December 11, 1845 The Nashville & Chattanooga (later NC&StL, L&N, CSX) is chartered in Tennessee. It will be built to a 5-foot gauge and will be the first railroad to operate in the state of Tennessee.

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December 11, 1867 Cornelius Vanderbilt is elected President of the New York Central railroad without opposition, giving him control of railroads between New York and Buffalo.

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December 11, 1868 Four members of the Reno gang are lynched in New Albany IN. They were in jail following the great train robbery of May 22, 1868.

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December 11, 1879 The Lake Erie & Western (later NKP) is formed by the merger of several railroads linking Fremont OH and Bloomington IL.

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December 11, 1887 The two-foot gauge Gilpin Tram Railway begins operations in Colorado.

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December 11, 1889 John Frank Stevens along with Coonsah, a Flathead Native guide, find Marias Pass, which will enable the Great Northern to cross the Continental Divide in Montana.

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December 11, 1906 The first revenue MU electric train on the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad enters Grand Central Station. (Some sources say December 13)

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December 11, 1946 A report requested by Pennsylvania Railroad Vice President-Operations J.M. Symes compares projected results of freight service with 80 A-B-B-B-A diesel sets vs. 202 4-4-6-4 Q2's. The diesels would save over $14 million per year (2024: $206 million) plus an additional gain of $6.5 million ($95.4 million) annually if the diesels can improve on-time performance.

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December 11, 1998 Canadian National Railway operates its last train in Ottawa ON. Operation in Ottawa will begin in two days by the Ottawa Central Railway.

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December 11, 2000 Amtrak's "Acela" service begins between Washington and Boston.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 10, 1957 During the second day of the New York subway strike, the New York Central Railroad ran a 12-car train from Mt. Vernon on the Harlem Division to Grand Central?Station, making it the world's longest commuter train.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? December 10, 1970 The last pre-Amtrak railroad strike took place when the Penn Central, Reading, Jersey Central, and Erie-Lackawanna were among the 30 railroads involved in the strike. The Long Island Railroad, which was unaffected, ran regularly but not to Penn Station; its trains terminated at Hunters Point or Woodside or were diverted to Brooklyn. The PATH tubes ran regularly but with no service from Journal Square in Jersey City to Newark.? Staten Island Rapid Transit didn't operate. The strike ended on the 11th following Congressional action.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

December 10, 1795 Matthias Baldwin, developer and manufacturer of steam locomotives is born.

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December 10, 1850 The Michigan Southern Railroad reaches Coldwater from the east.

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December 10, 1870 The Courts rule that a state "head tax" on traffic on Baltimore & Ohio's Washington Branch is unconstitutional. The B&O reduces local fares by $0.30 (2024: $7.23) but continues to charge tax on through tickets until January 29, 1871.

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December 10, 1877 The Syracuse, Geneva & Corning Railway (later NYC&HR, NYC) begins operations.

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December 10, 1878 The first Tiffany Patent Refrigerator car, invented earlier this year in Chicago, arrives in Philadelphia from Kansas City with a load of beef halves.

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December 10, 1908 The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (later CN) completes its 846 meter (2,775 foot) bridge over the Battle River. The bridge is 60 meters (195 feet) above the water.

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December 10, 1919 The car barns of the Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Street Railway Company in Niagara Falls ON burn to the ground. A smaller barn and a repair shop at the same location will replace them.

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December 10, 1919 The Michigan Central opens new shops and a division point in Niles, MI.

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December 10, 1935 The Huey P. Long bridge in Metaire, LA, is completed, serving highway and rail traffic. It is 4.35 miles long, owned by the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad.

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December 10, 1939 Frisco's semi-streamlined "Firefly" enters service.

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December 10, 1947 Train telephone service is added to the "Broadway Limited" between New York and Harrisburg PA.

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December 10, 1958 National Airlines begins the first domestic jet airliner service in the United States.

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December 10, 1968 The Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, the Switchmen's Union of North American and the Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen vote to merge their four unions into a single organization, the United Transportation Union.

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December 10, 1969 The first load of iron ore is shipped from Levis WI.

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December 10, 1988 Chicago & North Western sells 200 miles of trackage in Wisconsin to the Fox River Valley Railway.

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December 10, 2010 An order for the first high-speed trains in Africa is placed with Alstrom. The TGV-style cars will operate between Tangier and Morocco.

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December 10, 2014 Amtrak opens a new station in Dearborn MI, replacing an “Amshack” that had been in use for over 30 years.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 9, 1956 Philadelphia trolley route 20 from Broad and Olney to the Naval Base via Old York Road and 12th and 13th Streets was re-equipped with 2500-series air-electric PCC cars as it remained two-man operated during normal hours. Cars 2515-87 were assigned to Luzerne Depot for routes 20 and 60 and cars 2031-80 were transferred to Woodland for the subway-surface car lines. The 50 ex-SLPS cars, which had been in storage, were returned to service on route 56. Route 6 got 2100-series all-electrics for its lost 2031s. The remodeled 8000s used on route 20 were retired to Ridge Depot as the December, 1956, scrapping program involved prewar Mack buses.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? December 9, 1957 A TWU attempt to take in motormen led to strike against the New York subway system. The strike ended on the 16th.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

December 9, 1839 The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad (later RDG) begins revenue service between Reading PA and the foot of Belmont Plane.

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December 9, 1879 The Toledo, Peoria & Western is leased to the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway for 50 years.

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December 9, 1881 The "Golden" Spike is driven three miles west of Newberry MI to complete the Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette Railroad (later DSS&A, SOO, CN, GDLK).

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December 9, 1911 Streetcar service ends in Salem OH.

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December 9, 1921 In response to a rash of mail and Post Office robberies, the Post Office Department announces it is placing armed U.S. Marines in cars carrying valuable mail. Also, plainclothes guards are placed on trains.

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December 9, 1923 A burning automobile on the tracks at Forsyth NY stops the first and second sections of the 20^th Century Limited. The third section misses a signal in the fog and crashes into the rear of the second section, killing 9.

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December 9, 1932 Streetcar service comes to a close in Springfield OH.

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December 9, 1941 Chesapeake & Ohio officials accept the first 2-6-6-6 "Allegheny" locomotive from Lima Locomotive Works.

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December 9, 2002 President George W. Bush nominates CSX CEO John Snow to be his Secretary of the Treasury.

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December 9, 2011 CSX closes the former "WB" Tower in Brunswick MD. The tower, on the former Baltimore & Ohio, was one of the last manned towers on the east coast.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 7, 1952 Chicago PCC routes 49 (Western Avenue) and 63 (63rd Street) were converted to bus operation on weekends and holidays.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? December 7, 1952 Philadelphia became the first city to ban downtown street parking from Callowhill to South Streets between the rivers. This parking ban enabled PTC to speed up trolley operation on the north-south streets.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? December 8, 1957 Trolleybus service ended in Wilmington, Delaware.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

December 6, 1903 Indiana Union Traction Company opens its Indianapolis to Kokomo route.

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December 6, 1917 In the largest explosion to this date (comparable to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945), two ships collide and explode in Halifax NS. The “Imo” is loaded with ballast, the “Mont Blanc” with explosives. Roughly 2,000 people are killed when the “Mount Blanc” explodes. The city suffers extensive damage. Included in the losses: Intercolonial Railway's station (later CN) and associated facilities.

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December 6, 1935 The first modern escalator is placed in service, at New York's Penn Station.

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December 6, 1971 Auto-Train Corporation begins operations between Lorton VA and Sanford FL.

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December 6, 2005 The State of New Mexico signs an agreement with BNSF to buy almost 300 miles of track between Belen NM through Raton Pass to Trinidad CO. The state will use the line for commuter and light-rail service. BNSF retains overhead rights and freight customers. Amtrak will also use the line.

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December 6, 2006 A German passenger train traveling through Muenster goes into emergency when a soccer ball hits the air brake line between the engine and the first car. The driver was able to effect repairs within 8 minutes. No child on the adjoining soccer pitch claimed responsibility for the errant ball.

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December 6, 2010 Los Angeles' Metrolink unveils its new Hyundai Rotem cars. The first one will enter service next week, with the full order of 137 expected to be in operation by December 2012.

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December 6, 2018 The remains of the 41^st U.S. President, George H.W. Bush, are carried from Houston to College Station TX in a train pulled by Union Pacific locomotive 4141. Locomotive 4141 had been painted previously in the colors of Air Force One to honor Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush becomes the eighth President to have a funeral train.

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December 6, 2023 Michigan’s U.S. senators announce 3 $500,000 Federal grants for improvements in Amtrak’s Port Huron to Chicago and Pontiac to Chicago corridors, as well as additional Detroit to Toledo service that may include connections to Detroit Airport.

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December 7, 1835 Germany's first railroad, the Ludwigs-Eisenbahn running 6 km (3.73 mi) from Nuremburg to Furth, begins regular passenger service.

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December 7, 1846 The first four Philadelphia companies leave from the Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad depot for Mexican War duty.

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December 7, 1850 Draft animals are used for the last time on the Allegheny Portage Railroad (PA).

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December 7, 1853 The Erie & North East Railroad (later LS&MS) begins changing gauge and is shut down by a mob of Erie PA citizens led by Mayor King. The mob tears up track at various road crossings within the city, blocking travel between Buffalo and Cleveland. The citizens demand a break of gauge to reap benefits of transshipment. Other Pennsylvanians desire to prevent the "New York" railroad from crossing the state to the detriment of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Railroad. The riots and destruction of track will continue for several days.

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December 7, 1885 Debut of "The Congressional". Trains carrying this name will be the premier trains in New York-Washington service until the arrival of the Metroliners.

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December 7, 1894 Incorporation date of the Cincinnati Northern Railroad (later NYC)

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December 7, 1899 The Chicago & West Michigan becomes part of the Pere Marquette Railroad.

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December 7, 1901 The Lake Shore Electric begins service between Cleveland and Toledo.

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December 7, 1906 The Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads form Pacific Fruit Express.

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December 7, 1909 The Pere Marquette carferry Marquette & Bessemer No. 2 (1st) is lost on Lake Erie.

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December 7, 1928 Railway Express Agency is incorporated.

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December 7, 1929 The New York Central's deluxe coach train "Motor Queen" makes its last run between Detroit and Cincinnati. The extra features offered on the train have not made it profitable.

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December 7, 1941 The New York Central, with much fanfare, launches the new streamlined "Empire State Express". News of the bombing of Pearl Harbor puts an immediate damper on the planned festivities.

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December 7, 1942 The ICC approves the abandonment of New York Central trackage between Martinsville and Trafalger, IN. The Pennsylvania Railroad assumes switching duties in Martinsville, the Illinois Central in Morgantown.

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December 7, 2006 Trucker Johnnie B. Hunt passes away at the age of 79. Hunt's understanding of the advantages of intermodal shipping and his resulting commitment to using railroads was one factor in the rise of intermodal traffic.

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December 8, 1862 The Flint & Pere Marquette (later PM, C&O, CSX) begins service to Flint MI.

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December 8, 1887 The Minnesota & Northeastern becomes the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City [later CGW, C&NW, UP].

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December 8, 1903 The Evansville & Princeton Traction Company opens between its two namesake Indiana cities, 28 miles.

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December 8, 1906 The Interborough Rapid Transit Brooklyn Extension tunnel under New York's East River is holed through. This is the first transit tunnel under the East River.

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December 8, 1915 The Norfolk & Western runs its first electric train in regular service, between Bluefield and Vivian WV.

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December 8, 1919 All passenger train service in Michigan is temporarily halted due to the effects of a month-long national coal miner's strike. 250,000 Michigan workers are also laid off.

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December 8, 1921 The Cleveland Union Terminals Company contracts with the New York Central, Big Four and the Nickel Plate for the use of its depot.

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December 8, 1940 Youngstown OH loses streetcar service.

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December 8, 1946 EMD introduces the NW5 locomotive.

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December 8, 1960 In Kalamazoo MI, A cement truck traveling on Interstate Highway 94 strikes a freight train at a grade crossing with the New York Central. No one is hurt, but four railroad cars derail. The crossing has since been converted to a highway overpass.

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December 8, 1967 Passenger service ends on the Frisco.

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December 8, 2015 Yahoo News reports that a condo in Chicago’s Logan Square area will feature a decommissioned “L” car in the common area. Set in the middle of a pool, one side of the car will be open and it will connect to the surrounding terrace by walkways. The development will open in mid-2016.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 5, 1954 The last New Jersey trolley line to operate on a main street, the Atlantic Avenue trolley line in Atlantic City, was cut back from Longport to the Douglas Avenue loop in upper Margate; service from that loop to Longport was provided by shuttle buses which used Ventnor Avenue instead of Atlantic. And it was during that winter when, in order to reduce operating costs, the War Board cars and the ex-Fort Wayne cars ran regularly because the Brilliners were using up too much electricity.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

December 5, 1868 The Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad (later PRR) Board appoints a committee to settle a dispute between the Grand Rapids & Indiana (later PRR) and the Kalamazoo, Allegan & Grand Rapids Railroad (later LS&MS, NYC) so that there will be a single north-south line in Michigan. The committee will fail in its mission. Both railroads will build between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.

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December 5, 1870 The last independent Kalamazoo & South Haven timetable is printed in the Kalamazoo Gazette. Timetables after this date will be printed as "Kalamazoo Division, Michigan Central Railroad".

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December 5, 1872 The Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore donates $5,000 (2024: $12.9 million) to the new University of Pennsylvania Hospital. In return, the railroad is entitled to one free bed for use of injured employees or passengers.

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December 5, 1877 The Pennsylvania Company Board authorizes the reduction of gauge from 4' 10" to 4' 9".

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December 5, 1881 The first all-Pullman train in England runs from London to Brighton. It is also the first train lit by electricity.

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December 5, 1885 The New York Central & Hudson River Railroad leases the West Shore Railroad.

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December 5, 1905 Plans are approved for Potomac Yard in Washington DC. The yard will serve as a major transfer point between Northern and Southern lines.

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December 5, 1915 Debut of the Katy's "Texas Special".

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December 5, 1915 The Missouri Pacific/Nationales de Mexico "Sunshine Special" begins operations between St. Louis and Los Angeles with a second segment between St. Louis and Mexico City.

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December 5, 1921 Louisville & Nashville introduces the "Pan American".

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December 5, 1922 The Illinois Central introduces its all-Pullman train, “The Floridian”.

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December 5, 1935 The New York Post Office is extended over the tracks leading to Penn Station. Tower A is now covered.

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December 5, 1937 The Mount Lowe Railway (CA) closes, ending service on the funicular railway on Echo Mountain, north of Los Angeles.

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December 5, 1948 The New York Central combines "The Pacemaker" and "The Advance Commodore Vanderbilt". Also combined: the eastbound "Fifth Avenue Special" and the "Interstate Express". Eliminated: the Michigan Central "North Shore Limited".

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December 5, 1989 France's TGV train hits 482 km/h (300 mph) for the first time.

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December 5, 1996 BNSF reopens Stampede Pass.

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December 5, 1996 For the last time, Canadian National hauls grain in 12 metre (40 foot) boxcars.

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December 5, 2003 The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers votes to merge their union with the Teamsters. The Brotherhood will remain autonomous within the merged union.

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December 5, 2008 The Honda assembly plant at Greensburg IN ships its first automobiles by rail. The cars are taken by the Central Railroad of Indiana, owned by RailAmerica, to Cincinnati, where they are interchanged with NS and CSX.

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December 5, 2017 Amtrak begins using the renovated Lincoln IL station. The building, built in 1911, had not been used for rail service for 30 years.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 4, 1955 As a result of Chicago's route 36 Broadway-State changeover, the State Street buses began operation from 120th and Morgan to Grand Avenue and the Broadway PCC cars began operation from the Devon Car House to Polk Street and mingled with the State Street buses from Grand to Polk. Also, former trolley route 52 (Kedzie-California), converted to bus operation on May 30, 1954, was reconverted to trolleybus operation to release enough buses to convert the State Street route.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

December 4, 1820 John Stevens proposes to build a railroad from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. He also offers to build a quarter-mile demonstration railroad on Market Street in Philadelphia.

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December 4, 1830 Construction of the Camden & Amboy begins at Bordentown NJ.

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December 4, 1877 The Eel River Railroad, running between Logansport and Butler, is incorporated in Indiana as a reorganization of the Detroit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad.

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December 4, 1891 For the first time in the United States, four trains are involved in one accident. In East Thompson CT, three trains collide at a level crossing, and a fourth slams into the wreckage two minutes later. Despite massive property damage, only three persons are killed. A March, 1953 wreck in Conneaut OH will also involve 4 trains.

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December 4, 1900 The new Grand Rapids MI Union Station opens.

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December 4, 1910 The Pennsylvania Railroad announces that through passenger business at New York is up 15% after the opening of Penn Station. Most long distance trains have been given additional cars.

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December 4, 1920 The Grand Rapids & Indiana organizes a Veterans' Association.

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December 4, 1938 Last day of IRT’s Sixth Avenue Elevated in New York City.

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December 4, 1946 The Pennsylvania Railroad orders its first two F3 freight road diesels from EMD. The A-B-B-B-A units are rated at 7,500 HP per set.

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December 4, 1955 What had been the world's longest trolley line, Chicago's 25-mile 36 (Broadway-State) PCC line, is broken into 2 routes. The State Street portion from the Loop to 120th and Morgan is converted to bus operation.

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December 4, 1961 The Rutland Railroad applies for abandonment.

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December 4, 1967 Pennsylvania Railroad's premier train, the "Broadway Limited" loses its all-Pullman status as coaches are added to the consist.

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December 4, 1978 Union Pacific and Chicago & North Western announce a joint agreement to build into Wyoming’s Powder River Basin to access the numerous coal mines.

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December 4, 1999 Salt Lake City resumes light-rail service.

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December 4, 2003 Russia opens the Severomuisk Tunnel. Ten miles long, it has taken over 25 years to complete.

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December 4, 2004 The Minneapolis LRT opens the last four miles of the 12-mile Hiawatha Corridor, adding the MSP airport (stops at both terminals), an office park in central Bloomington, and the Mall of America to the line.

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Mark Tomlonson

December 3, 1961 Washington PCC routes 40, 42, and 44 (Mt. Pleasant) and route 60 (11th Street) were converted to bus operation and the DuPont Subway, which opened in 1949, closed and was later rebuilt as a Metro station stop. The Lincoln Park car house also closed and its share of PCC routes 50 and 54 (14th Street) was relocated to the Navy Yard car house.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky?

December 3, 1844 Cobble Hill Tunnel in Brooklyn opens, however it will not be finished until late spring next year. Many regard the 2,517-foot tunnel as the first subway tunnel in the world. It has been built to carry the Brooklyn & Jamaica Railroad (later LIRR) under Atlantic Avenue. It will be taken out of service and sealed in 1861.

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December 3, 1853 Illinois Central and Michigan Central railroads begin using a temporary station built on fill on the lakefront of Chicago between Randolph and Water Streets. The track has been extended north from 12th Street.

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December 3, 1919 The Quebec Bridge opens to pedestrian, rail and automobile traffic. Planning for the bridge began in 1899, and it has collapsed twice during construction, killing 89 workers. It is currently owned by Canadian National.

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December 3, 1920 Canadian National launches its new trans-continental “Continental Limited” passenger train. The train features electrically lit, all-steel cars, and will include open-air observation cars between Jasper and Kamloops in the summer months.

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December 3, 1927 The old Boston North station is razed in preparation for a new building. Meanwhile, Erie PA dedicates its new Union Station.

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December 3, 1950 Regular passenger service between Cadillac and Petosky MI ends. Summer-only service continues.

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December 3, 1953 To cut costs, the Pennsylvania Railroad places an "automatic buffet-bar" car on New York to Washington trains with vending machines and tables. A single bar attendant replaces the dining car staff.

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December 3, 1957 Eight-year-old Maria Rudolph is kidnapped and murdered in northern Illinois. In 2011, her killer will be found when a newly discovered unused train ticket breaks his alibi, resulting in an arrest.

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December 3, 1967 Last run of New York Central's "20th Century Limited". A more prosaic numbered train will protect the service.

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December 3, 1978 Southern Railway's "Southern Crescent" enters a curve at excess speed in Shipman VA. All of the consist except for the lead engine and the last car derail and slide down into a ravine. Six people are killed, including Governor Jimmy Carter's former chef, Lewis Price, who was killed in the galley of the dining car. Sixty others are injured, most of them trapped in the wreckage.

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December 3, 1979 The ICC grants permission to Grand Trunk Western to buy the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton, confirming a court order handed down in July. The ICC gives GTW six months to compete the sale.

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December 3, 1980 The last continuous, daily, non-fireless steam operation in the United States comes to a close as Chicago's Northwestern Steel & Wire drops the fires of its ex-Grand Trunk Western 0-8-0 switchers for the last time.

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December 3, 2005 Bennett and Vivian Levin of Philadelphia organize a private train to the annual Army-Navy game for patients in Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. Amtrak and private car owners contribute 12 additional cars to carry 88 patients from Washington Union Station to Philadelphia. The private car owners pay for the trip. Publicity is minimal at the time as no reporters or politicians are allowed on the train.

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December 3, 2010 The Chinese claim the World Record for fastest unmodified train, when one of their new high-speed trains hits 486 km/h (302 mph) between Beijing and Shanghai. A modified French TGV train holds the record for a modified train, at 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph).

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Mark Tomlonson

December 2, 1954 Philadelphia Transportation Company purchased 90 used PCC cars from 2 midwestern cities to re-equip the 5 subway-surface car lines. Of these used PCC cars purchased, 50 were 1500-series prewar all-electrics from St. Louis and the other 40 were 725-series postwar all-electrics with full height windows from Kansas City. Declining patronage and wholesale conversions to bus operations created a surplus of PCC cars in both Missouri cities.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

December 2, 1855 The Rock Island reaches Iowa City only minutes before a midnight $50,000 bonus deadline. The locomotive is dragged the final 1,000 feet with ropes in minus 30-degree temperatures.

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December 2, 1856 T.T. Woodruff receives the first patent for a sleeping car.

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December 2, 1863 The Union Pacific Railroad begins construction.

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December 2, 1865 The Southern Pacific Railroad is incorporated.

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December 2, 1872 A U.S. House Committee is formed to investigate profiteering and bribes paid by Credit Mobilier (the construction company for Union Pacific Railroad) to members of Congress.

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December 2, 1894 The Wisconsin & Michigan Railway begins passenger service between Peshtigo WI and Faithorn Jct. MI. Freight service will begin in two days.

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December 2, 1903 A Pennsylvania Railroad freight locomotive explodes in Greenwood DE, killing two crewmembers and setting fire to the town.

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December 2, 1911 The Santa Fe first-class train "de-Luxe" begins weekly Chicago to Los Angeles service.

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December 2, 1912 The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads are prohibited from merging under United States anti-trust laws.

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December 2, 1918 The Railroad Yardmasters of America union is formed.

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December 2, 1928 The last interurban leaves Marshall MI at 12:15 a.m.

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December 2, 1929 The Warren & Jamestown Street Railway (PA and NY) ends.

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December 2, 1934 Illinois Central's premier "Panama Limited" is re-instated after a two and a half year suspension due to the Depression.

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December 2, 1939 A Grand Trunk Western crewman riding on the footboards of a tender is killed as his engine backs across US-12 in Kalamazoo, striking a semi-truck that had tried to beat the train to the crossing.

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December 2, 1956 The Pennsylvania Railroad sends its last four leased 2-10-4's back to the Santa Fe.

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December 2, 1958 The Louisville & Nashville opens Boyles Yard, a modern hump facility north of Birmingham Alabama.

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December 2, 1961 Last passenger train runs on Boston & Maine's Conway Branch.

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December 2, 1961 President Kennedy rides back to Washington DC from the Army-Navy game on a special Pennsylvania Railroad train in PRR Business Car No. 120.

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December 2, 1967 Last run of New York Central's "Empire State Express".

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December 2, 1975 Six South Moluccan extremists seize a train near the Dutch town of Beilen. They will hold 23 passengers hostage until surrendering on December 14.

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December 2, 1992 Chicago & North Western makes its last run between Freemont and Chadron NE, nicknamed “The Cowboy Line”,

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December 2, 2021 One of the last remaining Baldwin “Sharknose” diesels, No. 1216, is moved out of the Escanaba & Lake Superior shops in Escanaba MI where it has been stored since 1982 with a broken crankshaft. It is moved to a heated shop in Wells, MI, about a mile away.

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December 2, 2021 Railfan & Railroad Magazine reports that VIA Rail has unveiled the first of 32 new trainsets for service between Windsor ON and Quebec City QC. The trainsets are being built by Siemens.

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Mark Tomlonson

November 30, 1955 Brooklyn's B-68 (Coney Island Avenue) trolley line, the only remaining portion of the world's first PCC car line, was converted to bus operation with surplus equipment.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? December 1, 1946 The City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania signed a law which called for abandonment of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Chinese Wall on Market Street west of 15th.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? December 1, 1955 The new IND/BMT 60th Street tunnel connection opened and BMT Broadway-Brighton local trains ran on the IND Queens Boulevard line, making local stops from Queens Plaza to Continental Avenue. Ridership was low at first, then it improved.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

November 29, 1847 Michigan's first telegraph line is completed along the Michigan Central Railroad tracks between Detroit and Ypsilanti. The first messages sent are long and range from the price of wheat and putty to news of the Mexican War. Eventually the line will extend to Chicago and be used by the Michigan Central to dispatch trains.

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November 29, 1849 The Michigan Central schedules a second train on its Detroit-New Buffalo line, with a meet in Galesburgh. (That town no longer uses the final "h".)

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November 29, 1852 The Pennsylvania Railroad opens between Beattys and Radebaugh forming a complete rail line between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The route uses the Portage Railroad (including the remaining seven inclined planes) over the Allegheny Mountains.

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November 29, 1871 The Jackson (MI) Citizen reports that the Central Car & Manufacturing Company of that city has shipped its first order: ten platform cars to the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore Railway.

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November 29, 1871 The Syracuse, Phoenix & Oswego Railway (later RW&O, NYC&HR, NYC) is chartered to run 17 miles from Woodward to Fulton NY.

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November 29, 1883 The Michigan & Ohio Railroad (later CJ&M, T&M, DT&M, NOR, MC, LS&MS, MUR, NYC, PC) completes its line between Dundee and Montieth Junction MI.

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November 29, 1923 Anxious to see a football game between Washington & Jefferson University and West Virginia State, 18-year old Denver Gump steals a passenger train on the Morgantown & & Blackville Railroad (later Monongahela). Mr. Gump’s plan is foiled when the train derails after 2 miles.

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November 29, 2011 The Wisconsin & Southern is sold to Kansas-based WATCO.

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November 29, 2011 Amtrak expands on-board Wi-Fi service to all three of its state-supported California trains. Nearly 75% of Amtrak's passengers now have Wi-Fi access, the major exceptions being Amtrak's long distance trains.

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November 30, 1832 For the first time, the Post Office authorizes the carrying of mail via rail road.

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November 30, 1850 The Madison & Indianapolis Railroad (IN - later JM&I, PCC&St.L, PRR) ships 1,365 hogs from Franklin and Edinburg to Madison in a single train of 28 double-deck cars pulled by the locomotive "Governor Whitcomb".

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November 30, 1850 The Northern Indiana & Chicago Railroad (later LS&MS, NYC, PC, CR, NS) is chartered.

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November 30, 1871 The Toronto, Simcoe & Muskoka Junction Railway opens from Barrie to Orillia ON. CNR will abandon the line in September 1996.

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November 30, 1872 The first through train runs over Chicago & North Western tracks via Menominee WI and Escanaba MI to the national network.

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November 30, 1877 The Pennsylvania Company contracts to use Janney automatic couplers for $10 ($293.00 in 2023) per passenger car.

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November 30, 1890 The Peru & Detroit Railway is completed between Peru and Chili IN. It is immediately leased to the Wabash Railroad for 99 years. Later it will be purchased by the Winona & Warsaw Railway for their Peru extension.

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November 30, 1896 A tramline is opened between the English seaside towns of Brighton and Rottingdean. Two sets of two rails are laid to a gauge of 2' 8.5" and the two sets are then spaced 18' apart. The vehicles used on this tramway look like normal English trams, except wider, and they ride on four legs, each leg 24 feet high to allow for the tides of more than 15 feet. The vehicles are powered by overhead wire and will run until 1901. These trams will be used as inspiration for the CGI-rendered diving platforms in the 2005 movie "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

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November 30, 1897 Last day of operations at the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern roundhouse in White Pigeon MI. Operations have been transferred to Elkhart IN.

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November 30, 1901 President Roosevelt and other dignitaries travel in a special 3-car train to the Army-Navy game at Philadelphia.

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November 30, 1912 All-wood Pullman cars are banned by the Pennsylvania Railroad on mainline trains.

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November 30, 1917 The "Broadway Limited" is withdrawn for the duration of the war. New York Central will continue running the "20th Century Limited" as it does not have the freight congestion of the PRR.

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November 30, 1918 The Arcadia & Betsey River Railway is abandoned between Henry and Copemish MI. The track, tie plates and joiners are returned to the Ann Arbor Railroad, which had made the expansion from Henry possible in 1896.

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November 30, 1928 Interurban service ends between Jackson and Battle Creek MI.

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November 30, 1928 The Central Indiana Railway is abandoned between Muncie and Anderson, Lodoga, Waveland, Sand Creek and Brazil.

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November 30, 1950 Baldwin Locomotive Works and the Lima Locomotive Works merge to become Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation.

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November 30, 1965 United Aircraft Corporation unveils its plans for a 160 mph train powered by aircraft engines. The train is a direct descendant of the New York Central’s "Train X".

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November 30, 1985 Pere Marquette 2-8-4 1225 moves under steam for the first time in 34 years.

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December 1, 1824 The Montreal “Gazette” prints an editorial calling for the construction of a railway to link Lake Champlain with the St. Lawrence River. This line was eventually built, the Champlain & St. Lawrence (later M&NY, GTR, CN)

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December 1, 1845 The New York & Harlem (later NYC) reaches White Plains NY.

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December 1, 1852 The Auburn & Eel River Valley Railroad (later PRR) is incorporated in Indiana to run from the Auburn & Eel River Valley Railroad in DeKalb County to Logansport.

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December 1, 1852 The Pennsylvania Railroad first offers all-rail passenger and mail service across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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December 1, 1867 The Bay City & East Saginaw (later F&PM, PM, C&O) begins operations between its two namesake Michigan towns.

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December 1, 1867 The Boston & Albany merges with the Boston & Worcester and Western railroads.

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December 1, 1872 The management of the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago, Grand Rapids & Indiana, Michigan & Lake Shore, and Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroads (all later PRR) are consolidated with an office at Fort Wayne.

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December 1, 1873 Due to the Panic of 1873, wages of all employees on Pennsylvania Railroad's Lines West are cut by 10%.

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December 1, 1874 The Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad completes its Flint to Ludington route via Midland, Clare and Reed City.

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December 1, 1875 The Atlantic Coast Line begins publishing "Atlantic Coast Line Journal", one of the first advertising/travel magazines.

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December 1, 1883 The four horsecar lines operating in Grand Rapids MI combine to form a new company, the Street Railway of Grand Rapids.

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December 1, 1893 The Sandusky, Milan & Norwalk Electric Railway begins operations on its 20-mile line in Ohio. Some consider this line the first interurban.

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December 1, 1897 The Baltimore & Ohio changes its Chicago end point to Grand Central Station.

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December 1, 1901 The Chicago Kalamazoo & Saginaw completes its Pavilion Branch running southeast from Kalamazoo, connecting with the Grand Trunk at Pavilion. GT (et seq.) will lease this branch for access to Kalamazoo.

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December 1, 1903 "The Great Train Robbery", the first "Western" film, is released.

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December 1, 1905 Opening of the Marion & Bluffton Traction Company (IN), 32 miles.

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December 1, 1905 A group of investors meets to organize the Chicago-New York Electric Air Line Railroad. The idea behind the line is to make a railroad as nearly straight and level between the two namesake cites as physically possible. The line was to be made up of companies that would each build a short stretch. A small segment in Indiana will be all that ever opens.

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December 1, 1905 The Long Island Railroad extends its electrification from Hammel to Far Rockaway on the Rockaway Branch.

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December 1, 1913 The Buenos Aires Metro, the first underground railway in the Southern Hemisphere, begins operations.

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December 1, 1917 The Dayton, Springfield & Xenia Southern (OH Interurban) abandons its line between Beavertown [present day Kettering near the intersection of Wilmington Pike and Dorothy Lane] and Spring Valley.

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December 1, 1925 The Pennsylvania Railroad agrees with Ingersoll-Rand to test one of their oil-electric locomotives.

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December 1, 1929 Cleveland Union Terminal begins limited operation, serving ten westbound New York Central trains.

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December 1, 1933 The two remaining streetcar companies in Washington DC are consolidated under the Capitol Traction Company.

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December 1, 1937 Representatives of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Pullman and RCA meet in Chicago to discuss adding a Radio/Victrola system to the observation cars of the "Broadway Limited".

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December 1, 1938 In a blinding blizzard, a school bus in Sandy UT crosses the tracks in front of a Denver & Rio Grande Western freight train traveling at 60 mph. The driver stopped before crossing, as required by law, but did not open his doors to better hear the train approaching. The train dragged the bus about one-half mile before it could stop. Twenty-five students died along with the bus driver. The incident leads to the requirement that school buses stop and open their doors before crossing tracks. It remains the worst railroad crossing accident in United States history.

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December 1, 1939 Atlantic Coast Lines' "Champion" is introduced.

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December 1, 1942 Wartime gasoline rationing is imposed across the United States.

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December 1, 1947 With styling reminiscent of Raymond Loewy’s Pennsylvania Railroad T-1’s, South Australian Railways 4-8-4 No. 531 leaves Islington Railway Workshops, the last SAR steam locomotive built at Islington.

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December 1, 1949 Nickel Plate leases the Wheeling & Lake Erie for 99 years.

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December 1, 1951 The Laramie, North Park & Western is absorbed into the Union Pacific.

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December 1, 1952 Canadian Pacific Railway ushers in the modern intermodal era with the introduction of Trailer-On-Flat-Car service. Earlier attempts at intermodal date back to the 1830's.

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December 1, 1958 Boston & Maine continues cutting back passenger operations in its western regions and passenger trains no longer run through Hoosac Tunnel.

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December 1, 1959 The Virginian Railway is merged into the Norfolk & Western.

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December 1, 1963 The Pennsylvania Railroad begins "Operation Beaver": a paint-up, fix-up and clean-up program designed to put a cosmetic veneer over deferred maintenance.

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December 1, 1987 Digging begins on The Chunnel. Ten years later on this date it will "hole through".

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December 1, 1999 The Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad (The "Ma & Pa") is merged with Yorkrail to become York Railway Co.

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December 1, 2007 Norfolk Southern terminates its Joint Section agreement with Canadian National, initiated between the Wabash and the Grand Trunk in 1898, ending 109 years of operation into Ontario. However, NS and CN cannot come to agreement to handle Fort Erie interchange traffic, and service is allowed to continue under a new temporary agreement.

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Mark Tomlonson

November 28, 1962 An IND work train derailed and fell onto the street at Neptune Avenue-Van Sicklen on the Culver line in Coney Island, killing a crewman and cutting service with all D trains terminated at Kings Highway.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? November 28, 1967 The NYCTA added 2 new morning QB (Broadway-Brighton) trains, of which the 7:30 AM train replaced a QJ (Jamaica-Brighton), and an evening QB train. All QB and QJ trains used R-16s and R-27/30s and all D (6th Avenue-Bronx-Brighton) trains used R-1/9s and R-32s. Later, R-1/9s ran on the QJ.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? November 28, 1969 R-4 subway cars 434 and 634 were destroyed in a head-on collision at 167th Street on the IND Concourse line in the Bronx.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dennis M Linsky

November 28, 1909 Game Wardens in Floodwood, MI are surprised to discover their dogs “keying in” on a coffin waiting on the platform of the passenger station on the Milwaukee & Northern Railroad (later MILW). They open it and find the coffin is not filled with the remains of a hunter killed in an accident, but illegally taken game birds.

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November 28, 1917 The Pennsylvania Company agrees to transfer all of its railroad holdings to the Pennsylvania Railroad.

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November 28, 1920 Passenger service between Butler and Columbia City IN on the former Eel River Railroad is cut from two to one round trip daily.

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November 28, 1925 A Michigan Railway interurban car strikes an automobile at the Burton Street crossing in Grand Rapids, killing all 7 occupants of the car. The automobile had driven around another that was waiting for the approaching interurban when it was struck.

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November 28, 1928 Canadian National diesel-electric #9000 makes its initial test runs on the railroad.

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November 28, 1931 The Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena Railroad notifies shippers that the line will no longer handle freight east of Gaylord as of December 1.

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November 28, 1942 Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Shops coverts an X32 boxcar into a P30A troop sleeper for the first time. After the war, many veterans will refuse to ride trains due to their experiences in the cars.

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November 28, 1992 Three Englishmen begin their effort to set a record for the most miles traveled by rail in a single week. They succeed, covering 13,105 miles.

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November 28, 1995 Canadian National Railway is privatized, no longer a Crown Corporation.

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November 28, 2006 Nigeria holds a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Lagos-Kano railway. This joint venture with China is expected to be the first step in the modernization of the Nigerian Railway system.

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Mark Tomlonson