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
