December 18, 1867 The Cleveland. Painesville & Ashtabula’s (later NYC) “New York Express” derails at Angola NY when a passenger car with “compromise” trucks (allowing it to run on both 56.5” and 58” gauge) picks the point of a frog and derails. The derailed car rolls off a bridge and kills 49.
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December 18, 1881 The Michigan Central reaches the Straits of Mackinaw, building north from Bay City. (Some sources say December 31)
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December 18, 1893 The Ottawa, Amprior & Parry Sound Railway (later GT) opens an extension from Amprior to Eganville ON.
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December 18, 1908 The State of Michigan runs out of cash and cannot meet the state payroll. Several major railroads serving the state volunteer to pay a total of $750,000 (2024: $25.7 million) in advance taxes to help with the financial crunch.
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December 18, 1911 On the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, a silk train crashes into the rear of the “Columbian Flier” at Odessa MN. Twelve people are killed.
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December 18, 1936 The "Twin Cities Zephyr", an articulated trainset pulled by a separate diesel locomotive, is placed into service by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy between Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul MN.
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December 18, 1946 The Pennsylvania Railroad ends its commitment to steam with the $16.375 million (2024: $240.29 million) purchase of 19 6,000 HP passenger diesels (5 EMD E7's, 5 Alco PA's and 9 BLW Sharknoses), completing dieselization of Blue Ribbon trains. Also included: 6 EMD F3 7,500 HP freight diesels to experimentally dieselize one freight train each between Harrisburg/Chicago and Harrisburg/St. Louis.
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December 18, 1952 "Train X" makes its last test runs. Pennsylvania Railroad officials note that while the train can reach 106 mph, the ride is very unstable and uncomfortable.
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December 18, 1956 Aerotrain service, "City of Las Vegas", between Los Angeles and Las Vegas begins on the Union Pacific.
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December 18, 1962 The Interstate Commerce Commission approves Detroit, Toledo & Ironton control of the Ann Arbor Railroad.
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December 18, 1968 An I.C.C. examiner recommends the merger of the Chicago & North Western and the Milwaukee Road.
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December 18, 1983 Canadian National abondons track between Renfrew Junction and Whitney ON on its Renfrew Subdivision.
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Mark Tomlonson
