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February 17, 1848 The Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad (later NYC) is chartered. February 17, 1870 The Pullman Palace Car Company leases Central Transportation Company, retroactive to January 1, 1870 and absorbs its sleeping car fleet. This gives Pullman, formerly confined to some Midwestern roads, an additional 6,000 route-miles. February 17, 1871 William J. Pamer announces that the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad will be built to 3-foot gauge. February 17, 1872 The President of the Peninsular Railway (later GTW, CNR) writes to the Pennsylvania Company noting that his road is laid from Lansing MI to a point 12 miles west of South Bend. He proposes joining the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago (later PRR) at Valparaiso for a route to Chicago in exchange for Bonds and a favorable freight rate. His proposal will be declined. February 17, 1881 The first train operates between Norwood and Lebanon OH on the Cincinnati Northern Railway (later NYC). February 17, 1885 The Southern Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad are consolidated into the Southern Pacific Company, a Kentucky corporation. February 17, 1911 The Locomotive and Boiler Inspection Act sets regular and mandatory boiler inspections, to be performed by the ICC. February 17, 1912 The eastbound “Pennsylvania Limited” wrecks near Ft. Wayne. Four are killed and 10 injured. February 17, 1929 The Central Railroad of New Jersey debuts its new “Blue Comet” passenger train at a special showing. February 17, 1950 A head-on collision between two Long Island commuter trains at Rockville Center results in 32 deaths. February 17, 1961 An application to create the Burlington Northern Railroad is filed with the ICC. February 17, 2003 Heavy snow causes the roof of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore to collapse, damaging several exhibits. Mark Tomlonson

February 14, 1834 King Ludwig I of Bavaria approves the first railroad in Germany. February 14, 1842 Author Charles Dickens arrives in New York, after traveling from Boston via railroad and steamship. February 14, 1857 The State of Michigan awards a federal land grant between Grand Rapids and Little Traverse Bay to the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. February 14, 1867 The first car of flour shipped using the new Blue Line, a cooperative traffic agreement among several railroads, arrives in Boston from St. Louis via the New York Central, Great Western of Canada, Michigan Central and Chicago & North Western. The line also operates over the Illinois Central, St. Louis, Alton & Chicago, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Hudson River Railroad, Boston & Albany, Housatonic, Worcester & Nashua, and Providence & Worcester railroads. February 14, 1886 California orange groves ship the first trainload of fruit to the east. February 14, 1891 The last spike in the construction of the Great Northern is driven at Blaine WA. February 14, 1896 The Northern Pacific Railway opens Portland (OR) Union Station. February 14, 1897 Railroad reformer Robert R. Young is born. Chairman of the Board of Chesapeake & Ohio, Erie, Missouri Pacific, Nickel Plate, Pere Marquette, Wheeling & Lake Erie and finally New York Central, he is well known for his advertising campaign: "A hog can cross the country without changing trains but you can't". February 14, 1905 Workers tunneling for the Pennsylvania Railroad blast a hole under the Erie Railroad's Weehawken NJ yard. A number of freight cars are swallowed up by the hole, but no one is injured. February 14, 1915 The first position-light signals are placed in service between Overbrook and Bryn Mawr PA. Designed to increase signal visibility in electrified areas, they will eventually become a Pennsylvania Railroad standard. February 14, 1923 Great Lakes carferry "Ann Arbor #4" encounters a gale soon after leaving Frankfort MI. She turns around and heads back, but her load of freight cars break loose and careen about the deck. A huge wave hits her and swamps her. She founders against the Frankfort breakwater. No hands are lost, but some of the crew are injured. February 14, 1927 The first New York Central "J-1" Hudson locomotive is outshopped by Alco. February 14, 1932 The Kenosha Electric Railway ends operations. Streetcars will return to Kenosha in 2000. February 14, 1937 The first of 3 “buoy” trains moves on the Great Western Railway from Chepstow to Newport, England. The 24 navigation buoys in each train move on drop-center flat cars. The buoys are so wide they are placed on their sides and traffic on the adjacent track is diverted. February 14, 1998 In Yaounde, Cameroon, an oil train collides with another freight train. After the wreck, a person trying to scavenge some of the waste oil tosses a lit cigarette and sets off an explosion that kills 120. February 14, 2004 Tower 17 closes in Texas, the last in the state and the next to the last west of the Mississippi. February 14, 2007 A TGV train sets a new world speed record for conventional flanged-wheel-on-rail trains of 553 km/h (343.6 mph) breaking the 513.5 km/h record set in May 1990. The record will be broken again when preparations are made for an all-out attempt in April 2007. February 14, 2024 Following a rally celebrating the Kansas City Chief’s Super Bowl victory at Kansas City Union Station, gunfire erupts. One person, a local radio personality, is killed. Twenty-three others, including 9 children, are hurt. February 15, 1833 The Western Railroad of Massachusetts (later B&A) is chartered to build between Worchester MA and the New York state line. February 15, 1854 The Pennsylvania Railroad opens its Pittsburgh to Harrisburg main line, including Horseshoe curve. February 15, 1855 The Joliet & Chicago Railroad (later C&M, StlA&C, C&A, GM&O, ICG, CN) is chartered. It will be completed next year. February 15, 1857 The Michigan legislature ratifies the land grant awarded last June for the Flint & Pere Marquette (later PM, C&O, CSX) railroad. February 15,

February 13, 1849 The Vermont Central Railway opens from White River Junction south to Windsor VT. February 13, 1855 The Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad (later GTW) is formed by the merger of the Detroit & Pontiac and Oakland & Ottawa Railroad. This will create a continuous line from Detroit to Lake Michigan. (Some sources say February 12) February 13, 1859 The Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad (later CB&Q) completes construction between its two namesake cities. February 13, 1907 The New York Central & Hudson River Railroad uses an electric locomotive for the first time to pull a passenger train out of Grand Central Terminal. Earlier electric passenger trains used MU equipment. February 13, 1910 The Pennsylvania Railroad announces it has 324 all-steel passenger cars in service: 245 coaches, 21 combines, 10 diners, 29 baggage cars, 18 postal cars and one office car. This represents about 25% of the entire fleet. February 13, 1935 Madison, Wisconsin streetcar service ends as damage from an ice storm hastens the already-planned conversion to buses. February 13, 1954 Construction is completed on the Quebec, North Shore & Labrador, running 414 km (257 mi) from northeastern Quebec to Labrador. February 13, 1970 The Interstate Commerce Commission approves discontinuance of the “California Zephyr”. Mark Tomlonson

February 12, 1827 Two dozen Baltimore merchants, concerned over loss of trade to New York and Philadelphia, hold their first meeting to discuss a rail road to the West, to be built along the line of the National Road. February 12, 1849 The Aurora Branch Railroad is chartered, the first segment in what will be the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. February 12, 1855 Michigan passes a law requiring crews on passenger trains and depot personnel to wear badges on their hats or caps indicating their job title. February 12, 1868 The Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central Railway (later PCC&StL, PRR) is incorporated by the merger of the Columbus & Indiana Central Railway and Chicago & Great Eastern Railway The CC&IC operates between Columbus and Chicago via Logansport and between Columbus and Indianapolis, with a branch from Logansport to Effner. February 12, 1871 Equipment owned by the New York City Fire Department is shipped by flatcar to assist in fighting a blaze in Baltimore. February 12, 1879 The Board of the Pennsylvania Railroad gives the Altoona (PA) Library Association $500 (2025: $15,596) and the use of a room at the Altoona Shops to create a library for the use of PRR employees. February 12, 1880 The Tawas & Bay County Railroad (MI, later D&M)) purchases the Lake Huron & Southwestern Railway. February 12, 1900 The Pennsylvania Railroad Lines West Executive Committee authorizes the further expansion of Conway Yard, including a lengthened turntable for Class H4 and H6 locomotives. February 12, 1900 The Escanaba & Lake Superior Railway is reorganized as part of bankruptcy and becomes the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad February 12, 1901 In two separate acts, Congress requires the Baltimore & Ohio and the Pennsylvania Railroads to eliminate grade crossings within the District of Columbia and to build new passenger stations. February 12, 1929 The Vatican Railroad is authorized by a treaty with the Italian government. February 12, 1930 The Columbia City and Logansport (IN) RPO is discontinued. February 12, 1933 The last passenger train runs between Niles and Benton Harbor on the New York Central. February 12, 1934 In Chicago, Union Pacific takes delivery of M-10000, later known as the "City of Salina". It begins a nationwide tour of 12,625 miles. Some of that mileage will be run at 111 mph. February 12, 1953 The New York Central sells 28 acres of its old coach yard in Boston. The land will be developed as the Prudential Center. February 12, 1964 Over 10,000 fans swarm Penn Station in New York to see “The Beatles”, who have arrived on a train from Washington DC. They will play two shows at Carnegie Hall later tonight. February 12, 2008 Arthur Lewis passes away at the age of 89. Mr. Lewis was an investment banker who oversaw both the creation of Amtrak and the creation of Conrail. He also worked for a bus-lobbying group and headed several airlines. February 12, 2012 Berkshire Hathaway acquires the BNSF Railway for $44 billion ($61 billion in 2025). Mark Tomlonson

February 11, 1848 Ohio passes a General Railroad Law. It requires all new railroads in the state to be built with a 4'-10" gauge and complete construction within seven years of being granted a charter. February 11, 1849 The Peoria & Oquawka Railroad (later CB&Q) is chartered in Illinois. February 11, 1855 The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad is formed. February 11, 1859 The Kansas Territorial Legislature charters what will be the Santa Fe Railway, primarily due to the instigation of Cyrus Holliday. The company will be incorporated as the Atchison & Topeka Railway Company. Construction of the line is delayed by drought and the outbreak of the Civil War. February 11, 1862 The 13th Michigan infantry leaves Kalamazoo for the front lines in 21 coaches, 10 baggage and 8 freight cars. February 11, 1869 Following an investigation requested by the legislature, the Michigan Attorney General reports that the Grand Rapids & Indiana is insolvent and recommends dissolution. February 11, 1870 The Warsaw, Goshen & White Pigeon Railroad (later BIG Four, NYC, PC, CR, NS) is authorized by the Indiana State Assembly to build 24 miles between Goshen & Warsaw. February 11, 1904 The Chicago River & Indiana Railroad (later NYC) is incorporated. February 11, 1908 The Pennsylvania Railroad issues an order forbidding the use of profanity in its shops. February 11, 1932 Dessert is added to the $1.25 (2025: $27.98) combination plate and a $2.00 ($44.77) steak dinner is added on Pennsylvania Railroad east-west passenger trains. February 11, 1948 New York Central’s “Pacemaker” becomes its first of 28 all-new post war passenger trains. February 11, 1956 Rock Island's Aerotrain, "Jet Rocket" begins service between Chicago and Peoria. February 11, 1997 Mona MacDonald Tippens of Arkansas ends her record-setting 79,841 miles of unduplicated train travel in 33 countries. She began her travels 28 months earlier. She will later write "Tomorrow The Train: Journey to the World Record", a book about her travels. February 11, 1998 Canadian National purchases the Illinois Central for $2.4 billion (US - $4.68 billion in 2025 dollars) in cash and shares. February 11, 2023 The Siemens plant in Sacramento CA completes the last of 10 trainsets for Florida’s “Brightline” service. Mark Tomlonson

February 10, 1851 The Illinois Central Railroad receives its charter. It is the first land-grant railroad in the United States. February 10, 1879 The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie begins freight operations. February 10, 1887 The Lake Erie & Western Railroad (later NYC, NKP) is chartered. February 10, 1892 The Pennsylvania Railroad hosts a rail tour from New York City via New Orleans to Mexico City. The tour will last 4 weeks and cost $450 ($15,423 in 2025). February 10, 1903 Union Traction Company opens its Elwood to Tipton [IN] line. February 10, 1908 The Chicago Great Western declares bankruptcy for the first time. February 10, 1927 The Chicago South Shore & South Bend shows off its new DC-powered interurban cars to an invited audience of 125 newspapermen, city officials and other dignitaries. The general public will see the new cars in a few days. February 10, 1935 GG-1 electric locomotives make their first revenue run as through electric service begins between New York and Washington on the Pennsylvania Railroad. February 10, 1942 RCA Victor spray paints one of its masters gold and presents it to Glenn Miller for "Chattanooga Choo Choo". The song has sold over a million recordings, but this "Gold Record" is a publicity stunt. The first Gold Record, an award from the Recording Industry of America, will be given 16 years later. February 10, 1950 Canadian National Railway gains control of Temiscouta Railway, operating in Quebec and New Brunswick. February 10, 1989 A fire started by an electric kiln guts the 107 year old Durango CO roundhouse of the Durango & Silverton Railroad. The fire reaches 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and damages all six locomotives stored in the roundhouse. Mark Tomlonson

February 7, 1841 The Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, earliest predecessor of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific is incorporated. February 7, 1849 Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri proposes a transcontinental railroad on the floor of the Senate. February 7, 1855 The Buffalo & Mississippi and the Northern Indiana & Chicago railroads (later LS&NI, LS&MS, NYC) merge, forming the Northern Indiana Railroad. February 7, 1871 The Clayton & Theresa Railroad (NY, later NYC) is chartered. February 7, 1880 The first Grand Trunk passenger train leaves Chicago for points east. February 7, 1899 The Raquette Lake Railway (NY, later NYC) is chartered. February 7, 1922 The van Sweringen brothers buy the Toledo, St. Louis & Western, also known as "The Clover Leaf". It will become part of their Nickel Plate Road. February 7, 1940 British railroads are nationalized. February 7, 1950 The Illinois Northern is acquired from International Harvester by the Santa Fe, Burlington, Pennsylvania and New York Central railroads. February 7, 1954 Detroit's Jefferson Avenue trolley line is converted to bus. February 7, 1962 A derailing Pennsylvania Railroad freight train demolishes the Wayland MI passenger depot. February 7, 1973 The RTV31 tracked hovercraft is given its first tests in the United Kingdom. The vehicle, an early version of Mag-Lev trains, is cancelled a week later due to budget cuts. February 7, 1979 "Supertrain" debuts on NBC. The TV series, patterned after "Love Boat" but set on a super-wide, super-luxurious train, will be a super-bomb. It is the most expensive TV series to date, and its failure coupled with the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games will nearly bankrupt NBC. February 7, 1983 Elizabeth Dole, the first female Secretary of Transportation is sworn in. February 7, 1995 Santa Fe President Robert Krebs announces that AT&SF stockholders have “overwhelmingly approved” the merger with Burlington Northern. February 8, 1855 The first passenger train leaves Halifax NS. February 8, 1867 The first through passenger train from Council Bluffs, IA arrives in Chicago over the Chicago & North Western Railway. It is the first such through service to the Missouri River. February 8, 1879 The Pennsylvania Railroad tests a passenger train that is heated by a steam boiler located in the baggage car. February 8, 1883 Maine’s first railroad, the Bangor, Oldtown & Milford (later MEC) is chartered. February 8, 1904 The Interborough Rapid Transit tests a steel subway car on the 2nd Avenue El. February 8, 1913 The Great Northern receives its first motor cars, numbered 2300 and 2301. February 8, 1918 The USRA announces that it will standardize rolling stock for all new equipment orders. February 8, 1985 Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole recommends selling the government's share of Conrail common stock to Norfolk Southern Corporation for $1.2 billion ($3.57 billion in 2025). This is before the formal merger of the Norfolk & Western and Southern Railroads in 1990. February 8, 1985 A judge approves the Soo Line’s bid for the Milwaukee Road. The Chicago & North Western withdraws its offer. February 8, 1986 A Canadian National freight runs a red signal in Dalehurst AB, possibly because the crew was asleep, and crashes head-on into VIA's train No. 4. Twenty-three people are killed; 71 are injured. Most of the first responders come from Hinton, just over 18 km (11 miles) away. February 8, 2002 The last EMD FP45 makes its last revenue run on the Wisconsin Central. February 8, 2022 Amtrak’s new ALC42 locomotives make their first run on the westbound “Empire Builder”, in a trip hampered by a component failure on one of the ALC42’s, a fire on one of Amtrak’s passenger cars and a grade crossing collision. February 9, 1853 The Cairo & Fulton Railroad (later CA&T, StLIM&S, MP, UP) is chartered to build a railroad across Arkansas from the Missouri State Line to Texas. February 9, 1875 The Troy & Greenfield Railroad (later B&M) opens Hoosac Tunnel, the longest railroad tunnel in the United States east of the Mississippi River.. February 9, 1875 Theodore N

February 6, 1815 John Stevens of Hoboken NJ is granted the first charter to build a railroad in the United States, the New Jersey Railroad Company. The line is never built. (Some sources say 1816). February 6, 1835 The Buffalo & Mississippi Railroad (later NI, LS&MS) is chartered to run from Buffalo NY to the Mississippi River. February 6, 1837 The Buffalo & Mississippi Railroad changes its name to the Northern Indiana Railroad (later LS&MS). The line will manage to do some grading between Michigan City and La Porte IN before the money runs out. February 6, 1843 Through service begins between Albany and Buffalo with a gap at Rochester. The journey over several rail lines takes two days, with an overnight stop at Syracuse eastbound and Auburn westbound to avoid night running in winter. February 6, 1862 Pennsylvania Railroad executive and Assistant Secretary of War Tom Scott begins a trip scouting railroads in the Midwest for possible use against the South. The knowledge Scott gains will be called on during the PRR's postwar expansion. February 6, 1871 A New York Central & Hudson River passenger train strikes a derailed oil car near New Hamburg NY. The resulting fire kills 22. February 6, 1873 The Springfield, Athol & Northeastern Railroad (later B&A) is formed to rename the Athol & Enfield Railroad. February 6, 1879 Henry Roe Campbell, a pioneering Civil Engineer and the inventor of the 4-4-0 type steam locomotive, dies at the age of 72. February 6, 1883 The first train from New Orleans via the Southern Pacific’s new “Sunset Route” reaches San Antonio. The first train from Los Angeles will arrive in San Antonio tomorrow. February 6, 1891 The Dalton gang robs its first train. February 6, 1908 The Kanauga Traction Company opens, operating with gas-electric cars between Gallipolis OH and Point Pleasant WV. February 6, 1908 The Florida East Coast opens its Florida Keys Extension to Knights Key, 47 miles from Key West, with a boat connection to Havana. February 6, 1951 Pennsylvania Railroad's "The Broker" is routed onto a temporary wooden overpass, built to allow construction of a permanent bridge over the New Jersey Turnpike. The train derails due to excessive speed. Some cars fall off the overpass, killing 85 of the 1,100 passengers. It is the deadliest U.S. train wreck since World War II. It is the third deadliest in US History. February 6, 1952 The New York Central approaches a consulting firm to study NYC's operating losses and to tailor its passenger services to actual demand. Mark Tomlonson

February 5, 1834 As railroads debate the use of steam over horse power, a satiric column appears in the West Chester Village Record urging the use of horse-drawn vehicles on the Columbia Railroad. The piece points out "the use of horses will create jobs for horse-breeders, blacksmiths, farriers, feed-growers, etc." The piece also says, "horses can go up to 12 mph and people should not desire to go faster. Besides only the rich will be able to afford locomotives." February 5, 1834 Inventor Matthew A. Cherry is born, On January 1, 1895 he will be awarded a patent for his invention of a streetcar fender, a device designed to protect pedestrians. February 5, 1838 The Central Railroad of Michigan reaches Ypsilanti from the east. February 5, 1853 The Mississippi & Missouri Railroad (later CRI&P) is given an Iowa charter to build between Davenport and Council Bluffs. February 5, 1883 Collis P. Huntington gains full control of a number of smaller railroads, allowing him to create the Southern Pacific’s “Sunset Route” from New Orleans to California. February 5, 1896 The Mill Valley & Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railway (CA) begins construction. Known as “The Crookedest Railroad in the World”, built as a tourist line, its longest stretch of straight track is 413 feet long. February 5, 1916 The last railroad-owned horse-drawn taxicabs are withdrawn from major Pennsylvania Railroad Stations. Increasing competition from private, motorized taxis have ended the service. February 5, 1927 Buster Keaton's movie "The General", the story of the Civil War Andrew's raid, is released. It bombs on its first release although it's now considered a classic. February 5, 1950 The San Diego & Arizona (later SD&AE) tries out its first diesel locomotive, in freight service. February 5, 1976 The Final System Plan for Conrail is signed into law. February 5, 1989 The Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe and J.B. Hunt truck lines set up an alliance whereby J.B. Hunt traffic will be moved off the roads and onto Santa Fe intermodal routes. The alliance begins when J.B. Hunt himself rides in a Santa Fe office car and sees how smoothly intermodal cars move across Illinois. February 5, 1998 Canadian National confirms that it is in negotiations to buy Illinois Central Corporation. This will add 3,450 miles (5,552 km) of track to CN at a proposed price of $2.3 billion. [2025: $4.5 billion] Mark Tomlonson

February 4, 1830 The Camden & Amboy Rail Road, the first to be built in New Jersey, is chartered. February 4, 1832 The first street railroad opens in the United States in the Bowery in New York City. The line uses horse-drawn cars running on iron rails. February 4, 1841 President-elect William Henry Harrison becomes the first president-elect to travel by train to the inaugural, changing from stagecoach to the Baltimore & Ohio at Frederick, MD. February 4, 1887 The Interstate Commerce Act is signed into law, setting up a commission to regulate rates on the railroads and ensure that the interests of farmers and small businessmen are represented. Thomas Cooley of Michigan is the commission's first Chairman. February 4, 1895 The first rolling lift bridge opens to rail traffic in Chicago. February 4, 1907 The Pennsylvania Railroad completes its first all-steel RPO car at Altoona. February 4, 1911 In honor of the work being done on the canal, Illinois Central names its premier passenger train the "Panama Limited". February 4, 1930 New Orleans opens "tieless, shockless, noiseless" streetcar tracks. February 4, 1941 Santa Fe FT A-B-B-A set #100 becomes the first FT in revenue service and the first diesels used on a road freight on the Santa Fe. February 4, 1941 The USO (United Service Organizations) is formed by the merger of six charitable groups. In addition to entertaining troops, the USO will provide station lounges for in-transit U.S. service men. February 4, 1948 The last steam engine built for the Santa Fe, 4-8-4 #3752, is test fired at the factory. February 4, 1966 The last RPO car operates in suburban service: Southern Pacific, San Francisco to San Jose. February 4, 1977 In Chicago’s “loop”, a CTA train hits the rear of a standing train. Motorman Stephan Martin continued to increase power to his train, forcing cars off the tracks and onto the streets below. Eleven are killed and 180 injured, the worst accident in CTA history. February 4, 2016 “Felix”, a cat on duty as “Senior Pest Controller” since 2011 in Huddersfield Station, England is given her own cat door to allow her to pass through the gates keeping non-paying passengers away from the trains. The newly installed gates had prevented Felix from carrying out her task of keeping the station vermin-free. February 4, 2020 Durango & Southern 493 undergoes its first tests as an oil burner. The D&S is converting its coal burners to oil to prevent sparks that may start forest fires in the Colorado mountains. February 4, 2022 Google announces it is joining Ford in the renovation of Detroit’s former Michigan Central station. Google will provide cloud-based services and training. Ford reports that to this date it has spent $740 million on the restoration project. Mark Tomlonson

February 3, 1858 A Michigan act extends the time to complete the first 20 miles of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad from December 1, 1857 to December 1, 1858, and to complete the whole line to November 5, 1865. This will be the first of many extensions granted to the GR&I. February 3, 1862 Thomas Edison becomes the first newspaper publisher to distribute his paper on a train. He sells his one-page Weekly Herald on a Grand Trunk train between Port Huron and Detroit. February 3, 1869 The Grand Rapids & Lake Shore Railroad (later PM, C&O, CSX) is formed. Next year the company will build a line between Muskegon and Nunica. February 3, 1881 The New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, known for most of its life as the Nickel Plate Road, is formed. February 3, 1893 Carferry Ann Arbor No. 1 is caught in the ice near Green Bay WI and will remain there for the next 63 days. February 3, 1903 The first Kenosha Electric Railway (interurban) opens for business. February 3, 1906 Thieves use nitroglycerin to break open the station safe in the Chicago Great Western depot in Marshalltown IA. The total take: $1.38 in pennies (2025 value: $47.83) from the station’s gumball machine. February 3, 1918 San Francisco's Twin Peaks Tunnel, the longest (11,920 feet) streetcar tunnel, opens. The tunnel connects Market & Castro streets with West Portal and Ulloa. February 3, 1929 The Pennsylvania and Wabash railroads begin a through sleeping car service between Cincinnati and Detroit. February 3, 1930 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton ends freight service between Tecumseh and Dundee MI. Passenger service to Dundee was dropped last month. February 3, 1958 Railway Age Magazine reports 1,377 active steamers on U.S. rails and 1,709 in Canada. Mikados (2-8-2) are the most common type still steaming. The editors add, "The future of steam is in a museum." February 3, 1970 Great Northern issues its last public timetable. February 3, 1995 Canadian National sells the former Central Vermont line from New London CT to East Alborg VT to RailTex. RailTex will operate the line as the New England Central Railroad. February 3, 2004 Australia runs the first Trans-continental Adelaide to Darwin train. February 3, 2015 The Toronto Transit Commission removes a route sign it had posted at Downsview station last December after members of the public reported it looked too much like a penis. Other passengers who saw it thought it looked like a fungus or mushroom. February 3, 2016 Sir Elton John plays a quick impromptu concert in St. Pancras’ station in London, surprising commuters. He then donates the piano he played to the station for use by passers-by. February 3, 2020 Taking advantage of air rights obtained in 1977, construction begins on a 51-story skyscraper over the tracks of Boston’s South Station. February 3, 2023 A 150-car Norfolk Southern train traveling from Illinois to Pennsylvania derails in East Palestine OH. Thirty-eight cars derail. Those cars plus an additional 12 cars that have stayed on the tracks catch fire. Mark Tomlonson

January 31, 1853 The Black River & Utica Railroad (later RW&O, NYC&HR, NYC) is incorporated. January 31, 1862 The Railways & Telegraph Act authorizes President Lincoln to seize and operate any railroad or telegraph line needed for the war effort. It also creates the U.S. Military Railroads to operate captured Confederate lines. January 31, 1882 The Rochester & Ontario Belt Railway (later NYC) is incorporated. January 31, 1905 The New York Central & Hudson River Railway takes over control of the Ottawa & New York Railway. January 31, 1918 The USRA begins operating trains loaded with just food and supplies for the Allies from St. Louis and Chicago to Eastern ports. The trains are run on a 60-hour schedule, versus 8-14 days previously. January 31, 1925 Trolley service ends in Ann Arbor MI January 31, 1927 The Cambridge Power Light & Traction Company is shut down by its owners, the Ohio Service Company, who can no longer justify serving the mere 3,000 people living along its route. January 31, 1932 Railway unions in the United States accept a 10% pay cut in hopes of easing the effects of the Depression on the railroads which will in turn allow them to keep their jobs. January 31, 1932 Findlay OH loses streetcar service. January 31, 1935 Union Pacific's M-10000 enters service as the "City of Salina" between Salina KS and Kansas City. The 116-seat train carries an average 280 passengers per round trip. January 31, 1939 The Pennsylvania Railroad's Class S1 6-4-4-6 duplex passenger locomotive leaves Altoona. It is the first steam locomotive out of Altoona since 1930. The locomotive will prove to be too big in many respects and will be confined to service between Chicago IL and Crestline OH. The lessons learned from this locomotive will be applied to PRR's class T1 4-4-4-4. January 31, 1951 The “Philadelphia Enquirer” reports that in 1950 the Lionel Corporation earned more than Baldwin Locomotive Works. January 31, 1957 Last passenger service on the Illinois Central to Paducah KY. January 31, 1961 The Decatur (MI) depot is closed by the New York Central. The small-town station had no scheduled stops and few riders. The planned consolidation of freight agent services in Kalamazoo has rendered the depot obsolete. January 31, 2000 Amtrak's New Haven to Boston electrification project is completed. January 31, 2009 Canadian National takes control of most of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. CN has acquired the line to connect its Wisconsin Central, Illinois Central and Grand Trunk lines while avoiding the congestion of Chicago. January 31, 2011 FedEx begins using BNSF and Norfolk Southern Intermodal services as part of its Less-Than-Truckload division. January 31, 2012 WATCO completes its purchase of the Ann Arbor Railroad, running between Ann Arbor and Toledo. January 31, 2018 A chartered Amtrak train carrying 200 Republican Senators and Representatives to a retreat at White Sulphur Springs strikes a garbage truck at a grade crossing near Charlottesville, Virginia. The truck driver is killed and the Amtrak head-end crew suffers injuries. Three of the Congressmen who are also medical doctors assist with the injured. January 31, 2022 The South Shore’s 11th Street station building in Michigan City IN, closed since 1987, is torn down. The fa?ade of the building is saved and will be used on a new Michigan City station after South Shore tracks are taken out of 11th Street and a second track is added. The new alignment will reduce travel time between Michigan City and Chicago from 1 hour 40 minutes to 67 minutes, allowing additional trains. February 1, 1832 "The Western Immigrant" newspaper of Ann Arbor MI suggests transcontinental railroad, the first mention in print of such a project. February 1, 1846 The first train arrives in Kalamazoo on the Central Rail Road of Michigan. February 1, 1854 The first train to use a single gauge over the entire trip between Buffalo NY and Erie PA on the Buffalo & State Line Railroad (later LS&MS, NYC) makes its run. February 1, 1869 The Carthage, Watertown & Sackets Harbor Railroad (later NYC) is chartered. Fe

January 30, 1834 The first railroad built in Kentucky, linking Lexington and Frankfort, is completed. January 30, 1875 The Detroit, Hillsdale & South Western (later LS&MS, NYC) is incorporated. It will run between Ypsilanti and Bankers MI. January 30, 1883 The Toledo & Indianapolis (later T&OC, NYC) is completed. January 30, 1902 The Detroit Manufacturers Railroad (later NYC) is incorporated. January 30, 1905 The Halifax & South Western (later CN) opens, connecting Halifax to Yarmouth NS. January 30, 1923 The Grand Trunk is absorbed into the Canadian National. The Grand Trunk within the United States is spun off and becomes the Grand Trunk Western. CN will operate the GTW as a subsidiary. January 30, 1939 Streetcar service ends in Ashtabula OH. January 30, 1950 The Pennsylvania Railroad announces the beginning of "Keystone" freight service for less-than-carload freight. Five hundred boxcars and 3,000 containers are purchased. The new equipment along with higher freight train speeds are designed in part to compete with the New York Central's "Pacemaker" service introduced in 1946. January 30, 1985 Amtrak's "Cardinal" is pulled by steam, 4-8-4 #614T. The locomotive is winding up a month of tests, hoping to prove a modern coal-burning steam locomotive can compete with an oil-burning diesel. January 30, 2001 Master Railroad photographer O. Winston Link dies. Best known for his nighttime shots of the Norfolk & Western, some of his work reaches the status of cultural icon, quoted in commercials, music videos and TV's "The Simpsons". Mark Tomlonson

January 27, 1824 The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company is incorporated in Virginia. January 27, 1836 The State of Indiana enacts "Internal Improvements" legislation, calling for roads, canals and railroads to be built. The program is to be funded by a $10.5 million loan. (2025: $354 million) January 27, 1840 The New Jersey Railroad Board approves the issuing of commuter tickets, good between Jersey City and Newark, for $100 per year. (2025: $3,608) January 27, 1851 The first train arrives in Dayton OH, on a trip that started in Springfield on the tracks of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Company (later CCC&StL, NYC). January 27, 1854 The Great Western Railway (later GT, CN) opens between London and Windsor Ontario. January 27, 1870 The Pennsylvania Railroad signs its first contract with the Pullman Company. January 27, 1877 The Fairland, Franklin & Martinsville Railroad (later Big Four, NYC, PC) is incorporated as a reorganization of the Cincinnati & Martinsville. January 27, 1879 The worst wreck in monorail history occurs when the Bradford & Foster Brook Monorail in Pennsylvania tests its new steam locomotive. Running at high speed to demonstrate its capacity, the boiler explodes, killing the fireman, engineer and three company officials riding a flatcar behind the engine. Other passengers were severely injured. The line will close shortly after. January 27, 1883 The Toledo & Indianapolis (later T&OC, NYC) reaches Bowling Green OH. The first “train” is a handcar. January 27, 1889 The last passenger car in a Chicago & North Western train derails, overturns, and then is dragged over tree stumps near Elmwood MI. Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor and an acquaintance are killed, January 27, 1912 The Pennsylvania Railroad reports that last year's "Safety First" campaign has reduced injuries by 66%. January 27, 1920 Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for Cincinnati’s subway. January 27, 1935 The Pennsylvania Railroad begins service between New York and Washington DC with its new GG-1 electric locomotive. January 27, 1940 The Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn Railroad, a narrow-gauge suburban railroad, discontinues operations in preparation for abandonment. January 27. 1947 The Chesapeake & Ohio begins accepting credit cards as payment for passenger tickets. January 27, 1962 Washington DC streetcars run for the last time. January 27, 1976 The Hillsdale County Railroad is incorporated. Operations will begin in April on former Penn Central routes in Hillsdale County MI, with extensions to Stubenville IN and Quincy MI. January 27, 2011 Amtrak begins providing WiFi service to Cascades Service riders between Eugene OR and Vancouver BC. Plans are being formed to extend the service system wide. Mark Tomlonson

January 28, 1823 The Pennsylvania Senate passes a bill allowing John Stevens to build a railroad from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania House will kill the bill in Committee. January 28, 1842 The State of Indiana halts funding of its Internal Improvements program, save for the Wabash & Erie Canal. All work on state railroads is halted. January 28, 1855 The first through train runs on the Panama Railway, the first transcontinental (trans-isthmus?) railroad. January 28, 1877 The Lake George & Muskegon River Railroad, Michigan's first logging road begins operations in Clare County. January 28, 1882 Cable cars begin service in Chicago IL. January 28, 1901 Cleveland OH shuts down its cable car service. January 28, 1907 The Winona & Warsaw Railway (a.k.a. Winona Interurban Railway) begins operations between Peru and Chili IN over the former Peru & Detroit Railway line it purchased last year. January 28, 1907 The New York Central & Hudson River Railroad begins electrified service in MU cars between Grand Central and Wakefield. Some trains continue to White Plains behind steam. January 28, 1919 The New York Central opens the "Commodore Hotel" across the street from Grand Central Terminal with 2,000 rooms. January 28, 1930 Streetcar service ends in Port Huron, MI. January 28, 1935 Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 Number 4800 brings the first electrically powered train out of Washington DC's Union Station with a round trip to New York City for the press and railroad and government VIP's. January 28, 1957 The Great Northern begins the use of a Univac 1 for payroll preparation. January 28, 1965 The ICC, in a contentious 6-5 decision, rules against Monon’s plans for water-rail-water coal service between the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. Monon has purchased 9 Alco C-628’s in anticipation of the service being approved. January 28, 1971 Transportation Secretary John Volpe reveals the basic system of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation or "Railpax". The system consists of 21 routes. January 28, 2002 The World Trade Center Station on the NYC Subway system reopens for the first time since the destruction of the Twin Towers. January 28, 2009 In China, a special passenger train added to handle the crux of passengers during the Lunar New Year holiday leaves Shanxi Province for Beijing with only two passengers. Chinese Railway officials believe that the tickets for the train were scooped up by scalpers and later seized in a raid by police. January 28, 2010 President Obama announces awards of $8 billion in Recovery Act funds for High-Speed Rail projects. January 28, 2014 The Mineral Range Railroad begins. The northern Michigan railroad operates on 12 miles of ex-Lake Superior & Ishpeming trackage along with an additional 1.9 miles of abandoned line that has been put back in service. The new line will serve the newly-built Humbolt Mill. Mark Tomlonson

January 29, 1830 Papers are filed for the first railroad incorporated in Kentucky, the Lexington & Ohio Railroad Company. January 29, 1834 In the first use of federal troops to put down a labor dispute, President Jackson calls on the War Department to quell a "riotous assembly" of Irish workers on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. January 29, 1835 The Morris & Essex Railroad (later DL&W) is incorporated in New Jersey to build from Newark to Morristown and further west. January 29, 1871 The Baltimore & Ohio stops charging state tax on through New York-Washington passengers using the Washington Branch. It had continued to collect the tax from passengers even though it hadn't been collected by Maryland for years. January 29, 1873 The gap between the eastern and western sections of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad is closed at Hawks Nest WV, completing the line to the Ohio River at Huntington WV. January 29, 1880 The Columbus, Hope & Greenburg Railroad (later NYC) is incorporated. January 29, 1902 Streetcar service extends from Appleton to Kaukauna WI. January 29, 1907 New York Central’s electrification project for Grand Central Terminal reaches High Bridge NY. January 29, 1909 The final spike is driven for the Virginian Railway. January 29, 1917 The Wabash Railroad leaves Pittsburgh, and the Wabash-Pittsburgh Terminal Railroad becomes the Pittsburgh & West Virginia. January 29, 1927 The U.S. Post Office issues the first private mail contract, to William Boeing and Edward Hubbard to carry mail between Chicago and San Francisco. January 29, 1929 The Orient Express becomes trapped in snow in Western Turkey for seven days, an event that will be fictionalized in Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express". January 29, 1940 Three trains collide in Osaka, Japan. The resulting explosion near Ajikawaguchi Station kills 181 people. January 29, 1963 Alco introduces its "Century" line of diesel Locomotives. January 29, 2010 An Illinois woman sues METRA, saying that she was injured by an exploding toilet one year ago today on a METRA train. January 29, 2022 WATCO assumes operation of 328 miles of former CN trackage in Wisconsin as well as 143 miles in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Wisconsin trackage will operate under the “Fox Valley & Lake Superior” name. Michigan operations will be headquartered in Newberry MI as a new division of the Grand Elk railroad. Mark Tomlonson

January 24, 1828 Horatio Allen of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company sets sail for England. His mission is to examine rail roads in that country and to buy 5 steam locomotives of no more than 5 ? tons, one of which is to come from Robert Stephenson & Co. January 24, 1833 Freight service begins on the Camden & Amboy Railroad. Three cars, each pulled by its own horse, provide the service. January 24, 1848 William Marshall discovers gold at Sutter's Mill on the American River in California. This discovery, combined with famine and revolution in Europe, will restore prosperity in the United States. Many railroad projects will be revived and new ones launched, particularly in the Midwest. January 24, 1853 The Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad Company (later LS&MS, NYC, PC, CR, NS) opens, forming the last link in the chain of roads from Chicago to New York and Boston. January 24, 1916 In “Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad”, the United States Supreme Court rules that the Federal Income Tax is legal. January 24, 1954 Cleveland streetcars make their last revenue run. January 24, 1970 President & Mrs. Nixon take the Metroliner from Washington to Philadelphia to attend a chamber music concert. January 24, 1980 Bankruptcy Judge Frank McGarr orders the shutdown of the Rock Island Railroad. Lines south of Kansas City will quit by March 24. All other lines will finish up by March 31. January 25, 1842 Locomotive builder Baldwin & Vail tests a six-wheel geared locomotive. It will later be used on the Philadelphia & Reading. January 25, 1853 The Cincinnati, Cambridge & Chicago Short Line Railway (later PRR) is incorporated in Indiana to build from New Castle southward to the Ohio state line. January 25, 1899 The St. Joseph, South Bend & Southern (later MC, NYC) is incorporated in Indiana to acquire the Indiana & Lake Michigan. January 25, 1905 Fairview Yard on the Pennsylvania Railroad is re-named "Enola", matching the nearest station and Post Office. A land company is authorized by the PRR to develop a town at Enola for employees. January 25, 1907 The Chicago, South Bend & Northern Indiana takes over all of the property owned by the Northern Indiana. The public will generally continue to refer to the new interurban company as the Northern Indiana. January 25, 1911 In Harrisburg PA the Pennsylvania Road Improvement train makes its first of 165 stops. The train carries experts and demonstrations of how farmers can use logs and other equipment to improve farm roads. January 25, 1919 "Hotel Pennsylvania" opens in New York City. It is located across the street from Penn Station. With 2,200 rooms to handle mostly railroad travelers, it will be the world's largest hotel until 1927. January 25, 1928 The Board of the Pennsylvania Railroad authorizes spending $25,000 ($456,000 in 2025) for one Cummins Diesel locomotive. January 25, 1959 American Airlines makes the first commercial domestic flight of a Boeing 707 airliner. The 707, along with the Interstate Highway System, will deal major blows to the U.S. passenger rail system. January 25, 1963 Two thousand employees strike Florida East Coast Railway when the railroad proposes reducing the number of people required in a train crew. The strike will remain unsettled for nine years. January 25, 1973 Canadian National Railways expands the Turbos to 9-car sets, eliminating two Turbos. The remaining equipment is stored and will eventually be sold to Amtrak. January 25, 1979 22.2-km (13.79 mile) Oshimizu railroad tunnel is "holed through" in Honshu, Japan. January 25, 1995 Amtrak operates its last Dome car as the Lake Shore Limited pulls into Chicago. (Some full-length dome cars will continue.) January 25, 2011 The Association of American Railroads announces that the car defect card, in use for almost 125 years, is discontinued. Instead of using the 3.5 x 8 inch card, problems with freight cars will now be reported and tracked using AAR's Raillinc car-tracking program. January 25, 2021 Amtrak tests four of their new Siemens “Venture” cars between Chicago and Pontiac MI. Testing will look at 110-mph

January 23, 1869 George Westinghouse applies for his first air-brake patent. January 23, 1872 The Baltimore & Ohio completes the first grain elevator at Locust Point, Baltimore. January 23, 1876 A plan is formed to consolidate all railroads operating on Long Island NY into the Long Island Railroad, eliminating duplication of services. January 23, 1880 The Coney Island Elevated Railroad is incorporated. January 23, 1896 Construction begins on the Chicago “L”. The first structure is built at the corner of Fullerton and Sheffield Avenues. January 23, 1900 The Dayton-Xenia Traction Company opens from Dayton to Xenia via Belmont. January 23, 1905 The Great Northern-owned steamship "Minnesota" makes its maiden voyage from Seattle to ports in Japan and China. Patrons can buy a single ticket for their St. Paul to Tokyo journey. January 23, 1911 A new speed record is set for Washington to New York: 3 Hours 55 minutes. J.P. Morgan has rented a special Pennsylvania Railroad train for the trip. January 23, 1932 The Pennsylvania Railroad begins a trial of fixed ladders for upper berths in New York to Washington service. January 23, 1946 The Pennsylvania Railroad Board of Directors authorizes the purchase of 214 passenger cars to re-equip Blue Ribbon trains at a cost of $20.5 million. ($355 million in 2025) Eighty-seven cars are ordered from Pullman-Standard, 70 from Budd and 57 from AC&F. PRR wants the cars in the first quarter of 1947, but the crush of orders from other roads and postwar reconversion problems will cause the last delivery to be in August 1949. January 23, 1949 The Pennsylvania Railroad cuts its Chicago-Detroit service to two daily round trips. January 23, 1952 The Pennsylvania Railroad queries a consulting firm about reducing the financial losses of passenger service. The idea of eliminating long-distance trains duplicated by the New York Central and Baltimore & Ohio railroads is suggested. January 23, 1955 A new ticket bureau is installed in 30th Street Station, Philadelphia. With new "Ticketfax" and other machines, it can deliver a Pullman ticket in as little as 1 minute, as opposed to up to 1 hour previously. January 23, 1980 Amtrak AEM-7 900 makes its first trial run. The AEM-7's will eventually replace the GG-1's. January 23, 2014 The London Underground’s Victoria Line is shut down when workers accidently pour fast-setting concrete into a signal-relay vault. January 23, 2024 The U.S. Department of Transportation approves a $2.5 billion bond offering to build Brightline West. The planned 218-mile line between southern California and Las Vegas is to reach speeds of 186 mph (300 km/h) or more, half the time of making the same trip by car. Mark Tomlonson

January 22, 1857 The Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad (later PM, C&O, Chessie, CSX) is chartered to construct a rail line from Flint to Lake Michigan via Saginaw. January 22, 1858 The directors of the Great Western take control of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad (later GT). January 22, 1869 The Muskegon & Ferrysburg Railroad (later MLS, GHR, C&WM, PM, C&O, Chessie, CSX, MQT) files incorporation papers in Michigan to build from Ferrysburg to Muskegon Harbor. The papers were drawn up last April. January 22, 1880 Jay Gould announces the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway (later Wabash) has leased the Toledo, Peoria & Western. January 22, 1893 The Ashland Light Power & Street Railway Company begins streetcar service in Ashland WI. January 22, 1912 The Florida East Coast's line to Key West is opened. It will become a popular passenger train destination with boat connections to Havana. January 22, 1914 The Great Northern opens a new passenger depot in Minneapolis. January 22, 1929 The driver of a Greyhound bus in Bellevue OH does not see an approaching Lake Shore Line interurban in heavy snowfall and pulls onto the tracks in front of the car. Nineteen of the 32 passengers on the bus die. Passengers on the interurban suffer only minor injuries. January 22, 1949 The first American Freedom Train officially ends its tour. January 22, 1956 A two-RDC train from Los Angeles bound for San Diego approaches a 15-mph curve at 70 mph and is unable to slow down. Thirty people are killed and 130 injured in Los Angeles' worst railroad accident. The Los Angeles police are unable to completely control the crowds. Widespread looting of the dead and injured takes place. The LAPD ties at least one person to a tree in their attempts to restore order. Mark Tomlonson

January 21, 1841 George Hacker patents a passenger car based on a tobacco barrel. The car was intended to be 30’ long with 20 windows, but the design was never built. January 21, 1873 The New York, Boston & Montreal Railway (later NYC) is created out of a reorganization of the New York, Boston & Northern. January 21, 1880 The Ontario & Western (later NYO&W) is incorporated to run between Oswego NY and New York City. January 21, 1883 Eight locomotives are involved in a head-on collision in Iowa on the Wabash Railroad. Four of the engines were on a train that had stalled in a snowdrift. The other four were sent to rescue them and, owing to imprecise orders, collided head-on with the stalled train. January 21, 1902 Peoria IL sees its first scheduled Chicago & North Western passenger train. January 21, 1903 The Grand Trunk moves into a new depot at Lansing MI. Grand Trunk officials tout the station as "the handsomest between Portland ME and Chicago". (Some sources say January 20) January 21, 1910 Canadian Pacific’s “Soo Express” derails on a bridge crossing the Spanish River in northern Ontario. Forty-four people are killed. January 21, 1929 The Pennsylvania Railroad announces the formation of coordinated rail-bus service on some long distance routes. Travelers will ride the bus by day, connecting to towns and villages not on the PRR, and then ride the train by night. January 21, 1931 The first of three boat trains leave New York for San Francisco. There they will connect with a Matson Liner for the trip to Hawaii. January 21, 1946 Streetcars end service in New Albany IN. January 21, 1954 New York Central President William White says he has made plans with Rail-Trailer Company of Chicago to introduce modern piggyback service on the NYC. January 21, 1963 The last Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee RR interurban train pulls into Milwaukee at 2:55 a.m., ending 68 years of service on America's fastest Interurban. One of the cars in the last train is currently on display at the Illinois Railway Museum. Mark Tomlonson