January 16, 1830 The Tuscumbia Railroad, the first in Alabama, is chartered.

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January 16, 1836 The first railroad out of Chicago, the Galena & Chicago Union, receives its charter. The railroad, later part of Chicago & North Western, is being built to reach the lead mines at Galena IL. (Some sources say January 10)

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January 16, 1837 Pennsylvania Governor Ritmer asks the Legislature to allow the use of locomotives between Philadelphia and Belmont Plane on the grounds that it will prevent cruelty to horses.

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January 16, 1857 The Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad (later DGH&M, GT) completes its line to St. Johns MI.

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January 16, 1868 William Davis, a Detroit fish dealer, patents a refrigerator car.

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January 16, 1873 Representatives of the Reading, Delaware & Hudson, Lehigh Valley, Central of New Jersey, and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western set uniform prices for anthracite coal and fix the amounts to be shipped.

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January 16, 1892 The Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City becomes the Chicago Great Western [later C&NW, UP].

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January 16, 1906 The Pennsylvania Railroad opens a new car shop at Hollidaysburg PA.

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January 16, 1932 The Fostoria & Fremont and Western Ohio (interurbans) quit.

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January 16, 1932 The last segment of the Chambersburg, Greencastle & Waynesboro Street Railway (PA) quits.

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January 16, 1939 The U.S. Circuit Court overturns a lower court ruling that would have allowed the New Haven Railroad to discontinue passenger service at 93 stations on its East End.

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January 16, 1944 A train crashes in Torro Tunnel in Leon Province, Spain. More than 500 are killed.

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January 16, 1969 Penn Central's "Metroliners" begin service between New York and Washington DC.

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January 16, 1990 The “Canadian Rail Operating Rules” are approved by Canada’s Minister of Transport.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 15, 1953 The PRR GG-1 locomotive involved in the Union Station crash in Washington was 4876, which later sent to Altoona, Pennsylvania, for heavy repairs and returned to service in May, 1955.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 15, 1965 A TWU strike against the Philadelphia Transportation Company was averted the last minute.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 15, 1970 The NYCTA transferred all R-16 subway cars to the Queens Boulevard lines for service only on the EE (Broadway Local) and GG (Brooklyn Crosstown Local) at all times. They shared runs with R-1/9 cars and R-40M cars 4500-49 on both lines.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Dennis M Linsky

January 15, 1829 The "America", the first steam locomotive in the United States, arrives at New York.

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January 15, 1831 The first American-built locomotive to pull a passenger train, "Best Friend", runs from Charleston to Hamburg, South Carolina. On board are a Mr. & Mrs. Pierson, who are making the first railroad honeymoon trip in the U.S.

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January 15, 1838 The Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad (later PRR) reports that it has ordered two locomotives, two 8-wheel coaches with private apartments for ladies, drinking water and water closets, and seats stuffed with hair instead of moss. They have also ordered two coaches without ladies apartments and water closets.

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January 15, 1862 Michigan extends the construction deadlines for the Grand Rapids & Indiana.

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January 15, 1868 The Pan Handle [sic] Railway Company (later PRR) is incorporated in Pennsylvania as a reorganization of the Pittsburgh & Steubenville Railroad.

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January 15, 1878 A bridge on the Connecticut Western Railroad (later NYNH&H) fails under the weight of two locomotives leading a passenger train. Thirteen passengers are killed, some by freezing in the water, and more than 70 injured. Among the survivors: Evangelist Dwight W. Moody.

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January 15, 1885 An experimental streetcar line opens between South Bend and Mishawaka IN.

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January 15, 1898 The Pennsylvania Railroad paints its premier passenger train, "The Pennsylvania Limited", in a green/yellow/red scheme. This earns the train the nickname "The Yellow Kid" after a popular comic strip of the time.

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January 15, 1903 The New York Central & Hudson River Railroad stages a competition for the design of the new Grand Central Terminal. Among the entries: a 60-story tower that if built would be the tallest building in New York.

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January 15, 1915 The final spike is driven on the transcontinental Canadian Northern Railway at Basque, British Columbia.

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January 15, 1918 Noted railroad artist Gil Reid is born in St. Louis MO.

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January 15, 1928 The seven and a half-mile Mechanicsburg & Dillsburg Railway (PA), owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad, calls it quits. The interurban used a unique side trolley that required four poles on each car.

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January 15, 1935 Thomas H. Gray passes away. He is credited with designing, in 1884, the “crossbucks” now in use throughout North America to warn motorists of grade crossing.

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January 15, 1937 The Pennsylvania Railroad, via trackage rights over the Grand Trunk Western, establishes new freight routes to the west. The ferry used for this service is the Grand Trunk's "Grand Rapids", running between Muskegon and Milwaukee.

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January 15, 1939 The Market St. Railway and Municipal Railway of San Francisco connect to the Transbay Terminal.

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January 15, 1943 The New York Central pays a dividend for the first time since 1931.

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January 15, 1950 The last through car leaves Peoria on the Illinois Terminal.

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January 15, 1953 The Pennsylvania Railroad's "Federal Express" crashes into the concourse of Union Station in Washington DC, injuring 87 passengers. By 7:00 AM the next day all of the train's cars will be removed from the station, leaving only GG-1 #4876 in the baggage room. So as not to restrict traffic in the station during the upcoming Presidential Inaugural, the engine will be lowered into the basement and a temporary floor built over it. The station will open as usual within 72 hours of the accident. The engine will eventually return to service.

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January 15, 1960 Canadian National converts its Alexandria Subdivision in Ottawa to CTC.

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January 15, 1990 VIA Rail Canada cuts services by 51%.

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January 15, 1998 Ms. Fannie Mae Barnes becomes the first woman to demonstrate enough upper-body strength to become a grip operator on a San Francisco cable car.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 14, 1953 A 4-day TWU strike against the Philadelphia Transportation Company was settled but the TWU strike against 5th Avenue Coach Lines continued until January 30.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Dennis M Linsky

January 14, 1851 First train into Salem IN on the New Albany & Salem Rail Road (later CIL, L&N).

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January 14, 1878 The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the federal government has no power to overturn state laws creating segregated accommodations in railroad cars, opening the way for Southern states to impose "Jim Crow" segregation. Many northern railroads with branches in the south are also affected.

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January 14, 1905 Pennsylvania Railroad's Enola Yard opens. An urban legend arises that the name of the yard comes from an early operator at the site who felt all "alone", but the truth is that it is named after the daughter of the owner of the land on which the yard is built.

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January 14, 1923 In the Pennsylvania Railroad Timetable for its Southwest Region issued today, many branch-line and rural passenger trains are removed due to competition from buses and private automobiles.

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January 14, 1939 The last scheduled Southern Pacific commuter ferry run sails on San Francisco Bay. Other SP ferry service will continue in the bay until 1958.

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January 14, 1940 The Santa Fe drops its San Francisco – LA – Chicago “Navajo”.

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January 14, 1942 German U-Boats begin attacking United States coastal shipping. At first, the lack of blackouts on the east coast makes the ships easy targets. Attacks by U-Boats will force much cargo from ships onto the railroads.

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January 14, 1990 VIA’s “Canadian” and its “Super Continental” make their last runs. A new train will be introduced tomorrow under the “Canadian” name traveling mostly on the former “Super Continental” route.

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January 14, 2015 A bus carrying 12 prison inmates and 3 guards slips off a highway bridge near Odessa TX and strikes a Union Pacific freight train. Eight inmates and 2 guards are killed. The incident is blamed on black ice on I-20.

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January 14, 2022 Railfan & Railroad magazine reports that potatoes are being shipped by rail out of northern Maine for the first time since 1976. A bumper crop of potatoes has farmers shipping on the former Bangor & Aroostook (now Maine Northern) to markets in Washington state.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 13, 1842 The Philadelphia & Reading (later Reading) opens for revenue freight and passenger service from Mount Carmel to Philadelphia. Its coal-hauling operations will prove that a rail road can compete with a canal for heavy freight service.

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January 13, 1882 A rear end collision at Spuyten Duyvil kills Webster Wagner of the Wagner Car Company, operator of a fleet of sleeper cars.

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January 13, 1918 The Presidents of 70 different railroads meet at Grand Central Terminal to formulate a demand that Congress declare that Government control of the railroads is only for the duration of the war.

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January 13, 1928 The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul is reorganized into the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific.

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January 13, 1929 Chicago Great Western places a three-car trainset made by McKeen in service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Rochester, serving the Mayo Clinic.

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January 13, 1930 Robert M. Davis of McGraw-Hill Publishing buys a single ticket at New York City's Penn Station for a 35-city tour. The ticket is a record 83 inches long.

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January 13, 1941 Freight motor no. 717 departs southbound with the last electric freight train from the Commerce Dr. freight terminal in Ft. Wayne IN. Its counterpart from Indianapolis will arrive at the freight terminal at 5:30 a.m. the next morning. This closes out electric freight service entering Ft. Wayne from all except the north line.

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January 13, 1947 The Nickel Plate Road orders 4 BL-1 diesel locomotives from EMD. The model will be upgraded to BL-2 by EMD after the order has been submitted. Six months later EMD will not have started construction of the locomotives and NKP will cancel the order.

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January 13, 1952 The "City of San Francisco" is trapped in snow on Donner Pass. Passengers will be stranded in the train until January 16.

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January 13, 1986 In the worst rail disaster on the African continent, an Ethiopian passenger train plunges into a ravine, killing 428.

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January 13, 2021 Grand Trunk Western 4-6-2 5030 is sold to the Colebrookdale Preservation Trust in Pennsylvania. The locomotive had been on display in a park in Jackson MI since the late 1950’s. The Trust plans to restore the locomotive to operating condition.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 10, 1954 Baltimore PCC route 13 (North Avenue) was converted to bus operation to save $250,000 in track repair costs.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 12, 1966 The 12-day strike against the NYCTA ended when the TWU agreed to a new 2-year contract.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky?

January 10, 1863 London's first subway begins operation, powered by steam. Parts of the line have been built in cuts and many ventilators are installed in the covered portions, yet it will remain very smoky until electric propulsion is adopted.

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January 10, 1864 The Indiana Central Railway, the Richmond & Covington Railroad and the Columbus & Indianapolis Railroad sign an agreement for the joint operation of their properties. This forms a railroad line between Columbus and Indianapolis via Bradford OH and Richmond IN. The new line, later part of the Pennsylvania Railroad will be known as the "Great Central Line".

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January 10, 1872 Michigan's first Grange, a political and social group directed to the needs of farmers, is organized. By 1875, 600 local Granges will form throughout Michigan. The Grange movement will become one of the leading lobbyists for railroad rate regulation.

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January 10, 1872 The first Pennsylvania Railroad coal car runs over the Northern Pacific Railroad from Duluth to Moorhead, MN. The car has been carried by ship from Erie PA.

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January 10, 1878 The New York Central & Hudson River Railroad begins running RPO's to Chicago, replacing all-mail trains.

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January 10, 1900 A carbarn fire destroys all 10 streetcars and a snowplow owned by the Holland & Lake Michigan Railway.

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January 10, 1940 Streetcar service ends in Wausau WI.

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January 10, 1953 The last trolley line in Indianapolis, the College line, is converted to bus, ending rail service.

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January 10, 1956 The Chicago Indianapolis & Louisville officially becomes the Monon.

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January 10, 2022 Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, owners of MILW 261, acquire the former shop facilities of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific in Silvis IL. The group plans to turn the shop into the largest historic railroad equipment restoration facility in the country.

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January 10, 2022 BNSF Railway announces it will be terminating the long-term lease of the former Northern Pacific line across Montana to Montana Rail Link and begin operating the line itself. The lease was to have expired in 2047. STB approval is needed before the new arrangement takes effect.

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January 11, 1859 The Atchison & Topeka Railroad (later AT&SF, BNSF) is chartered.

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January 11, 1868 The Sandusky & Cincinnati Railroad reorganizes as the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad (later Big Four, NYC).

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January 11, 1890 The Cincinnati, Saginaw & Mackinaw (later GTW) begins operation between Durand and Bay City MI.

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January 11, 1910 The Grand Rapids Street Railroad Company begins interurban service between Grand Rapids WI and Nekoosa. Grand Rapids will later change its name to "Wisconsin Rapids" and the traction company will follow suit.

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January 11, 1922 The van Sweringen brothers buy the Lake Erie & Western from the New York Central and align it with the Nickel Plate, which they also own.

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January 11, 1931 The Boston & Maine runs its first "Snow Train" for skiers and other winter vacationers.

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January 11, 1934 The new Dayton (OH) Union station is dedicated.

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January 11, 1955 The Monon enters the piggyback era.

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January 12, 1830 DeWitt Clinton Jr. reports to several New York businessmen on the cost of building a rail road from New York to New Orleans. The proposal calls for using stone sleepers north of Washington and wood pilings for the rest of the way. The cost is estimated at $11.8 million (2025: $415 million).

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January 12, 1883 The second U.S. transcontinental railroad, the Southern Pacific, is completed with a "Golden Spike" ceremony on the Pecos River High Bridge. (some sources say January 15)

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January 12, 1891 The first train of the Lowell & Hastings Railroad (later PM, C&O, Chessie, CSX) runs from Lowell to Grand Rapids MI.

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January 12, 1912 The Ann Arbor Railroad acquires control of the Manistique & Lake Superior.

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January 12, 1929 Seatrain service (railroad cars loaded on ships) begins between New Orleans and Havana.

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January 12, 1929 The Great Northern Railroad opens 8-mile long Cascade Tunnel, the longest in the United States.

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January 12, 1934 All interurban service in and around Lexington KY ends.

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January 12, 1942 The Chicago & North Western begins using streamline passenger cars on its "400" fleet.

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January 12, 1945 Bituminous Coal Research Incorporated's Locomotive Study Group, made up of representatives from eastern railroads and locomotive manufacturers, meets to find ways to combat the rise of the diesel locomotive. They decide reciprocating steam is dead, and to explore coal-fired turbines.

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January 12, 1952 Using ex-Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge locomotives, Knott’s Berry Farm at Buena Park CA opens the “Ghost Town & Calico Railroad”.

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January 12, 1957 The Santa Fe's "Super Chief" and "El Capitan" passenger trains are combined during off-peak seasons.

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January 12, 1958 The Duluth South Shore & Atlantic runs its last passenger train between St. Ignace and Marquette MI. Other passenger service will continue through 1968.

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January 12, 1977 VIA Rail Canada is created as a subsidiary of Canadian National. For the previous nine months, "VIA" has been CN's brand for its passenger service.

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January 12, 1989 The Fox River Valley Railroad begins operations on former Chicago & North Western tracks between Green Bay, Milwaukee, Butler and Appleton WI.

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January 12, 2009 The Department of Transportation issues new rules for the construction of tank cars designed to carry hazardous material. The rules will apply to cars built after March 16, 2009. The railroads hope the tougher construction standards will reduce their liability insurance premium.

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January 12, 2010 A loose boxcar door on a passing CSX freight strikes Amtrak's northbound Silver Star, which was waiting in a passing siding near Boulogne FL. The door hits the fireman's side of the train, goes airborne and strikes four cars in the Amtrak train. Only the diner is severely damaged, loosing 20 feet of its roof. No one is in the diner at the time and no one is hurt.

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January 12, 2016 The “London Evening Standard” reports that train operator Southeastern blamed commuter train delays the previous day on “Too much sunshine”.? No further explanation was offered.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 9, 1830 Ground is broken in Charleston, South Carolina for the South Carolina Canal & Rail Road (later SRR, NS). It will be the first railroad in South Carolina to use steam locomotives. In 1833 its 136-mile length will earn it the title of world's longest railroad.

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January 9, 1850 A freight train crew on the Pennsylvania Railroad that had earlier run into the rear of a passenger train is disciplined. It is the first mention of a wreck on the PRR.

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January 9, 1882 The first train from Cincinnati OH to Dayton on the Cincinnati Northern (narrow gauge, not the later NYC ancestor) leaves Cincinnati. It will not arrive in Dayton, however, until January 12th due to poor track work.

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January 9, 1882 The re-opened Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad, now owned by Jay Gould and converted to standard gauge, opens between Huron and Massillon OH.

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January 9, 1891 The Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti Street Railway begins service using a small steam car. A trial run had been made on January 3.

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January 9, 1897 Today’s “Literary Digest” carries an article on the Fitchburg MA trolley system, which has fitted a former flatcar with traction motors, armor plate, two 6 pound (3 ? inch) cannons and one 18 pound (5 1/8 inch) cannon. The car’s designers christen it “The McKinley”, style it like a battleship, and hope that it will aid the navy in coastal defense against the Spanish fleet. Other than providing a campaign float for William McKinley’s Presidential bid, it never sees service.

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January 9, 1955 The departure of the 20th Century Limited from New York is broadcast live on the television show "Omnibus".

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January 9, 1969 The Canadian National pulls the Turbotrain from service due to problems operating in winter conditions.

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January 9, 2022 The last Budd R32 “Brightliner” runs on the New York City Transit system. They first ran in 1965, making them the longest-serving type of subway car in the world.

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January 9, 2022 In Pacoima CA, a pilot of a Cessna 172 makes an emergency landing on a city street. The plane and pilot come to rest on a grade crossing. Rescue workers free the pilot moments before the plane is struck by a Metrolink train. No one is hurt.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 8, 1855 The first through train runs from Chicago to Cairo, IL.

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January 8, 1855 A mob in Erie, PA tears up the tracks of the Erie & North Eastern, the last battle in the "Gauge War".

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January 8, 1863 Ground is broken for the Central Pacific Railroad in Sacramento CA.

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January 8, 1872 James Fisk of the Erie Railway is shot and mortally wounded by Edward Stokes, a blackmailer and rival in a love triangle.

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January 8, 1887 The Kansas City Suburban Belt Railroad (later KCS, CPKC) is incorporated.

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January 8, 1902 Two trains collide in a smoke-filled tunnel under Park Avenue in New York City, killing 17 and injuring 38. Public outcry following the accident will lead to the banning of steam engines in lower Manhattan and the building of Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station.

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January 8, 1923 The van Sweringens acquire the Chesapeake & Ohio.

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January 8, 1937 The Beech Grove (IN) Traction Company shuts down at 1:00 a.m. Its electric supplier, Indianapolis Railways, terminates electric service due to Beech Grove Traction owing almost $30,000 ($671,000 in 2025 dollars). It has been rumored that employee's pay consisted partly of BGT trolley tokens.

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January 8, 1954 The Sunset Limited becomes the first train to use the new New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal.

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January 8, 1956 Steam locomotive servicing at New York Central's Jackson MI shops officially ends.

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January 8, 1957 The New Haven's "Dan'l Webster", a "Train X' built by Pullman-Standard, makes its first public appearance. During the run the trailing unit catches fire due to a problem with a third rail shoe. When the damaged cars are towed home they derail, blocking the tracks and delaying rush hour trains.

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January 8, 1962 In the worst railway accident in the history of the Netherlands, the driver of one passenger train misses a signal and collides nearly head on with another. The accident, which kills 91 people, takes places just outside Harmelen.

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January 8, 1962 The Interstate Commerce Commission begins hearings on the "Big John" grain rate case. The American Watercraft Operators et al. have protested the Southern Railway's proposed discounts for bulk shipments of grain. The ICC will sit in almost continuous session through August 29 to hear the case. It will be resolved with a ruling in favor of the railroad by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967. The decision is the first chink in the armor of regulated railroad freight rates.

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January 8, 1964 New York Central sells its Church Street Tower in Kalamazoo MI to Mr. Don Gilmore for $1.00 (2025: $10.21). Mr. Gilmore moves the tower from its downtown location to his farm in Barry County, where it is now on display as part of the Gilmore Car Museum.

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January 8, 1973 Pipe Major Gordon Speirs is asked to restrict his bagpipe playing in Liverpool Street Station, London to just one minute in fifteen. Hired by the Scottish Tourist Board, his playing is alleged to “interfere with station business”.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 7, 1952 The closure of Reading's trolley system kept Pennsylvania as the top trolley state because of its remaining trolley systems:? Altoona, Johnstown, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, and Red Arrow.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

January 7, 1830 The first railroad station in the U.S. opens in Baltimore for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which today is opening its first segment of track. The first revenue rail passengers in the U.S. are carried behind horsepower and operation is irregular over the mile and a quarter line.

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January 7, 1840 Incoming Michigan Governor William Woodbridge recommends in his first message to stop all of the State's internal improvement appropriations. Illinois and Indiana have already dramatically cut back on their programs.

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January 7, 1872 The Northern Central Michigan Railroad (later LS&MS, NYC) begins operations between Jonesville and Albion MI.

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January 7, 1876 The Toronto Globe reports that Commodore Vanderbilt has gained control of the Canada Southern Railway.

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January 7, 1883 The Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw (later MC, NYC, PC, CR (one section); MC, GT, CN (other section)) is incorporated.

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January 7, 1887 The Manistee & Northeastern (later PM, C&O, Chessie, CSX, TSBY) is chartered to build between Manistee and Traverse City.

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January 7, 1927 Seaboard Air Line opens its own route between West Palm Beach and Miami for passenger service, ending trackage rights over the Florida East Coast. It also adds an extension to Ft. Myers for passenger service.

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January 7, 1929 The "20th Century Limited" runs a record seven identical sections. Eight hundred twenty two people pay the extra $10 fare ($180 in 2024) to ride The Century. An automobile show in New York City gets the credit for this sudden increase in traffic. Combined with other special trains arriving for the show, a record 266 sleeping cars arrive at Grand Central Terminal between 5:00 am and 9:50 am.

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January 7, 1932 The Nicholas, Fayette & Greenbrier Railroad begins operations. It is jointly owned by the Chesapeake & Ohio, which switches its east end, and the New York Central Subsidiary Kanawha & Michigan which switches its west end.

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January 7, 1952 The last segment of the Reading Traction Company (PA) quits.

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January 7, 1961 In cooperation with the Atlantic Coast Line, the Pennsylvania Railroad begins running a solid train of TOFC equipment from Florida to Kearny NJ.

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January 7, 1969 A Long Island Railroad commuter is arrested for "Theft of Services" after refusing to show his ticket while riding in an unheated and unlit car. Five more commuters will be arrested for a similar protest on January 10.

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January 7, 1995 The Algoma Central Railway is purchased by the Wisconsin Central. (Some sources say February 1)

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January 7, 2002 Amtrak train 351 becomes the first in regular service to run at 90 mph (145 km/h) between Kalamazoo and Porter IN using the new GPS-based Incremental Train Control System.

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January 7, 2006 At 2:40 a.m. a Norfolk Southern train slams into a local in Graniteville SC due to a misaligned switch. A tank car carrying chlorine is punctured by a loose steel coil, sending chlorine gas into the air. The escaping gas kills nine people, including one of the engineers.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 6, 1853 The New Jersey Railroad, Camden & Amboy, Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore and the Baltimore & Ohio begin advertising that they will operate a continuous connecting railroad for mail, passengers and express between New York and Washington with connections guaranteed.

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January 6, 1853 President-elect Franklin Pierce, his wife and son are involved in a train wreck near Andover MA on the Boston & Maine. His son, Bernie, is the only fatality. Pierce will never fully recover from the emotional impact of losing his son. Some historians point to this trauma as preventing Pierce from taking adequate steps to prevent the American Civil War.

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January 6, 1865 The first train crosses the Mississippi River into Clinton IA.

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January 6, 1872 Horsecars begin operation in Ft. Wayne IN.

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January 6, 1882 The Chicago & Western Indiana absorbs the South Chicago & Western Indiana and the Chicago & Western Indiana Belt Railway.

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January 6, 1889 First passenger train on the Manistee & Northeastern (later PM, C&O, Chessie, CSX, TSBY).

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January 6, 1892 The Terre Haute (IN) Electric Railway begins operations.

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January 6, 1910 The Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad buys the Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad, giving the B&O direct control of all its Chicago terminals.

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January 6, 1918 The USRA makes major cuts in U.S. passenger service, saving $60 million (2025: $1.352 billion) per year. A la carte meals are abolished in diners, menus are limited and the number of dining cars is reduced. All passenger train advertising is eliminated (including train names). Consolidated ticket offices are established. During the war, the USRA will move 6,496,000 soldiers in 9,000 troop trains.

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January 6, 1919 The Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac opens a new station in Richmond VA, part of an extensive capital improvement project in the area. The west side belt line is also double-tracked to handle passenger trains.

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January 6, 1922 The Pennsylvania Railroad announces it will retire its last wooden dining cars in the next few months.

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January 6, 1930 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton drops passenger service between Napoleon OH & Tecumseh MI.

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January 6, 1934 Streetcar service in Frankfort, KY ends as a result of a strike.

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January 6, 1940 Streetcar service draws to a close in Terre Haute IN.

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January 6, 1949 In response to the US "Friendship Train" which gathered food and other relief supplies for France and Italy, the French send a "Merci Train" to U.S. State capitols and Washington DC. The "40 and 8" boxcars in the train are filled with gifts of appreciation. They will be carried on flatcars while in the U.S.

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January 6, 1950 The Long Island Railroad drops its PRR-inspired keystone logo and introduces a new herald with "LI" in a circle.

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January 6, 1950 The Monon introduces “The Varsity”. Running weekends between Chicago and Bloomington IN it is designed to serve Indiana University students.

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January 6, 1956 The New York Central closes its steam locomotives shops in Detroit and Jackson MI.

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January 6, 2015 California breaks ground on its high-speed rail project.

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January 6, 2021 China unveils a new high-speed train set designed to operate at temperatures as low as -40.

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Mark

January 3, 1960 St. Louis PCC route 70 (Grand Avenue), which served that city's theatre district, was converted to bus operation to permit rebuilding of a viaduct. This conversion isolated the remaining PCC car lines from the shops at 39th and Park.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 3, 1966 On the first business day of the new year, New York was struggling with cars, trucks, and taxicabs choking the streets as the TWU strike against the NYCTA entered its third day.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 4, 1959 Trolleybus service ended in Kansas City and its last 4 routes were converted to bus operation. They were routes 41 (Independence Avenue), 42 (Truman Road), 43 (Prospect Avenue, the city's heaviest, and 45 (Northeast). Thirty of the Marmon-Herrington trolleybuses were later sold to Dayton, Ohio; other trolleybuses were sold to Bogata, Colombia. Also, the 9th and Brighton bus garage was closed on weekends and holidays when all routes operated from 26th and Harrison.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 4, 1966 TWU President Michael J. Quill defied a court order to get the striking NYCTA subway and bus workers back to work and he was jailed. He later suffered a heart attack in his jail cell in Brooklyn and was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 5, 1970 New York's subway and bus fares rose from 20 to 30 cents.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Dennis M Linsky

January 3, 1868 The Kalamazoo & Grand Rapids Railroad (later KA&GR, LS&MS, NYC, PC) is incorporated.

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January 3, 1870 The Kalamazoo & South Haven (later MC, NYC, PC, CR) is completed from Kalamazoo to Kendall MI.

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January 3, 1908 The St. Clair Coal Railway (IL) is merged into the Vandalia Railroad.

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January 3, 1910 Tired of its cars being routed to the Boston & Maine by mistake, the Brookville & Mahoning (PA) changes its name to the Pittsburg & Shawmut.

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January 3, 1914 The Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Railway (interurban) opens from St. Catharines to Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON.

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January 3, 1933 A recreation car is placed on the "Florida Special", operating southbound on Fridays and northbound on Mondays. The car includes a three-piece Hawaiian band, a dance floor, contract bridge tournaments and other amusements including a wading pool. Next year, the pool will be withdrawn due to sloshing water and additional recreation cars will be built making the cars available on all trains.

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January 3, 1934 When a flying wheel rim from a grade crossing collision kills an engineer, the Pennsylvania Railroad orders its P-5 electrics still under construction to be built with a center cab rather than box cab design.

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January 3, 1954 The last steam powered passenger train departs Washington DC's Union Station. Richmond, Fredricksburg & Potomac engine #622 "Carter Braxton" departs at approx. 1: 40 PM for Richmond VA.

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January 3, 1957 The former Cincinnati Northern (later CCC&StL, NYC) roundhouse at Van Wert OH is torn down.

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January 3, 1960 Washington DC ends suburban and overhead trolley operations.

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January 3, 1962 First through train, Sydney to Melbourne.

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January 3, 1967 The Chesapeake & Ohio buys the Chicago, South Shore & South Bend, acquiring 94% of the lines outstanding stock.

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January 3, 2005 The Federal Railroad Administration publishes a "final rule" requiring reflective material on the sides of locomotives and freight cars as a safety measure to make trains more visible at highway-rail grade crossings.

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January 3, 2020 To try to increase public awareness of grade crossing dangers, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Morrisville police place the remains of a car wrecked in a November 30 car/train collision at the site of the accident for 30 days to illustrate the damage caused to a car when it is hit by a freight doing 55 mph.

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January 3, 2024 Yesterday and today, two former New York Central electric locomotives, an S-1 and a T-3a, are delivered and unloaded at the Danbury Rail Museum. They had been stranded in Glenmont NY for more than 30 years.

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January 4, 1875 The Prince Edward Island Railway (later CGR, CNoR, CN) opens between Summerside and Tignish.

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January 4, 1877 Commodore Vanderbilt dies at his home at the age of 82. He leaves the bulk of his estate and control of the Vanderbilt Lines to his son, William Henry.

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January 4, 1891 The Southern Railroad inaugurates its "Washington and Southwestern Vestibule Limited", an ancestor of the "Crescent Limited".

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January 4, 1901 Union Traction Company opens its Anderson-Indianapolis line.

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January 4, 1915 The "Dixie Flyer", running between Chicago and Florida on a C&EI/L&N route receives all-new steel cars.

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January 4, 1920 Ottawa Central Station (Ontario) is renamed Ottawa Union Station.

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January 4, 1932 The Indiana Railroad (interurban) abandons its main line between Indianapolis and Dunreith branch.

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January 4, 1948 The Rock Island and the Southern Pacific debut new equipment for the “Golden State” passenger train.

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January 4, 1952 The Chesapeake & Ohio carferry "Spartan" is launched.

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January 4, 1962 New York City installs the first automated subway train.

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January 4, 1963 The Baltimore & Ohio ends passenger service to Cleveland.

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January 4, 1965 In his State of the Union address, President Johnson calls for funds to study high-speed rail service in the Northeast Corridor.

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January 4, 1969 The Port Authority Transit Corporation of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (PATCO) begins operations between Broadway, Camden and Lindenwood NJ.

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January 4, 1970 The "Lake Cities" makes its last run between Chicago and Hoboken, ending long-distance passenger service on the Erie-Lackawanna. The train will arrive at its end terminals tomorrow morning.

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January 4, 1987 Conrail engines running light run through a signal and collide with an Amtrak train at Gunpow Interlocking on the Northeast Corridor, killing 16. Ricky Gates, the Conrail engineer was found to be using marijuana and watching TV at the time of the accident. The incident will lead directly to licensing and drug testing of locomotive engineers.

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January 4, 1990 An overcrowded 16-car passenger train strikes a standing freight train in Sindh Province, Pakistan, killing 307 and injuring an estimated 700 people.

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January 5, 1832 The Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Company (later CCC&StL, NYC, PC, CR, I&O) is incorporated in Ohio to build between Sandusky and Dayton via Springfield. The charter, the first successful one in Ohio, replaces a planned canal project that has been shelved for lack of water.

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January 5, 1861 The Amboy, Lansing & Traverse Bay Railroad (later JL&S, MC) becomes the first land-grant railroad in Michigan to receive certification that it has completed the requisite 20 miles of track.

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January 5, 1869 Representatives of railroads running between New York and Washington meet at New York to devise a plan to eliminate the use of horse-drawn transfers through the streets of Baltimore.

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January 5, 1876 In a dispute over a level crossing, the Pennsylvania Railroad parks a locomotive on its tracks in Hopewell NJ where the Delaware & Bound Brook Railroad hopes to cross. When the locomotive backs up to clear another PRR train, D&BB partisans chain it to the track. Today and tomorrow 1500 railroad employees plus townsfolk from Hopewell will confront each other. Four PRR locomotives will derail in unsuccessful attempts to ram barricades.

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January 5, 1893 The last rail in the construction of the Great Northern Railroad between the Great Lakes and Everett, Washington is put in place at Scenic, WA. It is the fourth transcontinental railroad completed, and the first to receive no Federal aid nor to be involved in a major financial scandal. Service on the line will not start until July. (Some sources place this event on January 6.)

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January 5, 1914 The Pennsylvania Railroad announces it carried 111,000,000 passengers in 1913 without a single fatality.

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January 5, 1917 After a five-year court battle, the merger of the Evansville & Southern Indiana Traction Company and the Evansville Public Service Company is approved.

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January 5, 1955 The Sand Springs Railway (interurban, OK) ends passenger service.

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January 5, 1956 General Motors’ "Aerotrain" number 1000 is tested by the Pennsylvania Railroad between Washington and Newark. “Aerotrain” number 1001 makes its initial Chicago to Detroit test run on the New York Central.

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January 5, 1966 All parties agree to include the New Haven in the Penn Central merger.

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January 5, 1985 The Alaska Railroad becomes the property of the State of Alaska.

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January 5, 1988 The last passenger train leaves Detroit's Michigan Central station: Amtrak’s Train 353, departing at 11:30 am for Chicago.

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January 5, 2007 300 kph (186 mph) train service begins between Panchiao and Kaohsing, Taiwan, using Japanese "Bullet Train" technology. A second section from Panchiao to Taipei will open March 2.

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January 5, 2011 In a report issued today, the Public Interest Network reports that highway tolls and other fees cover only 51% of the total cost of road transportation, the rest being borne by taxes.

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January 5, 2012 In Vernon VT, 15 "Turtle Crossings" are installed under 700 feet of railroad track to allow endangered spotted turtles to safely reach their nesting grounds.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 2, 1975 Two Manhattan-bound Penn Central commuter trains were involved in a head-on collision at the Botanical Garden station in the Bronx, injuring 231 persons. Service on the Harlem and New Haven divisions was suspended until the evening.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

January 2, 1832 Daniel K. Minor, publisher of the "New York American", publishes the first issue of the "American Railroad Journal". It is the first U.S. periodical devoted entirely to the railroad industry. It is the direct ancestor of "Railway Locomotives and Cars".

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January 2, 1871 The first train runs from Kalamazoo to South Haven on the Kalamazoo & South Haven Railroad.

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January 2, 1893 Standards are set for Railroad Timepieces, a vital necessity when most trains move by timetable and train order.

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January 2, 1901 The Detroit & Charlevoix Railroad (later MC) is chartered.

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January 2, 1913 The Cleveland Alliance & Mahoning Valley Railway becomes the last interurban in Ohio to open for business.

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January 2, 1916 Interurban service between Battle Creek and Grand Rapids MI via Richland begins. Between Battle Creek and Montieth the line uses former trackage of the Cincinnati Northern. From Montieth to Grand Rapids it uses new trackage constructed by the Chicago & Michigan.

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January 2, 1922 A train of 100 Pennsylvania steel boxcars carrying 500 Durant automobiles leaves Jersey City for California via the Overland Route. It is the largest transcontinental shipment of a single commodity to this date.

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January 2, 1930 The New York Central system acquires the lease of both the Michigan Central and "Big Four" lines.

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January 2, 1934 The Seaboard Air Line's "Orange Blossom Special" becomes the first Florida train to be completely air-conditioned.

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January 2, 1935 Chicago & North Western begins "400" service between Chicago and St. Paul, so named because the 400-mile trip is scheduled to take 400 minutes.

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January 2, 1938 First run of "The City Of San Francisco"

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January 2, 1958 The Litchfield & Madison Railway is merged with the Chicago & North Western.

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January 2, 1958 The New Haven Railroad drops 10 of its 38 New York-Boston trains and 4 of its 32 New York-Springfield trains.

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January 2, 1970 The world's then-largest freight car leaves Pittsburgh for Florida carrying an electric generator. The car can carry 1.2 million pounds (544,000 kg), is 177 feet long (54 meters) and has 44 wheels.

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January 2, 1996 The Interstate Commerce Commission is replaced by the Surface Transportation Board.

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Mark Tomlonson

January 1, 1957 It was the last day when Philadelphia trolleys served the Mummers parade with only routes 17 and 20 still operating. Route 20 followed its regular routing but route 17 used Chestnut and Walnut Streets instead of Market and route 32 was combined with bus route 21. Bus routes A and XB used 13th and 15th Streets from Pine to Spring Garden. Bus route C (main route) used 13th and 15th Streets from Oregon to Master. Bus route C (10th and Somerville Division) terminated its runs at Broad and Allegheny.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 1, 1957 Kansas City's streetcar franchise expired. Its last 3 PCC car lines went bus on June 23.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 1, 1961 The NYCTA made changes on BMT subway lines. Brighton and West End express trains and Brighton and 4th Avenue local trains switched their northern terminals to provide non-rush hour service cuts. All Sea Beach trains ran local from 59th Street, Brooklyn, to Pacific Street on Sundays and holidays.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? January 1, 1966 John V. Lindsay was sworn in as New York's new Mayor as the TWU went on strike against the NYCTA.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky