1940 in rail transport

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

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. Vol. 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 November 14, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2005.