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April 12, 1953 Chicago's Roosevelt Road shuttle trolley route was discontinued. The route used one-man double-end cars and operated from the Cottage Grove car barn. Passengers going to Grant Park and Soldier Field now had to use the 126 bus on the CTA's Boulevard Bus system.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 12, 1959 Philadelphia Transportation Company closed the Willow Grove bus garage which was a streetcar barn until 1940. Bus routes 22 from Doylestown and 74 from Hatboro were transferred to Germantown and bus route 55 on Old York Road was transferred to Luzerne.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 12, 1968 The NYCTA's NX (Broadway-Sea Beach-Brighton trains, which weren't very popular due to switching delays at Coney Island, ran for the last time in the PM rush hour. All cars assigned to the NX were returned to regular N service.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 13, 1952 Chicago trolley route 47 (47th Street), which was converted to bus operation on April 15, 1951, was reconverted to trolleybus operation.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 13, 1958 The NYCTA began to transfer the old Q-type El cars to the BMT Myrtle Avenue El after their cholestory roofs were lowered to clear subway tunnels to get to and from Coney Island or 207th Street Shops.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Dennis M Linsky? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??

April 11, 1842 The French legislature passes the Railway Act of 1842, which among other provisions states that all rail lines in France are to be owned by the state with operations leased to private companies. Another provision lays out a basic railroad map.

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April 11, 1845 The Pennsylvania Legislature passes an Act that exempts canals and railroads from being fined under Sunday "Blue" laws.

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April 11, 1853 The Ohio & Indiana Railroad Company (later PFW&C, PRR, PC, CR) completes its line from Pittsburgh to Crestline OH.

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April 11, 1853 After intense lobbying from New York interests, who are alleged to have paid $50,000 in bribes [2025: $2,035,299], the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania repeals the 1851 "Gauge Law" and now requires all state railroads to be 4'-8-1/2". The repeal opens the way for Ohio railroads to build to Pittsburgh.

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April 11, 1863 The Oswego & Rome Railroad (later RW&O, NYC) is chartered as a branch of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg.

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April 11, 1877 Ross Winans, who took credit for many early developments in railroad technology while working for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, passes away at the age of 81.

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April 11, 1920 The Cleveland Interurban Railroad (OH) opens.

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April 11, 1931 The Pennsylvania Railroad adds Tourist Pullmans to the formerly all-coach excursion trains running between New York and Pittsburgh.

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April 11, 1960 The Pennsylvania Railroad places 7 new diesel tugs into service in New York Harbor. The new tugs replace 12 that are being retired, included the last steam-powered tug.

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April 11, 2017 Indiana Landmarks announces it will buy and preserve the Monon High Bridge at Delphi.

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April 11, 2020 The first two (of four) former White Pass & Yukon diesel locomotives are loaded onto a barge in Skagway for eventual delivery to the Durango & Southern. The D&S is also planning to purchase two additional new diesels, and to build a new shop in Durango to maintain them.

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April 12, 1831 Construction begins on the Staple Bend Tunnel, located 4 miles east of Johnstown PA. It is the first railroad tunnel in the United States. (Some sources say November 21)

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April 12, 1842 The Erie & Northeast Railroad (later LS&MS, NYC) is chartered.

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April 12, 1848 The Buffalo & State Line Railroad (later NYC) is chartered.

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April 12, 1861 Confederate forces fire upon Federal forces, which have retreated to Fort Sumter, SC, beginning the US Civil War. In addition to, as historian Ken Burns put it, "changing the nation from united States to The United States", the war will also advance railroad technology and operating practices from the lessons learned transporting troops and material.

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April 12, 1862 Andrew's Raiders steal "The General".

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April 12, 1880 The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chicago Union Station is held.

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April 12, 1898 Union Traction Company of Indiana opens its line from Alexandria to Summitville.

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April 12, 1944 The Pennsylvania Railroad Mechanical Engineer approves drawings for a proposed class V1 2-D-D-2 steam turbine. While this locomotive class will not be built, the Chesapeake & Ohio will build 3 examples almost identical to this proposal.

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April 12, 1947 The Pennsylvania Railroad places its first Baldwin "Centipedes" in freight service on its Philadelphia Division.

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April 12, 1950 The New York Central adds 250 boxcars to its "Pacemaker" fleet.

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April 12, 1953 Last run of the "Orange Blossom Special".

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April 12, 1960 Chrysler makes its first shipment of automobiles using New York Central auto racks designed to fit on a Flexi-Van chassis.

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April 12, 1970 Last run of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy’s “Black Hawk”, running between Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

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April 12, 1976 GG-1 locomotive number 4800 appears in a "Bicentennial" paint scheme.

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April 12, 1987 Last train runs on the Michigan Northern.

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April 12, 1995 The Chicago & North Western and the Union Pacific railroads merge.

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April 12, 2016 A train is delayed 19 minutes at Japan’s Hiroshima station when a cat decides to perch on top. The cat is eventually coaxed down and the train proceeds without further incident. The image of the cat resting on the train is tweeted over 1,500 times.

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April 13, 1771 Richard Trevithick, a Welsh inventor, is born. His most notable contribution to railroading will be the invention of high-pressure steam engines, enabling self-propelled steam locomotives to do useful work.

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April 13, 1846 The Pennsylvania Railroad receives a charter to run between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.

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April 13, 1868 The Continental Improvement Company is incorporated in Pennsylvania by officers of the Pennsylvania Railroad for the purpose of building the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. It is the first pure holding company in America.

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April 13, 1869 George Westinghouse receives the first patent for an air brake for railroad cars. The brake uses steam from the locomotive boiler as its power source.

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April 13, 1888 The Valley City Street & Cable Railway begins operations in Grand Rapids MI. The line is no more than 11,000 feet long, and a single cable car is in operation.

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April 13, 1916 The Van Swearingen brothers buy a 75% interest in the Nickel Plate from William K. Vanderbilt for $8.5 million [2025: $256 million]

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April 13, 1921 At noon, all Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive and shop whistles are blown for 30 seconds to mark the 75th anniversary of the railroad.

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April 13, 1925 The Pennsylvania Railroad constructs a replica of the "Broadway Limited's" rear platform for display in Macy's Department store window in New York. Later it will travel to other department stores along the PRR system.

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April 13, 1953 Complaining of poor service, the U.S. Navy sends an LST to pick up sailors originally scheduled to travel on the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Furlough".

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April 13, 1987 The Iowa Terminal Railroad [IA interurban] is sold to David Johnson and renamed “Iowa Traction Railroad”.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 10, 1949 North Philadelphia trolley route 25 (Cedar and Memphis Streets), which served Kensington and Fishtown, was converted to bus operation and was transferred from Richmond Depot to Cumberland garage.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

April 10, 1846 The Chelsea Branch Railroad (later B&A, NYC) is chartered in Massachusetts

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April 10, 1866 James & Amos Densmore are granted a patent for the first successful tank car.

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April 10, 1868 The Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway (later CCC&StL, NYC) is formed by the consolidation of The Bellefontaine Railway and the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railway.

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April 10, 1873 The State of North Carolina secures an injunction against the North Carolina Railroad preventing it from changing its gauge from 4'-8-1/2" to 5'-0". The railroad had hoped to form through lines with the Richmond & Danville and other roads in the Southern Railway Security Company group.

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April 10, 1873 Flooding in Northeastern Indiana washes out several railroad bridges.

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April 10, 1878 Cable car service begins on San Francisco's California Street.

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April 10, 1878 The Pennsylvania Railroad sells 11 lots in its Philadelphia suburb "Bryn Mawr" to Dr. John Taylor at half the going rate, provided he completes his women's seminary, "Bryn Mawr College" within seven years.

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April 10, 1895 The Detroit & Mackinac buys the Alpena & Northern.

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April 10, 1900 The Holland & Lake Michigan Railway (MI interurban) resumes operation after a carbarn fire in January destroyed all their rolling stock.

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April 10, 1907 Indiana passes a series of Railroad Laws. They require a full crew, block systems to be in place by July 1, 1909, and set rates for dining car liquor licenses at $1000 [2025: $28,891].

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April 10, 1912 The first (and only) R.M.S. Titanic boat train leaves London for the docks at Southampton.

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April 10, 1919 First run of the Simplon-Orient Express, using a combination of routes and equipment from the pre-war Simplon and Orient Expresses. This is the first luxury train to operate in Europe after World War I. (Some sources say April 11)

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April 10, 1922 The plans for Cleveland Union Terminal are approved. The 52-storey Terminal Tower will be the tallest building west of New York.

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April 10, 1928 The Indianapolis & Cincinnati Traction Company is sold to receivers. The company will re-form on May 7 as the Indianapolis & South Eastern Railroad Company.

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April 10, 1930 The Great Northern buys its last new steam locomotive, 4-8-4 #2588.

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April 10, 1936 The Palomar observatory mirror arrives in Pasadena CA after a 16-day cross-country trip by rail.

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April 10, 1937 Unable to find a buyer for the line, the Wisconsin & Michigan (later CNW) applies to the ICC for permission to abandon.

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April 10, 1937 The Denver South Park & Pacific and the Colorado & Southern end operations.

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April 10, 1948 The Chicago & West Towns Railway ends streetcar service in Cicero-Berwyn IL.

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April 10, 1975 Amtrak begins using French-built RTG trainsets between Detroit and Chicago.

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April 10, 2009 Norfolk Southern and Pan Am enter into an arrangement to create "Pan Am Southern". The new line, owned 50/50 by the two parties, will give NS access to New England.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 9, 1827 The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania authorizes the construction of several canals as well as surveys for railroads from Harrisburg to Chambersburg and Columbia to York and Gettysburg. The Canal Commissioners are directed to consider an all-canal route but also to survey a railroad between Philadelphia and the Susquehanna River.

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April 9, 1850 The Buffalo & Rochester Railroad (later NYC) is formed.

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April 9, 1883 The tracks of the Michigan & Ohio Railroad (later Nor, MUR, NYC, PC) reach Richland MI. Rail service will not begin until November.

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April 9, 1892 Streetcars begin running in Ashtabula OH.

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April 9, 1898 The Dayton Traction Company is leased to the Cincinnati & Miami Valley.

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April 9, 1906 The Chicago, Indiana & Southern Railroad (later NYC) is organized. Running between East Chicago IN and Danville IL and a second line between Seatonville IL and South Bend IN, it is owned 50/50 by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Michigan Central Railroads.

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April 9, 1934 The Budd Company completes construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy trainset that will be known as the "Pioneer Zephyr".

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April 9, 1937 The last Colorado & Southern narrow gauge passenger train leaves Denver.

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April 9, 1951 To counter a $10 million deficit [2025: $124 million], the New York Central lays off several thousand employees.

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April 9, 1959 Passenger service ends on the Monon between Chicago and Indianapolis.

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April 9, 1961 Pacific Electric Railway, once the largest electric railway system in the world, ends operations.

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April 9, 1973 Chicago & North Western #504, the former Union Pacific E-9 935-B, comes out of the Oelwein IA shops with added head end power and a cab fabricated by C&NW. It is the first of the “Crandall Cabs” to enter service.

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April 9, 2004 The Surface Transportation Board approves CNNA taking over operation of the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range, Bessemer & Lake Erie and the Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Company.

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April 9, 2019 Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy” #4014 is fired up for the first time in 60 years, and for the first time as an oil burner.

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Mark Tomlonson

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

April 7, 1957 It was the Queensboro Bridge trolley that was the last to run in New York State.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

April 7, 1832 The Liggitt’s Gap Railroad (later DL&W) is chartered in Pennsylvania.

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April 7, 1870 The Kalamazoo & South Haven (later NYC, PC) reaches Bloomingdale from Kendall on its way west to South Haven MI.

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April 7, 1871 The Illinois Railroad Act establishes state regulation of railroads and intrastate rates. It is the first of the so-called "Granger Laws".

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April 7, 1872 The Spuyten Duyvil & Port Morris Railroad (later NYC) begins operations.

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April 7, 1874 The Pennsylvania Company signs memos of agreement with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Michigan Central, Chicago & Alton, and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads covering the construction of a Union Passenger Depot between Van Buren and Madison Streets in Chicago. They also grant the Michigan Central trackage rights over the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago from the Calumet River.

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April 7, 1903 The roundhouse of the Cincinnati Northern (later CCC&StL, NYC) at Van Wert OH is destroyed when locomotive #108 suffers a boiler explosion. The locomotive was being serviced inside the roundhouse at the time. No one was killed. The locomotive will be rebuilt and returned to service.

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April 7, 1914 The last spike is driven on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (later CN) at Fort Fraser BC, 150 km (93 mile) west of Prince George. This completes the line between Winnipeg and Prince Rupert.

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April 7, 1928 The Grand Rapids, Grand Haven & Muskegon (MI Interurban) ends operations.

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April 7, 1930 The New York Central opens a new, Art Deco-styled ticket office on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

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April 7, 1934 The purchase of the first "American Flyer"-style passenger cars, the first streamliners to run in New England, is announced by the New Haven Railroad in Railway Age magazine.

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April 7, 1936 A mine placed on or near the tracks 50 miles from Vera Cruz Mexico is detonated as the "Vera Cruz Express" passes over. The explosion and the resulting fire in the wooden cars kills at least 90.

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April 7, 1957 New York City trolleys run for the last time, the last trolleys in New York State.

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April 7, 2008 Chris Guenzler becomes the first regular passenger documented to have ever traveled 1,000,000 miles over all the routes in the Amtrak system since the founding of Amtrak in 1971.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 5, 1953 Philadelphia trolley route 65 on Old York Road and 6th and 7th Streets was abandoned without replacement in the first move to eliminate duplication of service by other routes. The route 65 abandonment permitted the city to clear 6th and 7th Streets to vehicular traffic to and from the Delaware River/Benjamin Franklin bridge. Trolley route 20 was extended north on Old York Road from 11th and Erie to Broad and Olney and trolley route 50 was extended south on 6th and 7th Streets from Snyder to Oregon.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 5, 1968 Pittsburgh's remaining PCC car routes and Chicago's rapid transit routes survived the riots after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 6, 1952 Detroit's Baker trolley route, the last to operate entirety with Peter Witt cars, was converted to bus operation.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky?

April 4, 1839 Alarmed by the fact that steamboats and railroads provide quick and superior escape routes for runaway slaves, the Maryland Legislature prohibits any slave from traveling on a steamboat or train unless in company of a master or with a signed pass.

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April 4, 1875 Following the North Carolina Railroad's change to 60" gauge despite a state prohibition, Pullman establishes a through sleeper on the Piedmont Air Line between Richmond and New Orleans.

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April 4, 1892 The 5/8-mile long Ellwood Connecting Railroad (later P&LE, NYC) is chartered.

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April 4, 1902 The Grand Rapids & Indiana agrees to operate the Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique Railroad.

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April 4, 1909 The Kensington & Eastern Railroad, built and owned by the Illinois Central is leased to the Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend (interurban) which today extends its service from Hammond IN through to Kensington IL and then into Chicago over the IC.

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April 4, 1910 An amendment to the Safety Appliance Act requires freight cars to be equipped with ladders, handholds and running boards.

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April 4, 1927 The first 14-single-room sleepers are placed into service, on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The cars, running between New York and Washington, offer greater privacy than the traditional berths.

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April 4, 1935 The Pennsylvania Railroad tests EMC's new "NC" 900-horsepower switcher. PRR declines to purchase any, saying the locomotive is "too light".

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April 4, 1936 Electric streetcar service ends in Flint MI.

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April 4, 1942 The Nickel Plate's "Commercial Traveler" quits, ending passenger service on the road's "East End".

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April 4, 1953 The Pennsylvania Railroad tests a Lima LS-25m on Madison Hill. The engine is equipped with dynamic brakes and a pressure-maintaining valve.

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April 4, 1960 The New Jersey State Legislature authorizes a $6 million subsidy [2025: $64.9 million] for commuter service.

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April 4, 1976 The first F40PH, number 200, begins service on Amtrak. At the end of its service life the locomotive will be rebuilt into a cab-control car.

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April 4, 2005 Greenbriar Equity Group LLC and Berkshire Partners LLC announce the completion of the acquisition of Electro-Motive Division from General Motors. The company is officially renamed Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. (EMD).

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April 4, 2005 Tokyo introduces women-only cars in crowded rush hour trains in a bid to prevent groping by male passengers using the cover of the crowd.

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April 5, 1862 The Jamestown & Franklin Railroad (OH, PA - later CP&A, LS&MS, NYC&HR, NYC) is chartered.

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April 5, 1877 The Boston & Maine acquires the Vermont Railroad.

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April 5, 1903 The Pennsylvania Railroad closes four stations in Philadelphia due to a drop in the short-haul market that has been taken over by trolleys.

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April 5, 1910 By some accounts, the French Legislature passes a law banning kissing in railway stations. The purpose of the law was to keep parting couples from delaying the trains. In 2009, however, it was reported that this "law" may actually be an urban legend.

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April 5, 1920 A Pere Marquette ferry becomes stuck in the ice off Pt. Sauble after leaving Ludington and eleven passengers try to walk to shore. Suddenly the ice flow breaks up, and the winds carry the piece holding the group out into Lake Michigan. Hundreds of spectators line the shore and watch as the Coast Guard, with great difficulty, rescues the group.

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April 5, 1920 St. Paul (MN) Union Station is opened.

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April 5, 1964 The first driverless trains run on the London Underground.

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April 5, 1965 Police begin riding New York's subway system from 8:00 P.M. to 4:00 A.M. due to fears of rising subway crimes. The program ends ten years later, on April 5, 1975, due to the city's fiscal crisis.

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April 5, 1982 Michigan Interstate ends operation of the former Ann Arbor north of the city of Ann Arbor. Operation will briefly resume at a later date.

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April 5, 1995 CN North America opens the new St. Clair Tunnel. Improvements made in the design of the new tunnel allow double-stack trains to cross under the St. Clair river for the first time.

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April 5, 2016 San Francisco television station KCBS reports that BART is relying heavily on e-bay to source electrical and computer components to keep its aging equipment in service. New equipment is expected to arrive in the fall.

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April 6, 1858 The Galena & Chicago Union (later C&NW) signs a contract for the first sleeping cars to operate west of Chicago.

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April 6, 1869 The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern is formed by the combination of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad and the Lake Shore Railway.

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April 6, 1930 Streetcars end in Appleton WI.

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April 6, 1942 "The Jacksonian", operated jointly by the Pennsylvania, Louisville & Nashville, Atlantic Coast Line and Florida East Coast railroads, leaves Miami for Chicago on its last trip of the season. It is also the last all-Pullman train between the Midwest and Florida.

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April 6, 1956 The East Broad Top Railroad, a three-foot gauge carrier in Pennsylvania, quits after more than 100 years of service. It is the last narrow-gauge railroad east of the Mississippi.

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April 6, 1962 The State of New York amends its constitution to allow the state to guarantee bonds for the purchase of new commuter equipment on the New York Central, Long Island and New Haven railroads.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 3, 1949 St. Louis converted its Manchester PCC routes to bus operation because of dangerous left hand operation on PRW. The routes were 53 (Maplewood), 54 (Webster), 55 (Clay and Adams), and 56 (Kirkwood).? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky?

April 3, 1848 The Oakland & Ottawa (later D&M, GT) is chartered by the Michigan State Legislature to construct a railroad from Pontiac to Lake Michigan in Ottawa County.

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April 3, 1853 The Pennsylvania Railroad's new shops at Altoona complete its first repairs to a locomotive, the "Greene".

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April 3, 1855 The Detroit, Monroe & Toledo Railroad (later LS&NI, LS&MS, NYC) is organized.

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April 3, 1860 The first Railway Post Office in the United States begins service between Hannibal & St. Joseph MO. Its primary purpose is to pre-sort mail for the Pony Express. The service will end in October next year as the Pony Express quits.

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April 3, 1875 General Superintendents of several railroads meet at St. Louis, making arrangements to run their trains over Eads Bridge into Union Station.

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April 3, 1883 The Arcadia & Betsey River Railway is incorporated. Built to 3-foot gauge, it was to run 20 miles from Arcadia MI, across the Betsie River. (Note that the river and the railroad have two different spellings.)

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April 3, 1890 Streetcars begin running in Milwaukee WI.

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April 3, 1923 The Pennsylvania Railroad's Car Service Department Glee Club gives a one hour and ten minute program over station WIP in Philadelphia. This is the first time a railroad musical group performance has been broadcast.

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April 3, 1924 Prohibition agents find 22 cases of wine, whiskey and gin in the private railroad car of Pennsylvania Railroad Vice President. George LeBoutillier. The steward is arrested and the car seized.

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April 3, 1955 A passenger train plunges into a canyon in Guadalajara, Mexico. Three hundred passengers and crew are killed.

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April 3, 1958 The Baltimore & Ohio completes its dieselization project.

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April 3, 1959 Construction begins on Japan National Railway's "Tokiado" bullet train between Osaka and Tokyo.

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April 3, 1961 The Boston & Albany, Ware River, Pittsfield & North Adams and Beech Creek Extension railroad companies all disappear into parent New York Central.

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April 3, 1968 Demolition begins on Milwaukee’s lakefront depot.

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April 3, 1987 The Budd Corporation ships its last railcar.

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April 3, 1987 The Soo Line sells its Lake States Transportation Division to the newly-formed "Wisconsin Central Ltd."

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April 3, 2007 A modified TGV train sets a new speed record for conventional (non-MagLev) equipment of 574.73 km/h (357.2 mph). TGV manufacturer Alstrom is using the demonstration to test high-speed technical concepts. The test train, consisting of two electric locomotives and three double-deck cars, has larger than normal wheels on the engines and operates on 31,000 volts rather than the normal 25,000.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 2, 1853 An Act of the New York State Legislature approves the merger creating the New York Central Railroad. The merger will be ratified by stockholders in June.

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April 2, 1869 Incorporation papers for the Kalamazoo & South Haven Railroad [later MC, NYC, PC, CR] are signed.

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April 2, 1888 To protect it from an oncoming storm, The Hotel Brighton, at the foot of what is now Coney Island Ave. in Brooklyn NY, is moved inland 520 feet. The move is accomplished by laying track, raising the building as a whole, and pulling it using six steam engines. The move begins on this date, and continues for nine more days. It is the largest building move of the 19th Century.

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April 2, 1900 The Peoria & Pekin Traction begins operations between its two namesake Illinois towns.

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April 2, 1918 New Haven's "Bay State Limited" becomes one of many trains eliminated by the USRA. It will not be reinstated after the war, although many are.

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April 2, 1933 The Pennsylvania and Wabash Railroads inaugurate new fast, through passenger trains from Chicago to Detroit via Ft, Wayne, IN. The trains are given a running time of 4 hours, 45 minutes. The Wabash then drops its passenger service between Ft. Wayne and Chicago.

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April 2, 1957 Alfred E. Perlman introduces "Flexi-Van". The cars reduce the dead weight and air drag of conventional TOFC service, but require special equipment.

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April 2, 1962 The Roanoke Transportation Museum is chartered. Later it will be known as the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

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April 2, 1975 Amtrak orders 235 bi-level "Superliner" cars for long-distance service from Pullman-Standard and an additional 200 Amfleet cars from Budd. Pullman-Standard, having sold its Michigan City Plant five years earlier, purchases the Allied Structural Steel Company plant at Hammond IN to build "Superliners".

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April 2, 1976 CN Tower is completed. Built by Canadian National, it was the tallest tower and tallest free-standing structure in the world when built. It remains the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere.

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April 2, 1993 Amtrak's "Sunset Limited" becomes the first regularly scheduled transcontinental passenger train operated by one company in the United States as the eastbound section departs Los Angeles. The westbound will make its first departure on April 4.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 1, 1951 Brooklyn's Nostrand Avenue trolley route was converted to bus operation and the Holy Cross Cemetery Shuttle was abandoned.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 1, 1951 Chicago trolley route 81 (Lawrence Avenue) was converted to trolleybus operation and trolley route 65 (Grand Avenue) was converted to bus operation but only temporarily. On December 16, route 65 was reconverted to trolleybus operation.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 1, 1956 Some route 50 PCC cars were rerouted in South Philadelphia to the 4th and Ritner Streets terminus where no service had been provided since route 9 demised on January 29.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 1, 1963 The Red Arrow purchased a decrepit and bankrupt New Jersey bus company, the Camden and Burlington Bus Company, and began service on bus route 54 from Philadelphia to Marlton and Medford Lakes, New Jersey. Later NJT route P, then route 406.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

April 1, 1832 The Baltimore & Ohio opens from Frederick Junction to Point of Rocks MD on the Potomac River, about 71 miles from Baltimore.

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April 1, 1836 The Erie Railroad is incorporated.

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April 1, 1861 A sleeping car designed and patented by Edward Knight is placed in service on the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Knight had been elected a Pennsylvania Railroad director one month before.

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April 1, 1865 Robert Pitcairn takes over as Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Pittsburgh Division. Pitcairn will be the first on the PRR to devise a modern system of telegraphic train orders and will be the main sponsor of experiments with air brakes.

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April 1, 1873 The first train crosses the Maumee River bridge into Toledo on the Toledo, Tiffin & Eastern Railroad (later PRR). Regular service will begin soon.

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April 1, 1873 The New York & Harlem is leased to the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad.

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April 1, 1880 The Reading Railroad tests Number 507, a 4-2-2 "Bicycle" locomotive with a pair of 78-inch drivers for passenger service. The locomotive's cab is perched on top of a large Wooten firebox.

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April 1, 1885 The Southern Pacific takes over operation of the Central Pacific.

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April 1, 1890 General Aaron Stiles patents a trolley pole.

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April 1, 1893 The Grand Trunk Railway of Canada merges several rail companies it has owned into itself.

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April 1, 1900 The Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf is reorganized as the Kansas City Southern.

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April 1, 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt makes a grand circle tour from Washington DC to California. Roosevelt will ride in the cab of the locomotive taking his train around Horseshoe Curve.

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April 1, 1906 The Manufacturers’ Junction, owned by Western Electric and running in Cicero IL, begins operations.

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April 1, 1911 The Long Island Railroad begins using a battery car on its Bushwick Branch.

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April 1, 1917 Hell Gate Bridge opens for passenger service.

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April 1, 1923 Construction of the steelwork for Chicago Union Station's headhouse begins.

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April 1, 1925 Last day of the last line (Cleveland & Chagrin Falls) of the Eastern Ohio Traction Company.

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April 1, 1925 The Great Northern, Northern Pacific and the Union Pacific begin pooled passenger service between Seattle WA and Portland OR.

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April 1, 1926 The Pullman Company assumes the operation of Long Island Railroad parlor car service. Nineteen LIRR parlor cars are converted to coaches.

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April 1, 1930 The Pennsylvania Railroad opens a new station at Gary IN.

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April 1, 1933 The Canadian National Radio Department and its network of stations, developed to entertain passengers on long distance runs, is turned over to the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, and will eventually become the CBC.

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April 1, 1933 The Wabash Railroad discontinues all passenger service on its Chicago-Montpelier OH line, known as its “Fourth District”.

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April 1, 1935 Boston & Maine 6000 is christened "The Flying Yankee" and placed into service three days later.

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April 1, 1937 The Pennsylvania Railroad rejects a proposal from Electro-Motive Corporation made last November for new EA/EB 1,800 HP passenger diesels for the "Blue Ribbon Trains" at $380,000 [2025: $8.5 million] for the twin units. The proposal would cut "Broadway Limited" running time to 15 hours and cut 45 minutes from the "Spirit of St. Louis". PRR rejects the units as too small and non coal-burning. It decides instead to go with General Electric's proposed coal-burning turboelectric locomotive.

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April 1, 1939 General Electric delivers its "Steamotive" steam turbine electric locomotive to the Union Pacific. UP will place it on an exhibition tour promoting the new movie, "Union Pacific".

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April 1, 1947 The Interstate Commerce Commission approves the Chesapeake & Ohio/Pere Marquette merger.

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April 1, 1947 The 20^th Century Limited is carded at 15 ? hours between Chicago and New York.

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April 1, 1949 With the entry of Newfoundland into the Confederation of Canada, the Newfoundland Railway is transferred to Canadian National Railway.

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April 1, 1949 This month’s issue of “Trains” magazine reports that the Pennsylvania Railroad’s conversion of its Grand Rapids Division to all diesel power, a project began in mid-December 1948, may already be completed. Twenty-three diesels have replaced 37 steam locomotives.

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April 1, 1952 Bulk mail traffic formerly handled by the Long Island Railroad is moved to trucks by the Post Office.

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April 1, 1954 Lionel A.F. Marks, Inc. introduces a line of ride-on HO scale (1:87) electric trains. The venture supposedly fails when it is realized that the average electric motor used in an HO scale locomotive cannot pull the weight of the average model railroader, nor can model railroad layouts support him.

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April 1, 1958 The last Union Ticket Office in New York City closes.?

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April 1, 1960 Class 1 railroads report a total of only 519 steam locomotives on their rosters.

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April 1, 1963 SEPTA is created in Philadelphia after costly strikes against the PTC and the Red Arrow.

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April 1, 1965 Chicago Great Western announces that due to operating losses of more than $300,000 per year ($3 million in 2025), it will be discontinuing its last two passenger trains on April 30. The two trains run between Minneapolis and Omaha.

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April 1, 1966 A Federal ban on running boards goes into effect for box and similar house cars ordered after this date.

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April 1, 1967 The United States Department of Transportation begins operation.

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April 1, 1969 The first ore is loaded at Chicago & North Western’s new dock in Escanaba MI.

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April 1, 1976 Conrail begins operations with the merging of Penn Central, Erie Lackawanna, Central of New Jersey, Lehigh Valley, Lehigh & Hudson River and Reading Railroads.

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April 1, 1976 The Detroit & Mackinac assumes switching duties in Mackinaw City for the car ferry “Chief Wawatam”. It had been switched previously by Penn Central.

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April 1, 1976 The Hillsdale County Railroad begins operations on former Penn Central lines in Hillsdale County MI, with branches to Quincy MI and Stubenville IN.

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April 1, 1978 VIA Rail Canada becomes an independent company, emerging from CN Rail. They also acquire the Turbotrains.

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April 1, 1980 The Rock Island ceases operations. The Chicago & North Western takes over operation of the “Spine Line” and other ex-Rock Island trackage.

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April 1, 2005 Kansas City Southern formally takes controlling interest in the Transportation Ferroviaria Mexicana Railway. This increases the KCS system to over 6,000 miles of line stretching across the Central U.S. and into Mexico.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 31, 1977 The last NYCTA subway train of R-1/9 cars ran on the J (Jamaica-Nassau Street) line from 168th Street to Broad Street, then ran light via the express tracks of the Sea Beach like to Coney Island Yard.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

March 31, 1862 The "Oregon Pony" arrives in Portland OR, the first locomotive in the Pacific Northwest.

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March 31, 1870 The southern branch of the Union Pacific becomes the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, quickly dubbed "The Katy".

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March 31, 1873 The White River bridge on the Cairo & Fulton Railroad (later CA&T, StLIM&S, MP, UP) opens, and trains run through between St. Louis and Little Rock.

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March 31, 1901 Southern Pacific’s Coast Line between San Francisco and Los Angeles is completed.

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March 31, 1909 The Hudson & Manhattan Railroad begins operating women-only cars during the rush hour as a three-month experiment. They will be withdrawn on July 1 after proving to not be popular and to be the subject of derisive comments from men, such as "Hen Cars" or "Old Maids' Retreat".

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March 31, 1911 The Pennsylvania Railroad notes that during the past month, 92% of its Lines East passenger trains have been on time.

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March 31, 1916 Three New York Central passenger trains, including the westbound 20^th Century Limited, collide in Amherst OH in heavy fog. Forty-eight die as a result of the collision. Movie star Mary Pickford, one of the passengers on the 20^th Century Limited, refuses to leave the scene until all the injured have been helped.

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March 31, 1918 President Wilson signs a bill first establishing Daylight Saving Time. The railroads, however, will continue to print timetables in Standard Time.

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March 31, 1925 The Troy & New England Interurban quits. The last car to run on the line was the same one that opened it 30 years earlier.

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March 31, 1951 Passenger service on the Detroit & Mackinac ends.

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March 31, 1952 The Pennsylvania Railroad's last ferryboat operation from Philadelphia to Camden, the Market Street Ferry, ends.

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March 31, 1954 The New York Central drops passenger service on the former Ulster & Delaware.

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March 31, 1960 Great Northern’s “International” makes its last run.

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March 31, 1963 PCC and trolleybus service ends in Los Angeles.

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March 31, 1978 All high-carbon steel wheels are to be removed from cars carrying dangerous materials.

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March 31, 1980 Last day of the Rock Island. At 7,500 miles it is the largest rail abandonment in United States history.

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March 31, 1981 Conrail completes removal of #2 track between Altoona and Gallitzin PA, making the former Pennsylvania 4-track "Broad Way" 3 tracks through Horseshoe Curve.

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March 31, 1986 The Huron & Eastern Railway (MI) begins operations over former Chesapeake & Ohio trackage.

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March 31, 2010 The Union Pacific Railroad unveils locomotive 2010, painted to recognize the Boy Scouts in honor of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary. It is only the 14th locomotive to receive special paint in the line's 150-year history.

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March 31, 2020 A Port of Los Angeles railroad engineer, Eduardo Moreno, is arrested after trying to crash his train into the hospital ship USNS Mercy. The ship was in Los Angeles to assist in treating COVID-19 patients. Moreno feared that the ship was actually part of a government take-over.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 28, 1836 Michigan Territory charters seven railroads in a single day.

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March 28, 1846 The Central Rail Road of Michigan is sold by the state to a group of New York investors for $2 million [2025: $82.52 million] and becomes the Michigan Central.

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March 28, 1857 The Memphis & Charleston Railroad (later L&N, CSX) opens between Memphis and Stevenson, AL, on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. This completes a continuous route of uniform gauge between Charleston, SC, and Memphis. It is the first trunk line between the Atlantic and Mississippi south of the Potomac and Ohio Rivers.

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March 28, 1883 The defunct Black River & St. Lawrence Railway is reorganized as the Carthage & Adirondack Railway (later NYC).

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March 28, 1885 First use of a Leslie snowplow.

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March 28, 1888 San Francisco's Powell Street cable car line opens.

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March 28, 1901 The Atlantic, Quebec & Western Railway (later CNR) is incorporated in Quebec.

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March 28, 1905 The Paramaribo-Dam railway is opened in Suriname. It never sees a revenue train, and slowly returns to the jungle.

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March 28, 1909 The Pennsylvania Railroad begins serving complimentary tea and coffee to parlor and sleeping car passengers at any time of the day.

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March 28, 1909 Chicago Banker Frank Vanderlip hires a New York Central & Hudson River train to rush him to his dying Mother in New York. The trip takes 16 hours and 30 minutes. Regular schedules take around 24 hours.

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March 28, 1955 A new rail speed record of 331 km/h (206 mph) is set by the French National Railways, but the track is severely damaged in the process. (Some sources say March 29)

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March 28, 1958 A 2-4-4T narrow gauge locomotive, built by Baldwin in 1894 is christened the “Fred Gurley” and begins service on the Disneyland Railroad in Anaheim CA. As of 2025, the locomotive is the oldest piece of operating railroad equipment in any Disney theme park.

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March 28, 1959 Last revenue run of the last interurban in Canada: The Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto.

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March 28, 1961 Erie-Lackawanna begins New York to Chicago piggyback service.

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March 28, 1977 The ICC approves the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad’s petition to end all passenger service.

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March 29, 1839 American Railway Express Agency (later Railway Express Agency) is founded.

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March 29, 1869 The Kalamazoo, Allegan & Grand Rapids Railroad (later LS&MS, NYC, PC) is completed from Allegan to Grand Rapids MI. (Some sources say March 1.)

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March 29, 1909 The Pennsylvania Railroad places an order for 24 examples of a new class of electric locomotive: the DD1.

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March 29, 1919 A narrow-gauge Canadian National train reaches Alberton PE, after taking 10 days to travel the last 2 miles in the worst blizzard locals can remember. The train has a plow, locomotive and 4 coaches.

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March 29, 1929 The Pennsylvania Railroad completes a program of painting town names in 10-foot high letters on railroad buildings to aid pilots of Transcontinental Air Transport. The lettering appears in 36 different cities.

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March 29, 1931 Great Northern's "Oriental Limited" makes its last run, having been superseded by the "Empire Builder". The name will be used again by GN, and then dropped for good with the creation of the "Western Star".

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March 29, 1936 10,000 people gather in Indianapolis to watch the 200-inch mirror blank for the Palomar observatory pass through on its cross-country trip aboard well-hole flat car NYC 499010.

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March 29, 1957 The New York, Ontario & Western is abandoned, the first Class I railroad to quit and the first railroad to be abandoned in its entirety.

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March 29, 1957 The Central Vermont dieselizes.

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March 29, 1960 Revenue steam ends on the Grand Trunk Western as 2-8-2 4070 pulls a 50 car freight from Pontiac to Durand MI.

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March 29, 2018 Florida’s “Brightline” commuter rail makes its first test run into the unfinished Miami station.

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March 30, 1847 The Pennsylvania Railroad is organized and a Board of Directors elected.

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March 30, 1856 The Chicago Burlington & Quincy and the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad (later C&NW) begin using the Illinois Central Terminal in Chicago.

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March 30, 1872 The Texas Pacific Railroad absorbs the Southern Trans-Continental Railway.

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March 30, 1886 Executives from several southern railroads meet and agree to change their gauge from 5’ 0” to 4’ 8 ?” by June 1, 1886.

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March 30, 1901 The Chicago Short Line Railway is incorporated.

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March 30, 1909 The Queensboro Bridge opens between Manhattan and Long Island City. The top deck of the bridge carries two elevated railway lines, and the bottom deck carries two streetcar lines. A streetcar station in the middle of the bridge allows passengers to take an elevator or stairs to Welfare Island (later Roosevelt Island).

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March 30, 1952 The last freight delivered by an Indiana Public Service Company freight motor is made to the company's Ft. Wayne power plant by motor 817. Future deliveries will be made by the New York Central.

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March 30, 1954 The first segment of the Toronto Subway (Yonge Street) begins operation, replacing streetcars.

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March 30, 1959 The New York Central agrees to pay the Illinois Central $5 million (2025: $55.2 million) for breaching its contract to have Michigan Central trains terminate at Central Station in Chicago. NYC has moved them to LaSalle Street station.

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March 30, 1972 The Milwaukee Road discontinues its “Limburger Special”, running to New Glarus WI.

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March 30, 1973 Toronto’s Yonge subway is extended to York Mills station.

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March 30, 1982 Last day of Milwaukee Road operations in Montana.

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March 30, 2021 CN and Watco announce an agreement for Watco to buy 900 miles of rail lines in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario owned by Wisconsin Central Railroad and Algoma Central.

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March 30, 2024 A hydrogen-powered electric train beaks a world’s record by travelling 1,741 miles, nonstop. The train, operating at a Colorado test track is a Stadler FLIRT-H2, It has two passenger cars with a hydrogen power pack in the middle. California has ordered four of the trainsets.

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Mark Tomlonson

March 27, 1835 A rotary steam locomotive built by Willam Avery of Syracuse NY is tested on the New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Company between Hackensack and Passaic Rivers. It is not powerful enough. ?Mr. Avery proposes to build a larger version, but nothing further is heard from him.

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March 27, 1855 Secretary of War Jefferson Davis presents the report on surveys for the Pacific railroad to Congress. The surveys suggest five separate routes between the 32nd and 49th parallels.

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March 27, 1874 Kalamazoo MI's first Grand Rapids & Indiana depot burns to the ground. A new one will be built on the same location.

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March 27, 1879 The Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive "Modoc" pulls 138 loaded cars between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.

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March 27, 1902 A new Union Station for Washington DC is proposed. The proposal would remove the existing railroad stations from the National Mall.

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March 27, 1918 The Pennsylvania Railroad grants a license to the Position-Light Signal Company to build and install position-light signals on the PRR. In return, the railroad will collect a $1 per light unit royalty (2025: $22.79).

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March 27, 1935 General Motors' Electro-Motive Division breaks ground in McCook IL for their new locomotive factory.

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March 27, 1953 For the second time in U.S. history, four trains are involved in a single wreck. Near Conneaut OH on the New York Central, an improperly secured 18-inch pipe slips off a gondola, damaging an adjacent track. The track damage and improper flagging will cause another freight train and 2 passenger trains to derail and collide. Twenty-one people are killed and forty-nine injured. The first 4-train wreck occurred in Connecticut in December, 1891.

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March 27, 1954 The Sylvania Central (GA) quits.

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March 27, 1960 The last regularly scheduled steam-powered passenger train on a major U.S. railroad runs from Durand to Detroit on the Grand Trunk Western.

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March 27, 1960 Missouri Pacific's last day of passenger service on its Kansas City-Ft. Smith-Little Rock line.

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March 27, 1961 Black demonstrators stage a "ride-in" on Charleston SC streetcars.

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March 27, 1963 In a report that will come to be known as the “Beeching Axe”, Dr. Richard Beeching recommends huge cuts to the United Kingdom’s rail network.

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March 27, 1964 Great Britain's "Great Train Robbers" are sentenced to a total of 307 years behind bars.

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March 27, 1967 The Great Northern runs its first taconite unit train from Nashwauk MN to Allouez WI.

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March 27, 1976 Washington D.C.'s "Metro" opens its first 4.6 miles.

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March 27, 1976 Penn Central runs its last Grand Rapids – Cadillac (MI) train. Michigan Northern will take over operations on April 1.

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March 27, 1995 After a two-week strike by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, affecting Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and VIA Rail, the Canadian Parliament creates arbitration panels to resolve the dispute.

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Mark Tomlonson