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May 8, 1939 Philadelphia's last Market Street Subway-Elevated train ran on the Delaware Avenue spur to the South Street Ferry terminus and all trains from 69th Street ran to Frankford. The Delaware Avenue El structure was razed the following year. It was the last changeover on the Market-Frankford line until subway was extended to 46th Street in 1955. Delaware Avenue is now Columbus Boulevard.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

May 8, 1842 A passenger train derails near Moudon, France. The official death toll in the accident and resulting fire is 55 people, however estimates of the total deaths run as high as 200.

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May 8, 1858 The New York Central provides a sleeping car on overnight trains between Albany and Buffalo NY.

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May 8, 1863 The Brotherhood of the Footboard is organized in Marshall, MI. The group will eventually become the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

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May 8, 1869 The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad (later NYC) is organized.

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May 8, 1876 First through trains on the Boston-Philadelphia "Northeast Corridor". The route will not receive that title until much later, nor does this train directly serve New York City.

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May 8, 1876 The first pneumatic interlocking in the world is installed by the Pennsylvania Railroad at Mantua PA in anticipation of the heavy traffic expected at Philadelphia for the Centennial.

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May 8, 1878 The Spencer Railroad (MA – later B&A) is incorporated.

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May 8, 1889 In Kalamazoo, a Michigan Central train strikes a horsecar at a grade crossing, killing 5. The train was an extra movement, not expected by the crossing guard who was eating supper. In response to the wreck, Kalamazoo requires all horsecars to stop before crossing railroad tracks, and train speeds are limited to 10 mph. A city park now marks the site of the collision.

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May 8, 1906 A special train carrying E.H. Harriman makes a run from Oakland CA to New York in 76 hours and 27 minutes. This record will stand until October 1934, when it will be broken by Union Pacific Streamliner M-10000.

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May 8, 1910 Southern Pacific's "Lark" makes its debut.

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May 8, 1912 The Pennsylvania Company reorganizes its vice-Presidents following the loss of John B. Thayer aboard the RMS “Titanic”.

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May 8, 1924 Arthur Honegger's "Pacifica 231" premieres. The orchestral tone poem reflects Honegger's impressions of train trip behind a steam engine.

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May 8, 1926 A. Philip Randolph organizes the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. This event is a major labor as well as civil rights milestone.

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May 8, 1937 Last day of service on the Indiana Railroad's (interurban) line between Indianapolis and Richmond IN.

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May 8, 1951 The 724th Transportation Railway Operating Battalion is mobilized.

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May 8, 1952 The Chesapeake & Ohio tests "Train X" between Grand Rapids and Grand Ledge MI using conventional diesel-electric power rather than the train's normal diesel-hydraulic locomotive.

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May 8, 1954 Passenger service on the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton ends with a mixed train originating in Springfield OH.

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May 8, 1961 Chicago & North Western drops its “Chicago-Duluth-Superior Limited” passenger train.

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May 8, 1962 Trolley bus service ends in London, England.

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May 8, 1962 Stockholders in both the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads approve the Penn Central merger.

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May 8, 1971 The former Grand Rapids & Indiana freight house in Grand Rapids is destroyed by fire. The building housed two businesses.

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May 8, 2006 The last operating tower on the Long Island Railroad, "PD" at Patchogue, is closed. The tower was also the site of the last "hooped up" orders on the Long Island. The tower had acquired he nickname "Leaning Tower of Patchogue", and its unstable condition will result in its demolition in August.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 7, 1863 The Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore carries over 3,000 Confederate prisoners from the Battle of Chancellorsville to prisons in Philadelphia.

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May 7, 1868 The Kalamazoo & Allegan Railroad (later KA&GR, LS&MS, NYC, PC) is organized.

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May 7, 1896 The Central Vermont's lease of the Rutland Railroad is cancelled.

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May 7, 1896 The Pennsylvania Railroad buys the Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern. Built to narrow gauge, it was converted to standard gauge 2 years earlier.

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May 7, 1903 The New York State Legislature votes to prohibit steam locomotives on New York City's Park Avenue south of the Harlem River by July 1, 1908.

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May 7, 1919 The Manager of the Women's Service Section of the USRA files a complaint that women are being laid off while men with less seniority are being retained.

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May 7, 1921 The New York Central makes the first test of run of mail containers, from New York and Chicago.

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May 7, 1938 Lorain OH streetcars run for the last time.

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May 7, 1957 Boston & Maine 6000, known during its life as the "Flying Yankee", the "Mountaineer", the "Cheshire", the "Minuteman" and the "Businessman" (or "Business Man") is retired and sold to the Edaville Museum.

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May 7, 1959 The Chesapeake & Ohio launches mail and express service between Grand Rapids and Petosky MI using "Railvans", short vans that can be used on rails as well as the highways. The vans carry side ladders and marker light brackets, and are the forerunners of the modern Roadrailers used by Norfolk Southern Corporation and others.

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May 7, 1977 Chessie starts the first of its 46 steam excursions behind the former Reading 4-8-4 #2101.

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May 7, 2011 The last train runs on the former Canada Southern spur between Pelton and Fargo ON.

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May 7, 2014 For the first time Amtrak begins using Union Depot as its St. Paul MN station. This follows a refurbishment program of the station that was completed last year.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 6, 1979 A new pick went into effect on New York's IND and BMT subway lines. The only major change was that the first 2 QB (Broadway-Brighton) trains from Coney Island run to Astoria and return as RR (Broadway-4th Avenue) trains to 36th Street and got out of service. The next to last QB train to Coney Island starts at Astoria. R-27/30s, R-32s, and R-38s were seen on the morning transfer runs. The only other change was that 6-car trains were removed from the GG (Crosstown local) but they had been removed earlier without official notice. But a month later, 6-car trains were returned to the GG due to car shortages caused by R-46 problems. On the IRT, R-36 cars 9494-9503 were returned from the 4 (Lexington-Woodlawn) to the 7 (Flushing) after being air conditioned and repainted at 239th Street Shops but still carried roll signs for the main IRT lines. These cars appeared briefly in 2/5 (White Plains Road) service before they entered the shops.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

May 6, 1856 The Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad, the Ohio & Indiana Railroad and the Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad sign articles of merger to form the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. The new road will in time become the Pennsylvania Railroad's main line from Pittsburgh to Chicago. The merger will become effective in Ohio on July 26.

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May 6, 1862 The bill authorizing the transcontinental railroad passes the House of Representatives.

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May 6, 1863 The Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad (later B&O, CSX) acquires control of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad. (some sources say May 1)

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May 6, 1876 The Pennsylvania Railroad takes delivery from its Altoona shops of 42 new coaches designed to bring celebrants to the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.

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May 6, 1878 The Springfield & Northeastern (later B&A) is incorporated to buy the foreclosed Springfield, Athol & Northeastern.

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May 6, 1902 The Akron & Barberton Belt Railroad is created by the merger of three companies: the Barberton Belt Line, the Barberton, Akron & Eastern Belt Line and the Cleveland, Barberton & Western.

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May 6, 1903 The Saginaw, Tuscola & Huron, Bay City Belt Line, and Sanilac Railroads are merged into the Pere Marquette.

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May 6, 1904 The Pere Marquette is granted the use of Englewood Station in Chicago.

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May 6, 1907 A Lake Shore & Michigan Southern train hits a street sweeper at Kalamazoo's Portage St. crossing and derails. The first 19 cars of a 53-car train are smashed into a pile 25 feet tall. In the pile: a boxcar of dynamite, intact.

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May 6, 1910 The Accident Report Act requires railroads to file a report of all accidents in the U.S. with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

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May 6, 1911 The Morgantown & Dunkard Valley (interurban) opens between Randall and Barker WV.

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May 6, 1917 The "Havana Special" is established as a year-round train between New York City and Key West.

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May 6, 1923 The Pennsylvania Railroad takes through cars bound for Washington DC out of the "Broadway Limited" consist and forms a new train, the "Washington Broadway Limited", to compete with the Baltimore & Ohio`s upcoming "Capitol Limited". Amenities and equipment on the new train are identical to its parent.

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May 6, 1928 The Great Northern gives its signature passenger train, the “Oriental Limited” a new, faster schedule.

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May 6, 1948 The Pennsylvania Railroad opens a new passenger station at Youngstown OH.

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May 6, 1950 Pacific Electric quits the Los Angeles to San Bernardino RPO, the last interurban Railway Post Office in the U.S.

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May 6, 1960 Last revenue run for steam on the Norfolk & Western.

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May 6, 1982 The last Morse code train order issued in the U.S. or Canada is sent to the operator at Whitehall, MT on the Burlington Northern.

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May 6, 1982 After Conrail’s announcement that it plans to abandon the line by July 5, one of the last revenue trains runs between Mendon and Wasepi MI on the former Grand Rapids & Indiana.

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May 6, 1983 The Georgia Railroad runs its last mixed train.

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May 6, 1994 Queen Elizabeth II and French President Francois Mitterand formally open the Chunnel.

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May 6, 1995 Canadian National and the Grand Trunk Western conduct opening ceremonies for the new St. Clair Tunnel.

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Mark Tomlonson

Omitted from May 2:? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? May 2, 1959 Philadelphia's Market-Frankford line car 581 suffered a broken axle when it pulled into the 15th Street station eastbound, causing a 24-hour delay which would have been chaotic if it had been on a weekday. Buses were put into service from 8th Street to 30th Street but when the westbound trains were able to get to 13th Street, subway-surface cars did the emergency work. As many as 15 Woodland PCC cars provided express service from City Hall to 30th Street, stopping only at 15th Street. Regular PCC cars on routes 10-11-13-34-36 were jammed with displaced El riders. The 15 extra PCC's ran light from 30th Street to the portal at 40th Street and Woodland Avenue and were returned onto the subway between the regular cars.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

May 5, 1827 The Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company opens a nine-mile railroad operated by horses and gravity between Summit Hill mines and Mauch Chunk PA. It is the first permanent railroad in Pennsylvania and second of consequence in the U.S.

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May 5, 1835 The first railroad in continental Europe opens, running between Brussels and Mechelen.

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May 5, 1836 The Castleton & West Stockbridge is issued a new charter as it reorganizes as the Albany & West Stockridge. (later B&A)

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May 5, 1852 The Pennsylvania Railroad authorizes spending $300 (2024: $12,077) to produce a tourist guidebook to the line, providing pictures are used.

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May 5, 1860 A steam-powered "dummy" railcar, the "Novelty" makes a test run in Philadelphia. The 25-foot body built by Kimball & Gorton and power plant by Baldwin seats 38. This summer it will serve on the Pennsylvania Railroad for picnic excursions.

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May 5, 1865 A locomotive is overturned and robbed in North Bend, OH, in America's first recorded train robbery.

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May 5, 1891 A carbarn fire destroys 36 open cars owned by the Street Railway of Grand Rapids (MI).

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May 5, 1900 The Pennsylvania Railroad Board approves the purchase of the Long Island Railroad.

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May 5, 1905 The Pennsylvania Railroad's Train Number 52 hits the wreckage of a derailed freight train at speed. In the consist of Train 52 is an RPO car built to the standards of the Railway Mail Service, put in place the year before. It is the first car built to the standards to be in a wreck. It is not crushed, and all the postal employees in the car survive, a rarity before the standard was issued.

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May 5, 1906 The first train runs on the Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago, using the former Michigan Central line between Kalamazoo and Lawton. It had been sold to the KLS&C after the opening of MC's "Miller Cut-off" (the present Amtrak line). The new owner has hopes of turning the line into an interurban, but it will never run under wire.

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May 5, 1920 The Pennsylvania Railroad begins running solid express trains between Chicago and Pittsburgh without intermediate yard switching. Experience with reduced crews during a recent strike has shown the yarding to be unnecessary.

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May 5, 1943 Pullman launches its first ship built for the Navy, a PCE (patrol craft).

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May 5, 1947 Detroit’s Grand River streetcar line is converted to buses. While several smaller lines had been converted earlier, this is the first major Detroit line to lose its streetcars.

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May 5, 1949 The Baltimore & Ohio launches its streamlined all-coach "Columbian". Running from Baltimore to Chicago, the train features the first Pullman-Standard domes sold to a railroad.

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May 5, 1950 The last steam locomotive runs on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois.

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May 5, 1962 The New York Central donates 4-8-2 #2933 to the National Museum of Transport in St. Louis.

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May 5, 1989 The former Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw freight house in Kalamazoo MI is torn down. The site is now (2025) occupied by the Sergeant Fuel Company

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May 5, 2004 CNNA announces the closing of Nichols Yard in Battle Creek MI and Hawthorne and Centralia Yards in Illinois. Hawthorne Yard, however, will remain open.

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May 5, 2018 Amtrak adds Marks MS to the list of stations served by “The City of New Orleans”.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 2, 1949 Brooklyn's McDonald-Vanderbilt PCC route was broken into 2 routes. The Vanderbilt Avenue portion, still the B-69, continued to use PCC cars and terminated at Prospect Park. The McDonald Avenue portion, renumbered B-50, used double-end 8000s and was temporarily cut back from Coney Island to Avenue X because of track work. The route's north terminus was at 9th Avenue Depot.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? May 2, 1960 All of Philadelphia's ex-SLPS PCC cars were out of service with 15 sent to Woodland Depot to be stripped of useable parts. But the 20 original 1938 PCC,cars were still holding strong on route 53 (Wayne Avenue). Only 11 of these cars were left. They were last used on September due to the 12-day Pennsylvania Railroad strike.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? May 4, 1976 The NYCTA transferred R-16 subway cars 6300-03 and 6305-40 from the IND Queens Boulevard EE and GG lines to the BMT Southern Division for use on the B (6th Avenue-West End), N (Broadway-Sea Beach), and AA (8th Avenue-Washington Heights) lines.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

May 2, 1845 A Baltimore ordinance allows the Baltimore & Susquehanna to operate steam locomotives in the central city only between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am. They are further prohibited from burning wood and must be preceded by a man carrying a lantern.

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May 2, 1879 The Bay View, Little Traverse & Mackinaw Railroad (later GR&I, PRR, MIGN) is incorporated in Michigan to build from Bay View to Harbor Springs, serving resort traffic.

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May 2, 1887 The Leamington & St. Clair Railway (later NYC, CASO) is chartered.

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May 2, 1906 The Danville & Indiana Harbor Railroad (later CI&S, NYC) is organized.

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May 2, 1914 The President of the Pennsylvania Railroad rejects a suggestion by one of his Vice Presidents to rename the "Broadway Limited" the "National Limited".

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May 2, 1917 The Drayton-Ackworth Report recommends the Canadian Government take over the operations of the Grand Trunk, Grand Trunk Pacific and Canadian Northern Railways and operate them as one system with the Intercolonial and National Transcontinental Railways. The report is accepted.

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May 2, 1922 The Pennsylvania Railroad begins examining the possibility of electrifying Horseshoe Curve and other locations on the system.

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May 2, 1957 The last steam locomotive operates on the New York Central as 2-8-2 Class H-7a #1977 drops its fires at Riverside Yard in Cincinnati.

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May 2, 2002 An eastbound Canadian National train collides with a semi trailer near Firmdale, MB. The resulting spill of plastic pellets, benzene, glycol, and hexane catches fire and forces the evacuation of nearly 200 local residents.

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May 2, 2010 In Springfield IL, Union Pacific decommissions Ridgely Tower, the last manual or "Armstrong" interlocking in the United States. In an "Armstrong" interlocking mechanical rods and levers operate the signals and switches.

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May 3, 1825 Congress alters the route of the National Road, currently building to St. Louis, between Zanesville, OH and Jefferson City MO creating a route through Columbus, Richmond, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, and Vandalia IL. This alteration will influence the route of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

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May 3, 1830 The first regularly scheduled steam-powered passenger train service begins in Kent, England on the Canterbury & Whitstable. The first train is hauled by the Robert Stephenson engine "Invicta". It is also the first railroad to run in a tunnel.

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May 3, 1848 Ground is broken at New Albany IN for the New Albany & Salem Rail Road (later CIL, L&N).

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May 3, 1851 The city of Harrisburg PA puts a 4 mph speed limit on trains, after reports trains were speeding though town at 20 mph.

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May 3, 1863 The Atchison & Topeka Railroad changes its name to become the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe.

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May 3, 1867 The first Kalamazoo & Schoolcraft Railroad train arrives in Kalamazoo. (Later K&WP, LS&MS, NYC, PC, CR, NS, GDLK)

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May 3, 1875 The New York Central & Hudson River Railroad opens the first portion of its Fourth Avenue Improvement in New York City for full revenue service. The section from 56th to 94th Street has been placed in a combination cut-and-cover and tunnel with smoke vents in center of Park Avenue.

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May 3, 1880 The Mt. Gilead Short Line Railway (OH, later NYC) is chartered.

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May 3, 1881 A Mendon MI man, Leonidas Woolley receives a patent for the first electric locomotive headlight. Mr. Woolley has suspended the lamp assembly in a harness made of strings to minimize shaking.

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May 3, 1886 The Shenango Valley Railroad (later LS&MS, NYC) is incorporated.

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May 3, 1914 Canadian Pacific begins Montreal-Toronto-Detroit-Chicago service in cooperation with the Michigan Central.

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May 3, 1930 CBS Radio broadcasts directly from the Pennsylvania Railroad's ?"Cincinnati Limited" while on route to the Kentucky Derby.

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May 3, 1933 A group of six boys from a Passaic NJ orphanage check on their baseball field after a heavy rain. They discover a 10-foot deep washout under the adjoining rail line. They flag down an approaching rush hour commuter train carrying 500 passengers. When asked about a reward, they say “just let Babe Ruth know what we did”. Ruth subsequently visited the boys and gave them batting tips.

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May 3, 1947 Detroit Street Railways ends operation between 8 Mile Road and the City of Royal Oak.

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May 3, 1951 EMD produces its first six-axle freight diesel, an SD-7. It tours as demonstrator 990 before being sold to the Southern Pacific, which numbers it 1518. It is preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum.

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May 3, 1952 “Wallace” station on the Chicago El’s Stock Yards Branch is closed.

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May 3, 1962 One hundred sixty people are killed in a three-train collision north of Tokyo.

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May 3, 1977 Secretary of Transportation Brock Adams cancels Amtrak's "Mountaineer". Running between Cincinnati and Norfolk, it averages 35 passengers between any two points. Its last day of service will come about a month later. Most of the route will be taken over by the Catlettsburg KY-Washington "Hilltopper".

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May 3, 2014 Florida’s “SunRail” begins operations.

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May 3, 2019 Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 #4014 makes its first test run from Cheyenne WY to Nunn CO and back. It had moved under power for the first time yesterday.

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May 3, 2021 A section of the Mexico City elevated railway, “Metro” collapses, killing at least 24. An investigation reveals the collapse was do to faulty welds and missing support bracing.

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May 4, 1841 The Western Railroad (later B&A) is completed from the New York state line to Pittsfield MA.

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May 4, 1845 The first iron truss bridge (Howe type) in the U.S. is placed in service on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. The bridge has been designed by civil engineer Richard B. Osborne.

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May 4, 1852 The Madison & Indianapolis Railroad begins building a road to bypass the steep grade of the Madison incline. The project will end three years later with only a partial grade, two tunnels and a $300,000 [2025: $12,459,000] drain on the company funds to show for it.

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May 4, 1859 The Cornwall Railway opens across the Royal Albert Bridge, linking Devon and Cornwall counties in England.

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May 4, 1861 An armored railroad car equipped with a swivel gun and rifle loopholes is built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the beleaguered Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore. The PW&B has suffered much destruction by Maryland secessionists.

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May 4, 1870 Horace F. Clark, son-in-law of Cornelius Vanderbilt, is elected President of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, tightening the bonds between the LS&MS and the Vanderbilt empire.

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May 4, 1918 Horsecar service ends in Middletown OH. The routes will be taken over by motorbuses.

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May 4, 1952 Service ends on the Chicago El’s Humboldt Park Branch.

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May 4, 1958 The Nickel Plate #765 is placed in Lawton Park in Ft. Wayne IN.

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May 4, 1959 Railway Express Agency begins moving express via piggyback on the Pennsylvania Railroad between Philadelphia and Chicago.

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May 4, 1989 CP Rail opens its Rogers Pass project. Included in the project is the 9.1-mile Mount MacDonald Tunnel, the longest in the Western Hemisphere.

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Mark Tomlonson

May 1, 1949 Washington's old trolleys were retired with the conversion of the Benning routes to bus operation. They were routes 10 (Kenworthey Avenue) and 12 (Seat Pleasant). All trolley service was then provided by the 489 PCC cars and the 20 pre-PCC streamliners.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

May 1, 1834 The Auburn & Syracuse Railroad (later R&S, NYC) is incorporated to connect the Erie Canal to Syracuse NY.

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May 1, 1850 The stockholders of the Pennsylvania Railroad vote to allow operations on Sunday, overturning the ruling of the Board, which has a Sabbatarian majority.

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May 1, 1859 A new Delaware law becoming effective today bans the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad from carrying blacks or mulattoes in "white" cars on the Delaware Railroad unless they are slaves accompanying their masters. One hundred fifty years later, President-elect Barack Obama will travel over this line on the way to his inauguration.

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May 1, 1869 Continental Improvement Company (controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad) contracts to complete the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad between Fort Wayne and Little Traverse Bay (Petoskey). In return it acquires all unissued GR&I stock at $20,000 per mile [2025: $470,200], $8 million [$188 million] in bonds and the entire land grant of 850,960 acres in payment.

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May 1, 1871 The Camden & Amboy Railroad begins carrying imported bonded merchandise in locked iron chests (3' x 3' x 5') under control of the Treasury Dept.

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May 1, 1872 The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe begins construction, building westward out of Newton KS.

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May 1, 1873 The Michigan State Legislature passes a law requiring passenger cars to be equipped with air brakes or equally effective devices. Another law passed the same day mandates that trains must sound a bell or whistle when approaching crossings.

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May 1, 1873 The first municipally owned railroad in the United States, the Toledo & Woodville Railroad (owned by the City of Toledo) begins operations.

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May 1, 1879 The Pennsylvania Railroad runs a "tobacco train", consisting of five boxcars loaded with tobacco and a coach from New York to Chicago. The trip is made in twenty-five hours and fifty minutes. The tobacco shippers were hoping to take advantage of a new Illinois tax law.

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May 1, 1880 The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad establishes an Employee's Relief Association, providing health and life insurance for employees.

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May 1, 1888 The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad completes its own through route from Chicago to California.

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May 1, 1897 The Cleveland & Chagrin Falls Electric Railway Company opens.

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May 1, 1900 The Wabash Railroad and the Terre Haute & Logansport (later PRR) agree to a joint passenger station at Lakeville, IN.

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May 1, 1904 Excavations begin for Penn Station.

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May 1, 1905 The San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad (later UP) from Salt Lake City to southern California is completed.

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May 1, 1905 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railway is organized at the receiver's sale of the Detroit Southern Railroad.

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May 1, 1906 Indianapolis to Ft. Wayne through Limited service begins by Indiana Union Traction Company and the Ft. Wayne & Wabash Valley. Running time is 4 hrs. 30 min for the roughly 130-mile trip – 29 miles per hour.

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May 1, 1907 The Pennsylvania Railroad acquires the Chicago, Indiana & Eastern Railway.

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May 1, 1916 The Kankakee & Urbana Traction reaches Paxton IL. It will not fulfill its plans to reach Kankakee, 25 miles away. The line has been underwritten in large part by Dr. Van Doren, father of two Pulitzer Prize winning authors and grandfather of Charles Van Doren of 1950's Quiz Show scandal fame.

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May 1, 1917 Texas Electric begins parlour car service.

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May 1, 1917 The Muskegon, Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad becomes part of the Grand Rapids & Indiana.

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May 1, 1917 The Pennsylvania Railroad reports it has 1,494 women working on its Lines East. By next year that number will swell to 9,000 due to World War I.

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May 1, 1917 The Santa Fe’s “de Luxe” passenger train is discontinued, as it is not considered essential for the war effort.

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May 1, 1922 The Pennsylvania Railroad discontinues its refrigerator lines and joins Fruit Growers Express, bringing 5,927 refrigerator cars with it.

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May 1, 1923 The Virginian Railway awards a contract for the electrification of its main line between Roanoke VA and Mullins WV.

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May 1, 1928 The Great Northern “holes through” their Pioneer Tunnel in the Cascades.

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May 1, 1928 The Chicago & North Western begins CTC operation in their Galena and Iowa Divisions.

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May 1, 1929 The Chicago & North Western begins Rail-Air service between Chicago and Rapid City SD.

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May 1, 1941 Southern Pacific's "Lark" becomes the first all-room train in the west.

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May 1, 1942 The last pre-war streamliner, Illinois Central's refurbished "Panama Limited" is put into service.

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May 1, 1944 The Pennsylvania Railroad opens a new 647-car yard west of Riley Road in Indiana Harbor IN.

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May 1, 1946 John W. Barriger becomes President of the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon).

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May 1, 1950 The New York Central places the first Budd RDC cars (""Beeliners" on the NYC) in revenue service between Boston and Springfield MA.

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May 1, 1952 This month, for the first time the number of diesel-electric locomotives on U.S. railroads exceeds the number of steamers, 19,082 to 18,489.

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May 1, 1953 Plans are announced for Philadelphia's Penn Center, four office towers built on the site of Broad Street Station.

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May 1, 1954 New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is dedicated.

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May 1, 1955 Joint management of the Boston & Main and Maine Central railroads comes to a close.

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May 1, 1960 In its current issue, Trains magazine correctly predicts that the ultimate shape of a diesel locomotive will be a streamline-type cab (i.e. full width) with a narrow hood following.

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May 1, 1971 The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, or Amtrak, begins operations.

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May 1, 1988 The prototype Intercity Experimental sets a German Railroad speed record of 254.3 mph (406.9 km/h).

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May 1, 1993 A world record is set for the most countries (11) traveled by train in 24 hours.

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May 1, 1994 Carferry service between Detroit and Windsor ends.

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May 1, 2015 In what is believed to be a first, students from Plainfield East High School in Illinois charter a METRA train to bring them into downtown Chicago for the evening. The school had used buses in the past, but found the train “unique, cheaper and quicker”.

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May 1, 2017 A Japanese company introduces the Shiki-shimi luxury sleeper train, running between Tokyo to Hokkaido. The tickets, which cost up to $10,000 [2024: $13,067] for the top level bathtub and cypress mat equipped suite, includes ferry transfers and stops at tourist areas.

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Mark Tomlonson

Omitted from April 29:? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 29, 1973 The remaining portion of the 3rd Avenue El from Gun Hill Road to East 149th Street closed and was replaced by a new Bx-55 bus route. IRT R-12 subway cars 5753-5802, last used on the El, were placed in work service. However, R-14 cars 5803-06, also used on the El, were returned to the 2, 4, and 5 lines.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

April 30, 1847 The Pennsylvania Railroad sells its first shares of stock.

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April 30, 1854 The first railway in Brazil opens.

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April 30, 1865 The Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad (later CIL, MON, L&N, CSX) is one of 20 railroads to host the Lincoln Funeral train, The LNA&C carries the remains from Lafayette to Michigan City IN.

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April 30, 1873 The Pittsburgh, Washington & Baltimore Railroad (later B&O) attempts to reestablish a connection with the Broad Ford & Mount Pleasant Railroad at Broad Ford, PA a few weeks after it has been cut by the Pennsylvania Railroad. PW&B forces are driven off and two small bridges burned to prevent connection.

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April 30, 1876 The Camden & Amboy locomotive "John Bull" is run under its own power to the Centennial Grounds in Philadelphia. The Bonnet stack and cab have been removed and the tender shortened to make the locomotive look older.

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April 30, 1894 The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern passenger station at White Pigeon MI is destroyed by fire.

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April 30, 1900 In Vaughan, MS Illinois Central engineer John Luther "Casey" Jones becomes a hero and a legend. Jones stays with his train, the "Cannonball Express" when the track ahead is blocked by a freight train. Jones slows his train down enough to save his passengers, but not himself.

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April 30, 1912 In a speech before the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Rudolph Diesel says "I cannot predict whether this attempt at an entire revolution in the workings of the railways will be successful at the first attempt, or whether it must be repeated, but one thing is certain to me: the diesel locomotive will come, sooner or later, according to the perseverance with which the problem is followed."

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April 30, 1918 The Director of Military Railways loads its first locomotive bound for France. The engine will help in the war effort, and is being shipped via a converted ore carrier, the only ship with a hatch opening and hold large enough to hold the locomotive. Eventually 33 locomotives will be shipped aboard four vessels.

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April 30, 1922 After purchase by Insull's Midland Utilities, the former Gary & Connecting and Gary & Valparaiso interurbans cease operations due to the poor condition of the equipment. The route is taken over by buses.

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April 30, 1933 The Pennsylvania Railroad abandons the former Chicago Indiana & Eastern trackage between Matthews and Converse IN.

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April 30, 1939 The first passenger train to be equipped with fluorescent lighting throughout, the "General Pershing" of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy, is placed in scheduled service between St. Louis and Kansas City. The first passenger car equipped with fluorescent lights was operated on the New York Central Railroad one year earlier.

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April 30, 1939 The New York World's Fair opens. Among the displays: "Railroads on Parade", a one-hour pageant performed four times a day. The Pennsylvania Railroad alone has contributed 20 locomotives to the railroad display.

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April 30, 1940 The Chicago Burlington & Quincy "Pioneer Zephyr" is transferred to St. Louis to Burlington IA service.

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April 30, 1942 "The Floridian" makes its last run until the end of World War II. Its recreation cars will not return.

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April 30, 1950 The Chicago & North Western begins its “Dakota 400” passenger service.

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April 30, 1954 Both steam power and passenger service end on the Clinchfield.

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April 30, 1959 Grand Trunk passenger Train 21 makes its final run between Durand and Muskegon MI.

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April 30, 1970 Canadian Pacific runs its first unit coal train, carrying coal destined for Japan from Sparwood BC.

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April 30, 1971 Railroad-operated intercity passenger service ends on most U.S. railroads; Rock Island, Rio Grande, Southern and Georgia Railroads being notable exceptions. The U.S. Post office cancels all but one RPO route.

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April 30, 1985 Canadian National and Canadian Pacific assume joint operation of the former Canada Southern line in Ontario.

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April 30, 1987 CSX Corporation merges the Baltimore & Ohio into the Chesapeake & Ohio, and the last railroad on the traditional Monopoly Board disappears.

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April 30, 2021 The South Shore’s iconic 11^th Street station in Michigan City IN, where passengers boarded the cars in the middle of 11^th Street, is closed as part of a realignment and double-tracking plan that will end the South Shore’s street running in Michigan City. The station building was closed in 1987.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 29, 1951 Brooklyn's Ocean Avenue and Rockaway Parkway trolley routes were converted to bus operation.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 29, 1956 The NYCTA extended IND subway service on the Fulton Street line after a tunnel connection from the new Grant Avenue service to 80th-Hudson Street opened. The last 30 R-10 cars, 3320-49, which were used on the BMT Eastern Division, were returned to the IND. Later, the first 50 R-16 cars, 6300-49, were transferred to the IND for further extended service to the Rockaways.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 29, 1956 Philadelphia's last GMC TDH-5106 diesel buses went into service on route L, the Stenton Avenue route from Broad and Olney to Chestnut Hill and Erdenheim. It's now route 51.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

April 29, 1833 The Utica & Schenectady is incorporated. Later it will form part of the Mohawk Division of the New York Central.

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April 29, 1839 The Oswego & Syracuse (later DL&W) is formed. It will ne be fully organized until 1847 and will not run a train until 1848.

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April 29, 1851 The first electric railroad car in history attempts a Washington DC to Bladensburg MD round-trip. The experimental battery-powered car uses a solenoid as an analog to a piston and drive rod. Because of a poor suspension, the car is plagued with a rough ride and electrical shorts.

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April 29, 1873 Eli H. Janney is awarded U.S. Patent (#138,405) for his knuckle coupler design.

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April 29, 1889 The Boston & Albany buys the Spencer Railroad

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April 29, 1900 Northern Pacific's "North Coast Limited" makes its first run from Seattle to St. Paul.

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April 29, 1923 The New York Central cuts the running time of the New York - Detroit - Chicago "Wolverine" to 22 hours.

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April 29, 1930 The Pennsylvania Railroad declines an offer to test a Southern Pacific 4-8-8-2 cab-forward on Horseshoe Curve. PRR is considering electrification of the line.

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April 29, 1930 The McNary-Watres Act is passed by Congress, allowing the Post Office to buy fixed space to carry mail on airplanes. It is hoped that this will give a boost to a struggling airline industry.

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April 29, 1932 The Logansport (IN) Electric Railway ends operations.

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April 29, 1935 The New Haven's new "Comet" hits 109.1 mph in its first public run between Boston and Providence.

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April 29, 1951 Trolley service ends in Cincinnati, the only system that used double overhead wire with PCC cars.

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April 29, 1956 New York Central's high speed "Aerotrain" begins service between Detroit and Chicago. The train is withdrawn later in the year after many passengers complain of nausea on the lightweight cars.

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April 29, 1961 New York-Atlantic City rail passenger service comes to a close with the end of the "Nellie Bly".

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April 29, 1973 A party is held in The Bronx to mark the closing of the Third Avenue El. The Third Avenue line was the last one built before the subway.

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April 29, 1990 The Oregon, California & Eastern hauls its last log train out of Bly OR. Trucks will take over the service and the OC&E will serve one customer in Klamath Falls.

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April 29, 1993 Memphis starts a trolley line through its downtown using vintage trolleys.

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April 29, 2001 Amtrak reduces time for its Detroit-Chicago trains by 11 minutes on average, touted as the first step in a proposed Midwest Corridor high-speed rail project.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 28, 1950 The IRT Composites were replaced on the 3rd Avenue El by the BMT Q-Type El cars.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 28, 1952 All tenants who had stores and offices inside Philadelphia's Broad Street Station were ordered to leave and vacate the premises by 6:00 PM so that demolition work could begin.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 28, 1953 Chicago's last 21 Peter Witt Sedan cars, which were all converted from two-man to one-man operation but never used as one-man cars, were burned at 77th and Vincennes. The CTA also announced that 2 bays of the Kedzie car barn were being converted to house the trolleybuses destined for route 12 (Roosevelt Road) while the 69th and Ashland car barn was being converted to half buses.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

April 28, 1844 Thieves steal $3,000 in specie [2025: $127,920] being carried in a Philadelphia Wilmington & Baltimore baggage car by Sanford & Shoemaker's Express Company.

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April 28, 1869 Workers on the Central Pacific Railroad lay 10 miles of track in a single day as CP races with rival Union Pacific to build more miles of the Transcontinental Railroad, earning a larger payment from Congress.

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April 28, 1871 The first solid train of 11 of Stuart's Palace Stock Cars leaves St. Louis for Communipaw NJ. It is the first stock train to run through in 96 hours instead of 240 hours. If the service is successful, the Pennsylvania Railroad proposes to form a new company for shipping cattle from Kansas and Texas to the East.

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April 28, 1921 Pennsylvania repeals its Full Crew Law of 1911, giving power to regulate crew size on a case-by-case basis to the Public Service Commission. Labor Unions soon flood the PSC with complaints.

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April 28, 1922 Southern Pacific's "Daylight Limited" makes its debut as a Friday and Saturday only train.

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April 28, 1929 The Michigan Traction Company is bought by the Michigan Central Railroad to keep the property out of the hands of competitors Pere Marquette and Grand Trunk. MCRR continues operation of the interurban system.

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April 28, 1929 The Pennsylvania Railroad establishes "The Rainbow", running between Chicago and New York (eastbound only) on a 20 hour, 50 minute schedule. The train is named for the Rainbow Division of the American Expeditionary Forces.

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April 28, 1929 The New York Central inaugurates the "Motor Queen" between Detroit and Cincinnati. Carded at six hours, ten minutes, the deluxe coach train has been rebuilt at Beech Grove Shops in a dark brown and fawn color scheme. It is the first NYC train not painted green.

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April 28, 1935 In timetable changes taking effect today, the "Broadway Limited" and "20th Century Limited" both cut their New York to Chicago times to 17 hours. The afternoon "Detroit Arrow" is introduced, operating between Chicago and Detroit in conjunction with the Wabash. It has the second fastest steam schedule in the U.S., carded at 75.4 mph near Plymouth IN.

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April 28, 1941 The New York Central's "James Whitcomb Riley" begins service between Chicago and Cincinnati. The train is carded at 5 hours, 30 minutes - 25 minutes faster than the NYC "Sycamore", previously the fast train on this route.

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April 28, 1941 The Supreme Court rules that under the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, African American passengers are entitled to equal accommodations on all passenger trains in the United States.

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April 28, 1943 The Board of the Pennsylvania Railroad authorizes the purchase of 6 former Norfolk & Western 2-8-8-2's. They will be used in drag and hump service out of Columbus.

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April 28, 1946 Great Northern passenger trains return to the schedules used before the outbreak of World War II.

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April 28, 1950 New York's first subway cars, the IRT "Composites," which were last used on the 3rd Avenue El, are retired from service after the evening rush hour.

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April 28, 1956 The Canadian Pacific drops the last remnant of its once premier Vancouver to Montreal "Imperial Limited". Its last days were as a numbered train hauling the Royal Mail.

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April 28, 1957 The New Haven places its third lightweight train, "Roger Williams" in New York to Boston Service.

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April 28, 2005 The 21 mile Loetschberg tunnel in the Swiss Alps is holed through. On completion in 2007 the tunnel will allow freight trains, loaded mostly with semi-trucks, to travel at speeds of over 100 mph and passenger trains at 150 mph.

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April 28, 2009 Workers replace what is believed to be the last incandescent light in Grand Central Terminal. Managers admit they may have missed an incandescent among the roughly 4,000 bulbs in the facility.

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April 28, 2022 Former Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 locomotive #3985 is donated to Railroading Heritage of Midwest America. The organization, based in Silvis IL and operator of Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261, will fully overhaul the locomotive and return it to excursion service,

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Mark Tomlonson

April 26, 1953 New York's Fifth Avenue Coach Lines retired all double decker buses for economic purposes. Bus 2124 was preserved.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 26, 1956 The NYCTA ended service on the BMT Fulton Street El from Lefferts Boulevard to Atlantic Avenue. All 14th Street subway trains then ran to and from Canarsie. All C-Type El cars were retired to Coney Island and stored in the IND yard. They were scrapped later. The portion of the El from Lefferts Boulevard to Grant became part of the IND Fulton Street subway on the 29tn. The Multi-Section cars still provided BMT 14th Street-Canarsie service until November 15 when they were transferred to the Myrtle-Chambers line.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 27, 1952 Cleveland's 28 articulated trolleys (5000-27) were retired with the conversion of the Euclid Avenue route to bus operation. A parade was held on Euclid Avenue to celebrate the conversion.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

April 25, 1831 Matthias Baldwin builds his first locomotive, a small demonstration engine that pulls up to four people on a small circle of track laid out in his shop yard.

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April 25, 1831 The New York & Harlem Railroad is incorporated to build from 23rd Street, New York City to the Harlem River. It is the first predecessor of the New York Central in New York City.

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April 25, 1832 The Brooklyn & Jamaica Railroad is incorporated, the first Pennsylvania Railroad predecessor in New York State.

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April 25, 1855 The Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad [later LS&MS, NYC, PC, CR, NS] is formed by the consolidation of the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana railroads. (Some sources say May 1)

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April 25, 1861 Four Pennsylvania Railroad telegraphers arrive in Washington, becoming the first telegraphers regularly employed in the U.S. Army. (Some sources say April 27)

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April 25, 1896 The Cincinnati Northern Railroad [later CCC&StL, NYC, PC, CR] is completed to Jackson MI from Hudson MI and south.

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April 25, 1918 The USRA places an order for 100,000 freight cars. Only 19,037 will be delivered by the time USRA is dissolved.

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April 25, 1926 First run of the Michigan Central "Twilight Limited" between Chicago and Detroit. The amenities on this first-class train will rival those on the "20th Century Limited". Amtrak will use the name for many years on one of its Chicago-Detroit trains.

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April 25, 1931 Detroit United Railways ends service from Royal Oak to Pontiac. It sells its Palmer Park to 8 Mile Road segment to the Detroit Street Railways and the 8 Mile Road to Royal Oak Segment to the City of Royal Oak. DSR will operate the latter segment for another 16 years.

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April 25, 1937 The Baltimore & Ohio assigns rebuilt cars to the “Royal Blue” It also establishes a "Stewardess Corps" to serve on its long-distance passenger trains.

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April 25, 1946 The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy “Advance Flyer” is struck from behind by the “Exposition Flyer”. The “Exposition Flyer” is only able to reduce its speed to 60 mph at the point of collision. Forty-seven people are killed in the accident and 125 injured. The ICC rules after the crash that trains traveling over 79 mph must have “an automatic cab signal, automatic train stop or automatic train control system”. Because these items are considered too expensive by most railroads, train speeds are reduced to comply with the order.

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April 25, 1949 The New York Central adds Albany-Boston service to their LCL freight "Pacemaker" program.

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April 25, 1949 The Erie Railroad begins using Cleveland Union Terminal.

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April 25, 1950 Fairbanks-Morse introduces its "C-Liner" line of locomotives.

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April 25, 1952 RPO service on the Pennsylvania Railroad is discontinued between Grand Rapids and Cadillac MI.

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April 25, 1953 The Pennsylvania Railroad cancels "The Jeffersonian", an all-coach member of the Blue Ribbon Fleet, and replaces it with the more prosaic "Indianapolis Limited".

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April 25, 1954 The "Broadway Limited" is carded at 15 hours and 30 minutes between Chicago and New York, its fastest time ever.

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April 25, 1959 The St. Lawrence Seaway opens. The new water route for ocean-going ships will divert freight from many northeastern railroads.

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April 25, 1960 Canadian National operates its last steam locomotive in regular service, 4-8-2 #6043, on train #76 from The Pas to Winnipeg.

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April 25, 1976 Canadian National issues a timetable calling its passenger service "VIA". Turbotrains are the first to carry the new name.

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April 25, 1983 the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad ends passenger service with the final run of the “Rio Grande Zephyr”.

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April 25, 2005 A Japanese commuter trains derails just short of Amagasaki station during the morning commute. Two of the derailed cars slam into an apartment building. 107 people are killed.

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April 25, 2011 Canadian National issues a Press Release naming Microsoft founder Bill Gates as its largest single shareholder, owning just over 10% of the company.

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April 26, 1866 The Wallkill Valley Railroad (later ERIE, NYC, PC, CR, NS, M&NJ) is incorporated. The line in New York state will be built with a 6-foot gauge.

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April 26, 1866 A workman carrying a lantern goes to inspect a leaking barrel of naphtha at Detroit’s Brush Street station. The resulting fire destroys not only the depot, but also the ferryboat “Windsor”. Seventeen people on the ferry and one on a passenger train are killed.

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April 26, 1869 The Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe opens its first track segment: 6 miles between Topeka and Pauline KS.

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April 26, 1875 The Prince Edward Island Railway opens between Royalty Junction and Georgetown.

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April 26, 1880 Pullman's Palace Car Company breaks ground for a model factory and company town at Pullman, IL. The new town is 14 miles south of Chicago and is located on the Illinois Central main line.

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April 26, 1893 The Boyne City & Southeastern (later BCG&A) is incorporated. It will begin operating between Boyne City and Boyne Falls MI in August.

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April 26, 1907 The New York Connecting Railroad approves plans for Hell Gate Bridge. The cost is estimated at $16.5 million [2025 $559 million].

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April 26, 1922 The Ann Arbor and Pennsylvania Railroads agree to operate their parallel lines between Galena St. in Toledo OH and Alexis Junction on the north side of Toledo as a single, double track railroad.

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April 26, 1925 Southern Railroad's "Crescent Limited" begins operation.

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April 26, 1925 The Boston & Maine's "Flying Yankee" makes its first trip between Boston and Portland. In the future, this service will be protected by a Budd trainset.

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April 26, 1925 The New York Central adds amenities to its "Southwestern Limited", placing its services on a par with the "20th Century Limited".

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April 26, 1926 First run of the Boston to Montreal "Ambassador", routed Boston & Maine/Central of Vermont/Canadian National.

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April 26, 1931 The Pennsylvania Railroad adds the westbound "Rainbow", a late night, after theatre train from New York to Chicago. The New York Central counters with its "Iroquois".

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April 26, 1952 Regular passenger service on the Pennsylvania Railroad ends between Grand Rapids and Cadillac MI, although the summer-only "Northern Arrow" continues.

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April 26, 1953 The New York Central makes cuts in its passenger service equal to 2 million annual train-miles.

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April 26, 1954 Pullman-Standard introduces a piggyback flat car.

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April 26, 1956 The Chesapeake & Ohio introduces "Railvan" service to handle mail on former Pere Marquette passenger routes. "Railvans" are truck trailers with railroad wheels that allow the trailers to run on the track without an additional freight car.

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April 26, 1956 The world’s first successful container ship, the SS Ideal X, leaves Port Newark NJ for Houston TX.

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April 26, 1958 Baltimore & Ohio's "Royal Blue" service to New York is discontinued along with all passenger service north of Baltimore.

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April 26, 1958 The Monon petitions the Indiana Public Service Commission to discontinue all passenger service.

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April 26, 1960 General Electric introduces its "U25B" diesel locomotive and enters the United States domestic market. The New York Central will buy a total of 154 “U-Boats”, the largest original roster.

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April 26, 1980 The last Amtrak "Broadway Limited" pulled by a GG-1 arrives in Harrisburg PA.

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April 26, 1982 The Ann Arbor Railroad discontinues Lake Michigan carferry service.

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April 27, 1869 George M. Pullman is granted the first patent for a railroad car that includes a kitchen capable of making meals cooked to order.

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April 27, 1877 A Southern Pacific excursion train from San Francisco arrives at Pilot Knob on the Colorado River. Regular service will begin April 30.

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April 27, 1882 The Great Western merges with the Grand Trunk.

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April 27, 1885 The Great Northern opens its original Minneapolis depot.

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April 27, 1930 The Pennsylvania Railroad assigns a gas-electric car to its Muskegon (MI) branch.

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April 27, 1935 The New Haven takes delivery of "The Comet", a lightweight, three-car bidirectional streamliner built by Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation. The Akron OH company is looking for new markets after the failure of big airships.

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April 27, 1939 Cecil B. DeMille's movie "Union Pacific", the story of the building of the transcontinental railroad, premieres in UP's home town of Omaha, NE. During production of the movie, the studio used so many trains a railroad operating permit was required from the ICC. Following the premiere, a 15-car train of period equipment will tour the country promoting the movie.

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April 27, 1947 The Illinois Central launches “The City of New Orleans”, scheduled at 16 hours for the Chicago to New Orleans run. The train has a St. Louis section, meeting the mainline train at Carbondale IL, and a Louisville section, meeting the mainline train at Fulton KY. Also, the “Green Diamond” trainset, having been completely rebuilt, enters service between Jackson MS and New Orleans as the “Miss-Lou”.

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April 27, 1952 A special train carrying Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra is the last to leave the old Broad Street Station in Philadelphia. The last regular train to leave this station gave passengers free rides to 30th Street Station.

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April 27, 1952 The New York Central replaces the conventional steam-powered train between Jackson and Grand Rapids MI with an RDC “Beeliner”. The Beeliner makes one trip each way per day.

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April 27, 1953 The Pennsylvania Railroad introduces a 470-calorie chopped sirloin meal in its dining cars for dieting patrons. The meal also uses low-fat salad dressing and saccharine instead of sugar.

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April 27, 1956 The Pennsylvania Railroad leases 12 Santa Fe 2-10-4's while they wait for new diesels to arrive. Leasing the locomotives is cheaper for PRR than repairing their own J1 class.

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April 27, 1957 The New York Central ends steam operations in Canada.

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April 27, 1958 The New York Central combines the "Commodore Vanderbilt" with the "Twentieth Century Limited". The "Twentieth Century Limited" loses its valet, shower, barbershop and all-Pullman status.

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April 27, 1966 The ICC approves the merger of the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads.

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April 27, 1967 The ICC approves the merger of the Chicago Great Western and the Chicago & North Western.

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April 27, 1982 The Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railroad gains control of the former Ann Arbor trackage north of Ann Arbor.

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April 27, 1991 The longest public passenger train in history, consisting of 70 coaches runs the 38 miles between Ghent and Ostend, Belgium.

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April 27, 2007 Chris Guenzler becomes the first regular passenger documented in modern times in North America to travel more than 1,000,000 miles over all types of rail lines including tourist trains, light rail, streetcars, and more.

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Mark Tomlonson

April 24, 1832 The Tonawanda Railroad (later B&R, NYC) is chartered to run between Rochester and Attica NY. It will be the second railroad built in the state of New York.

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April 24, 1834 The Long Island Rail Road Company is incorporated to build a line down the middle of Long Island.

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April 24, 1847 The Grand Junction and Depot Company (later B&A) is incorporated as a renaming of the Chelsea Branch Railroad.

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April 24, 1855 The Cleveland & Toledo Railroad (Later LS&MS, NYC) is extended from Sandusky to Toledo OH

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April 24, 1902 Per Diem freight car rates are formally set for the first time. Experiments date back to 1888, and general use started in the 1890's. These rates allow car owners to be paid rent while their cars are on foreign roads.

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April 24, 1918 The Muskegon, Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company is dissolved into its parent company, the Pennsylvania Railroad.

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April 24, 1932 Chesapeake & Ohio's "George Washington" begins service. Planned as the first long distance, air-conditioned train, it lost that honor to the Baltimore & Ohio by four days.

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April 24, 1932 Both the "Broadway Limited" and the "20th Century Limited" cut their New York to Chicago running time from 20 hours to 18 hours. Fares are raised $10 [2025: $230] to cover the added expense.

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April 24, 1932 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton ends passenger service between Detroit and Springfield OH.

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April 24, 1949 The New York Central adds the Detroit-Cincinnati "Mercury".

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April 24, 1949 The Erie Railroad begins using Cleveland Union Depot, abandoning its old station.

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April 24, 1950 The Pennsylvania Railroad establishes second-morning service for LCL and freight forwarding companies New York to Chicago and New York to East Saint Louis.

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April 24, 1955 Canadian Pacific debuts its new train "The Canadian" and Canadian National debuts its new "Super Continental", claimed as the first streamliners in Canada. Both trains carry some heavyweight equipment.

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April 24, 1958 Southern Pacific donates its "Daylight" 4-8-4 #4449 to the City of Portland OR.

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April 24, 1960 Coaches are permanently added to the "20th Century Limited".

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April 24, 1961 The Pennsylvania Railroad opens its 28th TrucTrain (TOFC) terminal, at Marion IN.

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April 24, 1962 Grand Trunk Western paints its first locomotive in the "wet noodle" scheme recently adopted by parent Canadian National.

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April 24, 1965 The New York Central ends all branch line passenger service with the end of service between Utica and Lake Placid.

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April 24, 1983 The Rio Grande Zephyr, the remnant of the California Zephyr and the last privately owned long distance train in America makes its final run. The trip was shortened to a Denver to Grand Junction run because of a mudslide.

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April 24, 1995 Union Pacific ownership of the Chicago & North Western begins.

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April 24, 2021 As part of the restoration of the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit, 250 truckloads of concrete are poured over 10 hours to stabilize the basement, which had been underwater for years. This 2,000 yard pour is the first of several scheduled over the next month that will total 11,000 yards.

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Mark Tomlonson