1940 in rail transport

This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in 1940.

Years in rail transport

1939 in rail transport 1940 in rail transport 1941 in rail transport

Events

January events

• January 9 – The Østfold Line in Norway takes electric traction into use between Ås and Dilling.[1]
• January 14 – Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway discontinues the San Francisco-Los Angeles-Chicago Navajo.
• January 27 – The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad ceases operations in Massachusetts in preparation for abandonment.
• January 29 – Three gasoline-powered trains carrying factory workers crash and explode while approaching Ajikawaguchi Station, Yumesaki Line (Nishinari Line), Osaka, Japan, killing at least 181 people and injuring at least 92.

February events

• February – Electro-Motive Corporation introduces the E5.

March events

• March 29 – Southern Pacific Railroad runs its last passenger train to Fremont-Centerville, California.

May events

• May 1 – The Østfold Line in Norway takes electric traction into use between Dilling and Fredrikstad.[1]
• May 20 – Sixty-six railroads in the United States, in cooperation with the Travelers' Credit Corporation, begin selling railroad tickets, Pullman accommodations and all-expense tours on an installment basis, known as the Travel Credit Plan. Purchases over $50 can be charged.

June events

• June 21 – East Wind begins summer service over the Pennsylvania, New Haven, Boston & Maine and Maine Central railroads between Washington, D.C. and Maine.[2]
• June 29 – Syracuse Transit Corporation closes the South Salina and Nedrow lines in Syracuse, New York.
• June 30 – Last day archbar freight trucks can legally operate in U.S. Interchange service (and then only on empty cars returning to their home roads).
• June – Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad takes delivery of the unique EMC AB6 locomotives.

July events

• July 1 – Portions of the SNCF in Alsace-Lorraine are incorporated into the Deutsche Reichsbahn.
• July 15 – The Østfold Line in Norway takes electric traction into use between Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg.[1]
• July 17 – The last section of the Baghdad Railway's mainline linking Istanbul and Baghdad is completed between El Yaroubieh and Baiji[3] and the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits' Taurus Express begins to run throughout between Haydarpaşa Terminal, Istanbul, and Baghdad Central Station.
• July 29 – Rail traffic is suspended in France between French-retained and German-occupied territories.
• July 30 – The Pennsylvania Railroad orders its first 4-4-4-4 T1 duplex-drive steam locomotives. They are expected to be serious competition for diesel power.

August events

• August 1 – Norwegian State Railways runs first through train on the Flåm Line.[4]

September events

• September 2 – Kansas City Southern Railway inaugurates the Southern Belle passenger train service between Kansas City, Missouri, and New Orleans, Louisiana.[5]
• September 13 – The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad is formed by the merger of the Gulf, Mobile and Northern and Mobile and Ohio Railroads.

October events

• October 1 – The Pennsylvania Turnpike opens, constructed using tunnels and grades originally built for the never-completed South Pennsylvania Railroad.

November events

• November 4 – Norton Fitzwarren, England: a train driver on the Great Western Railway misreads the signals on a four track line, and drives his train off the end of the track.
• November 11
  • The Østfold Line in Norway takes electric traction into use between Sarpsborg and Halden.[1]
  • Syracuse Transit Corporation closes the Elm Street line in Syracuse, New York.
• November 22 – The Newark City Subway in New Jersey opens an extension from Heller Parkway to Grove Street.[6]

December

• December 15 – The IND Sixth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway is completed and opened throughout.
• December 17 – The Florida East Coast Railway introduces the Dixie Flagler passenger train between Chicago, Illinois and Miami, Florida, replacing the Henry M. Flagler.

Deaths

September deaths

• September 23 – Hale Holden, president of Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad 1914-1918 and 1920-1929, chairman of the board of directors for Southern Pacific Railroad 1932-1939, dies (b. 1869).[7][8]

October deaths

• October 24 – William Benson Storey, president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 1920-1933 (born 1857).[9]

November deaths

• November 9 - Charles Langbridge Morgan, chief engineer for London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, dies (b. 1855).

Unknown date deaths

• Leonor F. Loree, president of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1901-1903, Delaware and Hudson Railway 1907-1938 and Kansas City Southern Railway 1918-1920 (born 1858).

References

• Wayner, Robert J., ed. (1972). Car Names, Numbers and Consists. New York: Wayner Publications. OCLC 8848690.

1. "Railway Statistics 2008". Norwegian National Rail Administration. 2009. p. 34. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
2. Johnson, Ron (1985). The Best of Maine Railroads. Portland Litho. p. 112.
3. "CIOB - Chemin de Fer Impérial Ottoman de Baghdad". Trains of Turkey. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
4. "Flåmsbana Museet". Archived from the original on 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
5. Trains News Wire (April 27, 2005), 'Miss Southern Belle' dies. Retrieved May 4, 2005.
6. "Newark Subway, PATH and Light Rail". UrbanRail.net. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-11-18. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
7. "Hale Holden". Railway Age Gazette. 57 (10): 428. September 4, 1914. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
8. Ingham, John N. (1983). Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders. 2. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 594–5. ISBN 0-313-23908-8. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
9. "W. B. Storey Dies". New York Times. October 30, 1940. Archived from the original on October 18, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2005.