1940 in rail transport explained

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.
• 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.
• 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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Railway Statistics 2008 . . 2009 . pdf . 28 April 2010 . 34 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120302040853/http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/dokumenter/Om-oss/Jernbanestatistikk/Jernbanestatistikk-2008/ . 2 March 2012 .
2. Book: The Best of Maine Railroads . Johnson, Ron . Portland Litho . 1985 . 112.
3. Web site: Trains of Turkey. 2004-12-01. CIOB - Chemin de Fer Impérial Ottoman de Baghdad. 2015-12-27.
4. Web site: Flåmsbana Museet . 2009-06-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070708154435/http://www.flamsbana-museet.no/visartikkel.asp?art=296 . 2007-07-08 . dead .
5. Web site: Newark Subway, PATH and Light Rail . UrbanRail.net . 2007-11-22 . 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071118151708/http://www.urbanrail.net/am/nark/newark.htm . 2007-11-18 . dead .
6. Hale Holden. Railway Age Gazette. 57. 10. 428. September 4, 1914. December 2, 2013.
7. Book: Ingham, John N.. Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders. 2. 1983. 0-313-23908-8. Greenwood Press. Westport, Connecticut. 594–5. December 2, 2013.
8. News: New York Times . October 30, 1940 . W. B. Storey Dies . August 19, 2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121114044116/http://www.geocities.com/bevshul/OHS/articles/Storey1877.htm . November 14, 2012 .
9. Trains News Wire (April 27, 2005), 'Miss Southern Belle' dies. Retrieved May 4, 2005.
   • 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.
     • 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.^[5]

   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).^{[6] [7]}

   October deaths

   • October 24 – William Benson Storey, president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 1920–1933 (born 1857).^[8]

   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