roads and superhighways.

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March 21, 1953 The Chesapeake & Ohio carferry "Badger" makes her maiden voyage.

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March 21, 1968 The Louisville & Nashville/Monon merger is announced. The merger will be accomplished in July, 1971.

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March 21, 2001 An EMD JT42CWR becomes the first American-built locomotive to cross the German/Swiss border. It is heading up a container train.

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March 22, 1862 The East Boston Freight Railroad (later B&A, NYC) is chartered in Massachusetts.

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March 22, 1897 The U.S. Supreme Court rules that railroads are subject to anti-trust legislation.

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March 22, 1898 The Chicago Heights Terminal Transfer Railroad (later C&EI, MP, UP) is incorporated.

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March 22, 1911 The Kansas City, Clay County & St. Joseph Railway (Interurban) is incorporated. Although the line runs in Missouri, the promoters are mostly Interurban owners from Indiana.

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March 22, 1916 The Great Lakes Transit Corporation is formed to take over the railroad-owned liners and packet steamers now prohibited by ICC order. Operations will begin April 1.

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March 22, 1936 New York Central “Mohawk” #2873 is given streamlining and painted blue and white in preparation for its use in pulling the Rexall Drug train. It is also converted from coal to oil fuel. It is lettered “NYC” and “Rexall” but carries no number.

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March 22, 1944 The Board of the Pennsylvania Railroad approves contacting Government officials to allow the hiring of 3,000 Mexicans as track gang men and laborers.

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March 22, 1957 Faced with the high cost of building a major bridge over the new St. Lawrence Seaway, the New York Central abandons its line from Rooseveltown to Ottawa, Ontario. In April, Canadian National will purchase the portion of the line between Cornwall and Ottawa.

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March 22, 1970 After efforts to make it a rolling National Monument fall short, the Chicago Burlington & Quincy/Denver & Rio Grande Western/Western Pacific "California Zephyr" makes its last run when the Western Pacific drops its segment. The D&RGW remnant will run until 1983.

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March 22, 2011 The North Carolina Department of Transportation announces it will use Federal Funds to create a high-speed rail link between Raleigh and Charlotte.

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March 22, 2019 Two men are confirmed as record-setters for their ride in 2017 that took them over every Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority route in 7 hours, 29 minutes and 46 seconds.

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March 23, 1836 Virginia declares it a felony to damage or destroy railroad property. Slaves who damage railroads "shall suffer death without benefit of clergy".

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March 23, 1858 E.A. Gardner of Philadelphia patents a streetcar.

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March 23, 1861 London's first streetcars, designed by a Mr. Train of New York, begin operation.

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March 23, 1882 The Providence, Webster & Springfield Railroad is chartered. The Massachusetts railroad will be operated by the Boston & Albany.

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March 23, 1883 The Mann Boudoir Car Company is formed in New York. A success in Europe, it will operate at a loss for its entire five-year U.S. existence.

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March 23, 1905 The Batavia Daily News reports that the New York Central greenhouses in Batavia are ready to ship 50,000 plants and 8,000 ornamental shrubs to beautify NYC passenger stations throughout the system.

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March 23, 1913 Four days of heavy rains begin causing severe flooding in the Ohio River Basin in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Over 600 people will be killed in the flooding. The Pennsylvania Railroad suffers $3.5 million ($114 million in 2025) in damages. The floods also put an end to commercial traffic on the two remaining Ohio Canals. They will be retained for water supply and recreation.

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March 23, 1914 The Pennsylvania Railroad opens a new station in Ft. Wayne IN and its track elevation project in that city is completed.

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March 23, 1937 The Los Angeles Railway Company begins using PCC cars.

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March 23, 1953 Great Northern runs its last steam locomotives in the Cascades Region.

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March 23, 1981 Intermodal rates & services are deregulated, leading directly to the rise of intermodal traffic.

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March 23, 1988 CSX begins Detroit-Atlanta “Roadrailer” service using ex-Clinchfield "F" units as motive power.

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March 23, 2004 The first locomotive runs in Tibet as part of the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

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March 23, 2010 MetroRail opens in Austin TX. The 32-mile line is the city's first commuter rail service.

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March 23, 2014 A Chicago “L” train overruns the track bumper at O’Hare subway station, injuring 32.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 20, 1880 The Southern Pacific reaches Tucson AZ, the first train arriving on this date.

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March 20, 1896 The Grand Trunk Railway purchases the Central Vermont Railway and begins operating it as a wholly owned subsidiary.

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March 20, 1909 The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Company is formed. When the track is built this summer, the Peoria & Eastern will haul most of the materials. Later, when the original surface is found to be unsafe, the P&E will haul the bricks for "The Brickyard".

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March 20, 1949 The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy/Denver & Rio Grande Western/Western Pacific "California Zephyr" makes its first eastbound run, departing from San Francisco CA.

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March 20, 1950 The Baltimore & Ohio introduces its "Time-Saver" service for LCL freight.

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March 20, 1959 Last sailing of the Weehawken ferry, connecting New York Central's West Shore line with Manhattan.

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March 20, 1960 The Pioneer Zephyr makes its final revenue run from Lincoln NE to Kansas City MO. It then continues through Galesburg IL to Chicago for its final disposition.

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March 20, 1990 Canadian National GMD1 1071 departs Vancouver Island, ending 70 years of CN service on the island. The last segment of track was officially abandoned less than a month ago.

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March 20, 2017 Canadian National announces it will be closing the ore dock at Escanaba MI by the end of April. Ore has been shipped from Escanaba since 1852.

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March 20, 2022 Hitachi Rail announces it is building a new plant near Hagerstown MD to build new cars for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority. The new facility will employ 460 people and is expected to open in the winter of 2023-4.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 19, 1958 A late snowstorm which affected PCC car services in Baltimore and Washington also hit Philadelphia very hard. PCC routes 6 and 53 and bus routes 22, 74, 84, 86, 87, and Wa--all the bus routes at Willow Grove and the Northeast--were completely knocked out. The Red Arrow operated only the Norristown line.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

March 19, 1836 The Lexington & Ohio Railroad (later L&N, CSX) relegates its single steam engine to freight service and returns to using horses for passenger trains.

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March 19, 1851 The Illinois Central Railroad is organized in New York City.

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March 19, 1917 The railroads accept President Wilson's proposal for an 8-hour workday to stave off possible strikes. Later in the day the U.S. Supreme Court in Wilson v. New, upholds the eight-hour workday for railroads.

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March 19, 1918 The U.S. Congress adopts Standard or "Railroad" time, in use since 1884, as the national standard.

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March 19, 1928 The New York Central opens a new, 31-stall roundhouse at Harmon NY.

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March 19, 1933 Cincinnati Union Terminal opens.

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March 19, 1944 Southern Pacific purchases its last steam locomotive: cab forward AC-12 4-8-8-2 # 4294.

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March 19, 1949 The Chicago Burlington & Quincy, Denver & Rio Grande Western, and the Western Pacific railroads jointly announce the inauguration of the “California Zephyr”, running between Chicago IL and San Francisco CA.

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March 19, 1948 The Lakefront Terminal & Dock Company opens its new terminal at Toledo. The terminal will be used jointly by the New York Central and Chesapeake & Ohio. The terminal has two Hulett-type unloaders and three McMyler coal dumpers.

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March 19, 1964 Passenger service ends on the New York Central between Detroit and Bay City MI. This ends intercity passenger service to Bay City and Saginaw.

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March 19, 2007 Demolition begins on the Pennsylvania Railroad roundhouse at Crestline, OH. Built around 1918, the facility had enlarged stalls to accommodate the Pennsy's T-1 and S-1 steam locomotives.

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March 19, 2011 The Amtrak station in Wilmington, DE is named for Vice President Joe Biden, who as a Senator departed from the station on a regular basis to travel to Washington DC.

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March 19, 2020 Amtrak suspends the “Pere Marquette” between Chicago and Grand Rapids MI due to declining ridership caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Wolverine” service between Chicago and Pontiac MI is cut back from 6 daily trains to 4, and will be cut back to 2 on March 21. Other Chicago regional trans are affected as well.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 18, 1951 Brooklyn's Utica Avenue trolley route was converted to bus operation.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

March 18, 1834 One track of the Allegheny Portage Railroad opens for revenue service. The railroad will not operate between December and March when canals are closed by ice. Included in the construction: The first railroad tunnel in the United States.

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March 18, 1845 The Pittsfield & North Adams Railroad (later WRR, B&A, NYC, PC, CR, B&M) is incorporated.

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March 18, 1850 The American Express Company is formed.

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March 18, 1852 Henry Wells and William G. Fargo of the American Express Company organize Wells, Fargo & Co. in California to engage in express business between New York and California.

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March 18, 1869 The Pennsylvania Railroad buys the last of seven tracts of land on the relocated line of the Philadelphia Division near Whitehall Station. The land is subdivided as an exclusive commuter suburb called "Bryn Mawr". The name is Welsh for "beautiful hill".

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March 18, 1881 The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe line from Kansas City and the Southern Pacific line from California reach Deming, New Mexico, forming the second rail route to the Pacific and the first direct rail route to southern California. (Some sources put this event on March 8.)

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March 18, 1884 The Mexican Central Railway [English translation] opens between Mexico City and Ciudad Juarez [modern name].

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March 18, 1907 The first all steel 12-1 sleeper is placed on exhibit in Pennsylvania Railroad's Broad Street Station. It will travel to New York tomorrow before being placed in service.

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March 18, 1915 The Pennsylvania Railroad stages its first test of MP54 MU cars between Overbrook and Bryn Mawr PA.

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March 18, 1920 Fruit Growers Express is created to serve shippers in the East and South. The Atlantic Coast Line, Baltimore & Ohio, Pennsylvania Railroad and the Southern Railway are the original stockholders.

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March 18, 1930 The New Haven introduces the "Yankee Clipper" between New York and Boston on a 4 hour, 45 minute schedule.

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March 18, 1939 The "Coronation Scot", a British train normally in service between London and Glasgow, begins its tour of 38 U.S. cities. At the end of the tour it will be displayed at the New York World's Fair.

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March 18, 1952 The New Haven installs ticket vending machines in Grand Central Terminal.

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March 18, 1960 British Railways take delivery of their last steam locomotive: 2-10-0 #92220, named "Evening Star".

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March 18, 1965 The boards of the Milwaukee Road and the Chicago & North Western approve a merger plan.

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March 18, 2020 The Las Vegas NV monorail is forced to shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 17, 1856 The Toledo, Wabash & Western (later WAB, N&W, NS) begins service to Logansport IN.

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March 17, 1863 Engineer William Pittenger and 5 others who took part in the Andrews raid are pardoned by the Confederate government.

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March 17, 1869 A Michigan law takes effect confirming a land grant along the first 20 miles of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad but forcing the GR&I to forfeit the rest of the land grant unless it competes an additional 20 miles north of Grand Rapids by July 1, 1869, and 100 miles by January 1, 1873.

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March 17, 1954 Steam ends on the Erie behind 4-6-2 #2930.

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March 17, 1956 Trailer-Train Corporation begins operations. Stockholders include the Pennsylvania Railroad, Norfolk & Western, Frisco and Missouri Pacific.

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March 17, 1975 With only $300 cash on hand ($1,756 in 2024 dollars), the Rock Island enters bankruptcy for the third time.

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March 17, 1982 A Toledo Terminal Railroad train derails on the line’s Upper Maumee River Bridge, damaging it. The railroad decides to abandon rather than repair the bridge, a decision that creates much controversy.

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March 17, 1995 The Union Pacific makes an offer for Chicago & North Western stock.

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March 17, 2009 CSX Corporation officials in Chicago, decked out in green neckties, take advantage of the St. Patrick's Day holiday to announce the purchase of 4 "green" National Railway Equipment Corporation 3GS21B-DE gensets. The units, purchased with Federal pollution reduction funds, will serve in Barr Yard in south suburban Chicago.

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March 17, 2014 Passengers boarding a TGV train in Mulhouse, France are horrified to discover the remains of a bicyclist embedded in the front of the locomotive. The remains of the bicycle were discovered at a grade crossing near Petit-Croix, the previous stop.

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March 17, 2023 Amtrak introduces “Night Owl” fares on select Northeast Corridor trains departing between 7 pm and 5 am. The fares are as low as $5.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 14, 1954 Chicago trolley routes 9 (Ashland Avenue) and 45 (Ashland-Archer-Clark) were converted to bus operation.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

March 14, 1836 The Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad (later NYC) is incorporated in Ohio.

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March 14, 1836 The Ohio Legislature authorizes a loan of $200,000 (2024: $6.6 million) to the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad (later Big Four, NYC). This is the first time state aid has gone to a private railroad company.

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March 14, 1836 The Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad (later PRR) is incorporated in Ohio.

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March 14, 1864 John Luther "Casey" Jones is born in Jordan KY.

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March 14, 1926 A vastly overloaded passenger train near El Virilla, Costa Rica turns a rail on a bridge and derails. The accident kills 248 and injures 93 who were riding the train to visit a shrine and raise funds for the care of the elderly. Three days of national mourning follow the accident.

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March 14, 1938 Charlotte NC holds a "Good-Bye To Trolleys" festival to mark the end of service. Participating in the ceremonies is car no. 85. Car 85 will be turned into an Air National Guard office, a snack bar and a private residence before being restored to operational status in the 21st century.

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March 14, 1940 Streetcar service draws to a close in Lafayette IN.

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March 14, 1949 The Nickel Plate tests General Electric's gas turbine demonstrator, #101.

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March 14, 1955 The Pennsylvania Railroad announces it has ordered a model 705 "Giant Brain" computer from IBM. It will be the largest computer used by a railroad, used for billing and tickets. It will work along with an IBM 650.

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March 14, 1957 The New York Central dedicates its new Frontier Yard in East Buffalo NY. It is the first of four planned large, electronic hump yards to go into service. Frontier Yard replaces eight older NYC yards in the Buffalo area.

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March 14, 1974 Inter-city passenger rail service returns to Dallas with the start of Amtrak's "Inter-American".

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March 14, 2005 Canadian Pacific becomes the first bulk purchaser of RailPower Technology's "Green Goat" switching locomotive as they announce an order for 35 environmentally friendly units to be purchased over the next four years.

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March 15, 1831 The Mohawk & Hudson Railroad orders its first locomotive as well as two 12 Horsepower stationary engines for inclined planes from the West Point Foundry Association.

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March 15, 1833 The Andover & Wilmington (later B&M) is chartered.

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March 15, 1868 The Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central Railway (later PRR) opens between Union City and Anoka Jct., completing a new, direct route between Bradford, OH and Chicago via Logansport, IN.

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March 15, 1875 A North Carolina act prohibits any railroad in that state from changing its gauge away from 56.5". The gauge of the North Carolina Railroad is changed to 5'-0" anyway to create a through line with the Richmond & Danville Railroad.

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March 15, 1899 London’s Marylebone Station opens, serving the Great Central Railway.

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March 15, 1910 The Ann Arbor Railroad depot at Temple MI burns to the ground.

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March 15, 1911 The first contract with a railroad specifying an eight hour work day is signed with the Denver & Rio Grande by the American Federation of Labor's Railway Employees' Department.

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March 15, 1915 The Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon) acquires the Chicago & Wabash Valley Railroad

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March 15, 1916 For the first time, the electrified lines of the Long Island Railroad are paralyzed by the effects of an ice storm.

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March 15, 1926 The Pennsylvania Railroad assigns coach train porters, similar to Pullman porters, to principal east-west and Midwest corridor trains.

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March 15, 1926 The Toledo & Ohio Central Railway (a New York Central subsidiary) places a new coal dumper in service at the mouth of the Maumee River at Toledo. The dumper will handle lake coal moving through the Cincinnati gateway. The dumper is capable of handling the new 150-ton coal gondolas used by the Virginian Railway.

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March 15, 1938 The Pennsylvania Railroad takes delivery of its first lightweight Pullman, the 18-roomette "City of New York".

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March 15, 1949 A fire breaks out in the cable house at South Cable on the Michigan-California Lumber Company. This will start a chain of events that leads to the end of logging by rail two years later.

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March 15, 1949 The "Broadway Limited" is given new equipment. The new cars, designed by Raymond Loewy, feature plastic laminates in place of exotic wood veneers.

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March 15, 1955 The first section of Cleveland's "Rapid" opens from Cleveland Union Terminal to Windermere.

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March 15, 1972 "The Godfather" premiers in New York City. The room where Marlon Brando as Don Corleone negotiates an end to the Five Families War is actually the boardroom of the New York Central Railroad, which explains the train mural seen in back of Richard Conte's head throughout the scene.

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March 15, 1977 Conrail exits commuter service on the former Boston & Albany.

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March 15, 1980 The last Milwaukee Road Train departs Tacoma WA, as "Lines West" are abandoned.

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March 15, 1999 The "City of New Orleans" crashes into a steel truck at a protected grade crossing in Bourbonnaise, IL. Eleven are killed. The wreck is blamed on the truck driver, who was driving on a suspended license and had only 3 hours sleep in the previous 24. Witnesses report he was racing the train to the crossing.

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March 15, 2007 The first train runs on France's highest speed rail line, TGV-Est, between Paris and Strasbourg. Top speed on the line is 320 km/h (200mph). The line will open to the public on June 10.

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March 15, 2010 The "Angel's Flight" funicular in Los Angeles resumes operations following a 2001 accident in which the two cars collided. The funicular was built in 1901.

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March 15, 2011 The United States Postal Service unveils a stamp honoring "Owney", a dog that in the late 19^th century was famous for hitching rides on RPO cars. In the days of frequent injuries to mail clerks, Owney seemed to bring good luck, as no RPO car on which he rode was ever damaged in an accident while he was aboard.

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March 15, 2024 “Trains” magazine reports that the CSX Detroit Livernois Intermodal Facility has received a grant from the State of Michigan for capital improvements. The $5 million state grant will be matched by CSX, which will put up $6.7 million.

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March 16, 1910 The New York Central’s electrification project reaches White Plains NY.

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March 16, 1912 The Union Terminal Company of Dallas (TX) is incorporated to own and operate Dallas Union Passenger Station.

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March 16, 1922 The Aurora, Elgin & Chicago is reorganized into the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin.

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March 16, 1957 The Milwaukee Road draws the curtain on steam operation as 4-6-0 #1004, class G8, makes a round-trip passenger run from Austin to La Crosse WI. The steamer was substituted when the regular motor-car broke down.

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March 16, 2011 Former Santa Fe PA-1 59L is transferred from the Smithsonian Institute to The Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco TX.

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March 16, 2016 Washington DC’s Metrorail closes to allow safety inspections of jumper cables. Failure of these cables is suspected in an incident that filled a station with smoke and another that resulted in one death. Metrorail has not completely shut down for any cause other than weather since it started operations in 1976.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 13, 1833 The Western Railroad is chartered in Massachusetts to connect the Boston & Worcester to the Hudson & Berkshire Railroad. (all later B&A)

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March 13, 1836 The Richmond & Petersburg Railroad (later ACL, CSX) is chartered in Virginia.

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March 13, 1872 The Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Chicago Railway (the Chicago extension of the Baltimore & Ohio), is incorporated separately in Ohio and Indiana.

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March 13, 1883 The Allegan & Southeastern Railroad becomes the Michigan & Ohio Railroad.

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March 13, 1884 "Standard Time" takes effect for the railroads, with four time zones across the United States. Standard time will not be official in the U.S. until 1918.

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March 13, 1912 Thawing roadbed wrecks the 20th Century Limited at Hyde Park NY. The New York Public Service Commission advises both the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad to reduce speed on all of their New York-Chicago trains scheduled at 18 hours.

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March 13, 1929 In a move to modernize its passenger fleet, the New Haven Railroad authorizes the purchase of new equipment, including 90 coaches, 10 combines and 6 diners.

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March 13, 1973 The Michigan State Highway Department is reorganized giving it jurisdiction over all state transportation programs, including railroads.

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March 13, 2019 High winds blow 26 cars of a Union Pacific Stack Train off the 173-foot tall Canadian River Trestle onto the ground. No one is hurt.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 12, 1961 Philadelphia trolleybus route 61 on Ridge Avenue, which once connected with trolley routes at 36 locations in North Philadelphia and Center City, was converted to bus operation and transferred to Allegheny Depot from Ridge Depot which closed. Since buses were used on weekends, March 10 was the last day of trolleybus operation. The postwar ACF-Brill TC-44 trolleybuses were later trucked to Southern Depot to re-equip route 79 on Snyder Avenue which was still bus operated. Ridge Depot was cleared of all vehicles on March 18 and the storage tracks, last used in 1957-58, were removed. Also, all-electric PCC cars 2708-18 were in dead storage at Germantown and Woodland Depots after being used on route 23 (Germantown Avenue-11th and 12th Streets) because of their Westinghouse equipment; Germantown Depot operators preferred the General Electric cars (2726-2800).? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? March 12, 1980 NYCTA modified R-40 subway cars 4500 and 4501 were remated at Coney Island Shops. Car 4486 was out of service but was back by April 15th, remated with 4487. Also many R-27/30 subway cars have received bullet-proof motormen's safety glass windows.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??

March 12, 1839 The Maine, New Hampshire & Massachusetts Railroad (later B&M) is incorporated in Maine.

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March 12, 1845 The Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad (later CCC&StL, NYC) is reorganized as the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railway.

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March 12, 1857 A Great Western Railway train from Toronto to Hamilton ON plunges 60 feet into the frozen Desjardins Canal after the bridge collapses. A broken locomotive axle chewing through the crossties on the bridge weakened the structure, causing the collapse. Seventy persons die from trauma, drowning, or exposure. Only 20 passengers survive. (Some sources say 59 people killed in total, others put the date as March 17.)

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March 12, 1883 Norfolk & Western hauls its first load of coal.

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March 12, 1892 Anderson [Indiana] Electric Street Railway is electrified. (Some sources say March 14).

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March 12, 1895 The Epworth League Railway, later the Ludington Northern (MI), is organized.

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March 12, 1899 The Southern Railway inaugurates the “Piedmont Limited”.

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March 12, 1914 George Westinghouse, inventor of the air brake, passes away at his summer home in Lennox MA.

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March 12, 1917 The Pere Marquette Railroad is reorganized as the Pere Marquette Railway.

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March 12, 1957 The Pennsylvania Railroad begins using snack carts designed by Coca-Cola Company instead of dining or café cars on some Washington-New York trains.

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March 12, 2009 BNSF accepts delivery of four ES44C4 locomotives. The locos revive the A-1-A truck, once popular for passenger diesels. “A-1-A” trucks consist of three axles of which only the first and third axles are powered. BNSF hopes that the factory-modified ES44AC will give it the reliability of a DC locomotive and the reduced maintenance of AC motors.

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March 12, 2015 In a comic syndicated today, “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” reports that Dutch Railways are fitting lasers to their locomotives to remove leaves from the top of the rails.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 11, 1951 Chicago trolley route 3 (Lincoln-Indiana) was broken into 2 routes and the Lincoln portion, from Peterson to Adams, was converted to bus operation. This completed the conversion of Lincoln Avenue to bus operation which began on February 18 when route 40 (Lincoln-Wells) went bus. Concurrently with this conversion, the old car barn at Wrightwood and Lincoln was closed and operators were assigned to other stations. This was one of Chicago's oldest car barns. The Indiana portion remained rail as route 38? and operated from the Navy Pier to 51st Street.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? March 11, 1956 Philadelphia bus route E from 69th Street terminal to Germantown and Chelten via City Line Avenue was re-equipped with new GMC TDH-5106 diesel buses which replaced postwar Twins which were transferred to Airport bus routes M and U.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? March 11, 1980 A transfer train of IRT R-12/14 subway cars to be inspects by the Secretary of Transportation at Corona Yard in Queens was stopped between Rawson and Lowery Streets on the Flushing line when it was discovered that 4 R-10s were put in the middle for tripper protection on the IND and BMT lines. Earlier, R-16 subway car 6382 was on a transfer train of IRT cars going from Concourse Yard to Moshulo Yard in the Bronx. That car became a locker room car in 1978 but was later unused.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

March 11, 1836 The Little Miami Railroad (later PC&St.L, PRR), Ohio’s second, receives its charter to connect the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad to the Ohio River at Cincinnati. Construction will not begin until 1843.

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March 11, 1851 The State of Pennsylvania enacts a law requiring all railroads built east of Erie to be either 4' 8.5" or 6' gauge and all railroads west of Erie to be built to a 4'10" gauge, also known as "Ohio Gauge". It is thought at the time that the gauge change and the resulting loading and reloading of railroad cars will help Erie become a major terminal. (Some sources say 1852)

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March 11, 1853 The New Albany & Salem Rail Road (later CIL, L&N) reaches Lafayette IN.

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March 11, 1854 To reduce on-duty drinking by employees, the Pennsylvania Railroad Road Committee considers ordering a ban on the sale of all liquor and beer on any PRR property and to prohibit stopping trains at any public house where liquor is sold. The order is toned down by amendment to simply prohibiting the sale of liquor on PRR property.

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March 11, 1872 Jay Gould's attempts to control both the Erie and the New York Central Railroads are halted as a new Board of Directors is installed in the Erie.

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March 11, 1904 The first tunnel under the Hudson River is holed through.

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March 11, 1908 The final spike is driven in the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad, at Lyle WA.

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March 11, 1908 The Strang gas-electric car "Irene" built by Brill is tested between Philadelphia and Washington DC.

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March 11, 1947 The Budd Company tests its first dome car.

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March 11, 1952 The Pennsylvania Railroad shows off its newly-equipped "Congressional" to the press. "The Senator" is also receiving new equipment at this time.

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March 11, 2004 Three days before the Spanish national election, terrorists believed to be inspired by al-Qaeda, bomb the Cercanias commuter trains near Madrid, Spain. The explosions kill 191 people and injure another 1,800.

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March 11, 2005 A Union Pacific rail grinder working westbound at Rochelle IL sideswipes an eastbound BNSF intermodal, There is no derailment, but a few containers are destroyed. They incident is captured on the “Trains” magazine webcam.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 10, 1858 The Pittsburgh Ft. Wayne & Chicago (later PRR) connects to the Pennsylvania Railroad in Pittsburgh, despite opposition and interference from local citizens.

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March 10, 1862 The St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (later MSt.P&P, GN) is organized.

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March 10, 1865 The State of Michigan transfers an additional land grant to the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. This brings the total land grant to 850,960 acres although no land will actually be granted south of Grand Rapids.

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March 10, 1907 The Pere Marquette roundhouse at Traverse City MI is destroyed by fire.

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March 10, 1910 A home for aged and disabled former railroad employees opens in Highland ParK IL.

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March 10, 1917 Police interrupt a former German sailor and two other men as they try to sabotage Pennsylvania Railroad telegraph lines near Wissinoming, PA.

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March 10, 1923 Norfolk & Western takes delivery of its first Y3a class locomotive, a 2-8-8-2 built by Alco.

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March 10, 1930 Near Lakehurst NJ an Army blimp succeeds in picking up 4 mail sacks from the roof of a Pennsylvania Railroad train moving at 55 mph. The trials are held to help newsreel companies speed delivery of films to theatres.

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March 10, 1933 Last run of the Kansas City, Clay County & St. Joseph Railway (Interurban)

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March 10, 1940 Missouri Pacific's streamlined "Eagles" begin operations.

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March 10, 1945 New York Central accepts its first 4-8-4 "Niagara", #6000, at the Alco factory in Schenectady NY.

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March 10, 1976 An LRC train breaks the unofficial Canadian rail speed record: 129 mph (207 km/h) on CP Rail’s Adirondack Subdivision between St. Jean and Delson. The previous record had been set by a steam locomotive pulling a lightweight passenger train on Canadian Pacific's Winchester Sub near St. Telesphore in 1936.

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March 10, 1993 Amtrak's eastbound "Wolverine" strikes a propane truck at a private crossing between Comstock and Galesburg MI. The collision kills the truck driver and injures the engineer. The accident leads directly to the closing of all private crossings in that area and the re-routing of the adjacent county road.

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March 10, 1995 The Union Pacific announces its intention to purchase the Chicago & North Western.

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March 10, 2009 Canadian National routes its first two trains over the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. CN's purchase of the line was finalized on January 31. Traffic is expected to grow to six daily trains in the near future.

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March 10, 2020 Amtrak suspends Acela service between Washington and New York in an attempt to slow the spread of the Corona virus.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 7, 1832 The New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Company (later PRR) is chartered to build across the state.

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March 7, 1834 The Detroit & Pontiac (later D&M, GT) receives its charter from Michigan Territory.

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March 7, 1848 The body of former President John Quincy Adams, who had died of a stroke on the floor of the House on February 21, is carried from Washington to New York via three separate railroads.

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March 7, 1850 The Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad (later LS&MS, NYC) is chartered.

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March 7, 1865 A collision between an express train and a disabled passenger train kills five Union Soldiers and a train crewman and injures 48. The accident prompts Ashbel Welch to come up with a block system to control trains (which he had studied in England) for the Philadelphia & Trenton Railroad.

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March 7, 1873 In Prescott, AZ the last reported outbreak of the Great Epizootic devastates the horse population. The virulent equine flu has halted transportation within cities in 33 states, Canada and Cuba.

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March 7, 1887 Henry Whiting combines 7 Boston street railways into a single system, the West End Street Railway. At 1,700 cars and 200 miles of track it is the largest in the world. He is also given permission to build a subway.

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March 7, 1887 Lured by the prospect of gold in Indian Territory (later Oklahoma) Mathias Splitlog, a wealthy Native American, creates the Kansas City, Fort Smith & Southern. The gold in Indian Territory turns out to have been “salted” and all that was found in the mines was Fool’s Gold. Part of the line will become a section of the Kansas City Southern.

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March 7, 1887 The Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad is incorporated.

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March 7, 1905 The first McKeen car, the first successful use of internal combustion on U.S. railroads, makes its first run, Omaha to Valley NE.

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March 7, 1909 The Winona Interurban Electric Railway is forced by its major creditor to begin operations on Sundays, a move resisted by its Sabbatarian founders, including H.J. Heinz and J. M. Studebaker.

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March 7, 1910 American Car & Foundry builds a sleeper car with traditional sections named "Peoria" for the interurban Illinois Traction Company. It has been preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum.

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March 7, 2005 Amtrak drops its “Three Rivers” west of Pittsburgh PA.

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March 8, 1855 The first train crosses the suspension bridge over Niagara Falls. Before this time, goods and passengers were ferried across the river. The bridge does not end the transfer, as the change in track gauge between lines in New York and Ontario remains, although the bridge itself has three gauges (56.5", 66" and 72"). The Bridge will allow the Michigan Central via the Great Western to reach markets in the east and will be a major selling point for the line. (Some sources say March 17)

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March 8, 1881 The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads meet at Deming NM, creating the United States’ second transcontinental railroad.

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March 8, 1884 The Mahopac Falls Railroad (NY - later NYC) is chartered.

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March 8, 1904 The Lucien cut-off, the causeway across the Great Salt Lake that has bypassed Promontory Summit, site of the Golden Spike Ceremony, is opened for service.

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March 8, 1905 The Aurora, Elgin & Chicago (Later CA&E) begins operations from its 52nd Street terminal eastward into downtown Chicago and the Loop. (Some sources say March 9)

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March 8, 1907 The Virginian Railway is formed. It is entirely controlled by Henry H. Rodgers of Standard Oil who is looking for a new outlet from the West Virginia coalfields.

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March 8, 1910 "Ann Arbor Carferry No. 1" burns at Manitowoc WI.

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March 8, 1920 Canadian National’s Board of Directors assumes management control of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

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March 8, 1924 New York Central President Alfred H. Smith is killed while riding a horse in Central Park. His horse had reared to avoid hitting another rider.

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March 8, 1926 The Illinois Central installs the first electro-pneumatic car retarders in the United States at Markham Yard near Chicago.

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March 8, 1933 The New Haven temporarily suspends the "Yankee Clipper" and "Merchants Limited" due to the Bank Holiday imposed by President Roosevelt.

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March 8, 1933 The movie "42nd Street" opens at the Strand Theatre in New York City. The movie features an extended musical number taking place in the interior of a Pullman all-section sleeper. In addition, the studio has hired a special train, "The 42nd Street Special" to carry many of the leading actors from Hollywood to the premier.

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March 8. 1941 The Nickel Plate's "Commercial Traveler" makes its final run in Ohio from Toledo to the Ohio/Indiana state line. Once the Toledo, St. Louis & Western's premier train, it is now a daily mixed train. Operation will continue for another two years in Indiana.

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March 8, 1955 The New Haven introduces a piggyback car patterned after those on the French National Railways. It is nine inches lower than a standard car.

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March 8, 1967 New York Central FA-2 #1102 becomes the last cab unit painted at NYC's Collinwood (OH) Shops.

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March 8, 1968 The last Soo Line passenger train runs on the former Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic between Champion and Calumet.

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March 9, 1875 The North Brookfield Railroad (later B&A, NYC, PC, CR) is incorporated.

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March 9, 1910 The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Executive Committee authorizes the purchase of the Toledo & Ohio Central Railway from the Hocking Valley, as well as joint ownership with the Chesapeake & Ohio of the Kanawha & Michigan Railway. This will give the New York Central system access to coal fields in Southeastern Ohio and West Virginia for fuel. It will also provide the NYC System with a connection to the Virginian Railway.

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March 9, 1917 Official opening of the New York Connecting Railroad Bridge, later known as Hell Gate Bridge. It will be the largest steel arch bridge in the world until 1931.

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March 9, 1930 The Elgin & Belvidere ends interurban service between Marengo and Elgin IL. The Illinois Railway museum uses a 5-mile segment of the line.

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March 9, 1933 Chicago & Northwestern abandons its branch from Martin’s Landing to Michigamee MI.

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March 9. 1937 In a joint announcement, Pullman and the New York Central announce the order of new streamlined equipment to be NYC's "Great Steel Fleet". At the same time Pullman and the Pennsylvania Railroad announce new streamline cars to be PRR's "Fleet of Modernism".

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March 9, 1954 The Santa Fe completes its dieselization.

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March 9, 1993 Eleven Russian-built 2,000hp locomotives (Alco RS-1 copies) are imported with the hopes of cracking the low-horsepower locomotive market. They don't pass FRA inspection. Other than providing fodder for invasion conspiracies, their only accomplishment is to slowly turn to rust on the Houston docks.

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March 9, 2008 After 30 years of planning, the diesel-powered "Sprinter" light railway serving the northern suburbs of San Diego opens for business.

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March 9, 2009 The Grand Elk Railroad (GDLK), a WATCO short line, begins operations between Elkhart IN and Grand Rapids MI. GDLK uses former Lake Shore & Michigan Southern tracks south of Kalamazoo and former Grand Rapids & Indiana tracks north, all most recently operated by Norfolk Southern. Grand Elk will operate the line in cooperation with Norfolk Southern until April 1, when it will assume full control.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 6, 1830 Colonel Stephen H. Long constructs a road bridge over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. It is the first known road bridge to cross a railroad.

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March 6, 1834 The London & Gore Railroad in Upper Canada receives its charter; the first railroad charter in what is now Ontario. (However it will not be the first to actually operate trains.) Running between Niagara Falls and Windsor, it will be later part of the Great Western, Grand Trunk and Canadian National Railways.

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March 6, 1880 The Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad (later NYC) is incorporated.

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March 6, 1882 Regular service begins between Cincinnati OH and Dayton on the Cincinnati Northern (later NYC).

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March 6, 1902 The Grand Rapids, Grand Haven & Muskegon (MI Interurban) adds service between Grand Haven Junction and Spring Lake Village.

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March 6, 1958 The New York Central dedicates its Robert R. Young yard at Elkhart, IN. It is NYC's second large, computerized yard. It has been built to pre-sort cars coming to and from the Chicago area.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 5, 1832 The New Castle & Frenchtown Railroad begins regular daily revenue service. Passenger boats transfer their passengers to the railroad from stagecoaches, forming a through stage-boat-rail line between Philadelphia and Baltimore. During its entire existence, the NC&F is closed from December through March when steamboats are stopped by the ice.

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March 5, 1850 The Louisville & Nashville Railroad is chartered.

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March 5, 1856 Service begins to Peru IN on the Toledo, Wabash & Western. (later WAB, N&W, NS)

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March 5, 1859 The Martinsville & Franklin (IN) reorganizes as the Franklin & Martinsville (later Big Four, NYC). Traffic is so sparse on the line that it will see no trains for the next seven years.

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March 5, 1872 George Westinghouse Jr. receives patent No. 124,405 for the automatic railroad air brake.

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March 5, 1879 The Grand Rapids & Indiana leases the Allegan & South Eastern Railroad. The line has track laid from Allegan to Monteith, and unfinished portions between Monteith and the Ohio State line. The lease is retroactive to January 1.

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March 5, 1880 The first through Cincinnati Southern (later CNO&TP, NS) passenger train departs Cincinnati OH for Chattanooga TN. In the newspaper article covering the story, the reporter dubs the train the "Chattanooga Choo Choo”, the first use of the phrase.

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March 5, 1888 The Toledo, Ann Arbor & Lake Michigan Railway (later AA) is organized to build from Cadillac to Frankfort MI.

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March 5, 1891 The Bangor & Aroostook Railroad receives its charter.

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March 5, 1910 A snow slide in Rogers Pass BC kills 92 persons, most of them Canadian Pacific employees, just 4 days after a similar disaster in Wellington WA.

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March 5, 1920 The Milwaukee Railroad completes the electrification of its line between Othello and Tacoma, WA, 207 miles.

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March 5, 1927 Great Northern runs its first electric train using its new single-phase system, from Skykomish to the old Cascade Tunnel.

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March 5, 1930 The Pennsylvania Railroad holds a "Golden Spike" ceremony at 41st St. in Chicago to mark the upgrading of the New York-Chicago main line to 130-pound rail.

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March 5, 1956 The last steam locomotive purchased by the Southern Pacific (4-8-8-2 “Cab Forward” #4294) is retired.

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March 5, 1972 The last "Birney" streetcar in regular service is retired in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

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Mark Tomlonson