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The following is a brief history of the North American rail system, mainly through major changes to
Class I railroads , the largest class by operating revenue.
1977
1978
1979
1980
The
Colorado and Wyoming Railway (no longer Class I) abandons its operations in Wyoming.
March 1: The
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , in trusteeship since February 13, 1978,
[5] abandons all operations west of
Miles City, Montana . Very little of this trackage is taken over by other railroads.
March 31: After a bankruptcy that started on March 17, 1975, and
directed operation by the
Kansas City Terminal Railway since October 5, 1979, the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad shuts down entirely.
[6] Over the next few years, other railroads will buy large portions of the Rock Island's system, most notably the
Iowa Interstate Railroad (
Chicago -
Council Bluffs ),
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company (
Spine Line ),
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad subsidiary
Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad (
OKT Line ), and
Southern Pacific Transportation Company subsidiary
St. Louis Southwestern Railway (
Tucumcari Line ). The
Fort Worth and Denver Railway (
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad system) becomes sole owner of the Joint Texas Division, formerly owned by the
Burlington-Rock Island Railroad until 1964 and then equally by the two companies.
[7]
June 24: The
Grand Trunk Western Railroad buys control of the
Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad from the
Penn Central Corporation .
[8]
September 2: The
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway begins operating the former New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad (no longer Class I), which filed for bankruptcy in January 1976.
[9]
November 1:
Chessie System, Inc. and
Seaboard Coast Line Industries merge to form the
CSX Corporation ,
[10] parent of the
Atlanta and West Point Railroad (no longer Class I),
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ,
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway ,
Clinchfield Railroad ,
Georgia Railroad ,
Louisville and Nashville Railroad ,
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad ,
Staten Island Railroad (no longer Class I),
Western Railway of Alabama (no longer Class I), and
Western Maryland Railway .
November 21: The
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway merges into
Burlington Northern Inc.
[11]
1981
Burlington Northern Inc. merges subsidiaries
Oregon Electric Railway (no longer Class I) and
Oregon Trunk Railway (never Class I) into a new subsidiary,
Burlington Northern (Oregon-Washington), Inc.
January 12: The
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway acquires full control of the
Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad (no longer Class I) by buying the
Penn Central Corporation 's 50% share.
[12]
April 13: The
Grand Trunk Western Railroad gains control of the
Detroit and Toledo Shore Line Railroad (no longer Class I) by buying the 50% share owned by the
Norfolk and Western Railway .
[8]
April 30: The
Auto-Train Corporation (no longer Class I) ceases operations.
Amtrak 's
Auto Train replacement will begin on October 30, 1983.
May 14:
Burlington Northern Inc. is renamed
Burlington Northern Railroad .
[11]
June 8: The
Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railway (no longer Class I) merges into parent
Burlington Northern Railroad .
[13]
June 16:
Guilford Transportation Industries purchases the
Maine Central Railroad (no longer Class I).
August: The
Hooper-Myron Corporation , an affiliate of the
Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad (not Class I), buys a portion of the old
Chicago, Terre Haute and Southeastern Railway (ex-
Chicago Southern Railway ) between
Hooper and
Danville, Illinois from the
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad .
[14] The rest of the old Chicago Southern has been abandoned, while the remnant of the CTH&SE in Indiana was sold in 2006 to the
Indiana Rail Road .
September 1: The
Norfolk and Western Railway acquires the property of the
Illinois Terminal Railroad (no longer Class I), formerly controlled jointly by 11 railroads (two of which were part of the N&W system).
[15]
October 1: The
Detroit and Toledo Shore Line Railroad (no longer Class I) is merged into parent
Grand Trunk Western Railroad .
[8]
December 31: The
Colorado and Southern Railway is merged into parent
Burlington Northern Railroad .
[11]
1982
In preparation for common control with the
Norfolk and Western Railway by the
Norfolk Southern Corporation ,
Southern Railway subsidiary
Norfolk Southern Railway (no longer Class I) is renamed
Carolina and Northwestern Railway , a company it had merged with in 1974.
[16]
The
Providence and Worcester Railroad (not Class I) expands its operations to include
Amtrak 's
Northeast Corridor between
Pawtucket, Rhode Island and
Old Saybrook, Connecticut , a former main line of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad and most recently
Conrail . In 1991 these freight rights are extended from Old Saybrook to
East Haven .
[17]
The
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (no longer Class I) buys several lines from
Conrail . This includes most of the old
Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad and a piece of the old
Lehigh and Hudson River Railway between
Sparta, New Jersey and
Warwick, New York . After the NYS&W rehabilitates its trackage between
Butler and Sparta, the latter becomes part of its main line in 1986.
January 1: The
Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad (no longer Class I) is merged into the
Norfolk and Western Railway , its owner since 1964.
February 20:
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway closed and stopped using railroad from Manistee - Traverse City - Petoskey. Grawn to Williamsburg and Charlevoix to Petoskey was controlled and served by
Michigan Northern Railway (Eventually given to Tuscola and Saginaw Railway)
March 31: The
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , in trusteeship since February 13, 1978,
[5] abandons all operations west of
Ortonville, Minnesota . The
Burlington Northern Railroad takes over operations on much of this trackage.
June 1: The
Norfolk Southern Corporation takes control of the
Norfolk and Western Railway and
Southern Railway .
[16]
June: The
Soo Line Railroad gains control of the
Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway (no longer Class I).
[18]
October: The
Michigan Interstate Railway (no longer Class I) discontinues operations on the former
Ann Arbor Railroad north of
Ann Arbor .
[2] The
Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway takes over from Ann Arbor north to
Alma , and the
Michigan Northern Railway operates the remainder to
Frankfort until 1983, when it too goes to the T&SB. The latter company is renamed
Great Lakes Central Railroad in 2006.
November 4: The
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad acquires the rail assets of the
Georgia Railroad and Banking Company , and absorbs lessee
Georgia Railroad (no longer Class I), jointly controlled by the SCL and subsidiary
Louisville and Nashville Railroad .
[19]
December 22: The
Union Pacific Railroad gains control of the
Missouri Pacific Railroad and
Western Pacific Railroad .
[20]
December 31: The
Fort Worth and Denver Railway is merged into parent
Burlington Northern Railroad .
[11]
1983
The
Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway (renamed
Great Lakes Central Railroad in 2006), which operates the old
Ann Arbor Railroad between
Ann Arbor and
Alma , expands its operations north to
Frankfort and on ex-
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway trackage north of
Cadillac , replacing the
Michigan Northern Railway .
[21]
The
Montour Railroad (no longer Class I) ceases operations.
[22]
The
Nevada Northern Railway (no longer Class I) ceases operations. The
Northern Nevada Railroad will resume freight service in January 1995,
[23] but in June 1996 the
BHP Nevada Railroad will take over until July 1999, when freight is again discontinued.
January 1: The
CSX Corporation merges subsidiaries
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad and
Louisville and Nashville Railroad to form the
Seaboard System Railroad .
[24]
February 11: The
Clinchfield Railroad , an unincorporated entity organized jointly by the
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and subsidiary
Louisville and Nashville Railroad to operate the
Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway under lease, is dissolved, as both lessees have merged into the
Seaboard System Railroad .
[25]
May 1: The
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad begins operating the lines of subsidiary
Western Maryland Railway .
[26]
May 31: The
New Orleans Great Northern Railway merges into lessee
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad .
[27]
July 1:
Guilford Transportation Industries purchases the
Boston and Maine Corporation , bankrupt since March 1970.
August 1: The
Anthracite Railway replaces
Conrail as operator of the former
Reading Company (ex-
Perkiomen Railroad ) line between
Emmaus and
Pennsburg . The lines will be taken over by the
Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad in mid-1988 and
East Penn Railways (now
East Penn Railroad ) on July 1, 1995.
[28]
December: The
Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad merges into parent
Grand Trunk Western Railroad .
[29]
December 30: The
Norfolk, Franklin and Danville Railway (not Class I), successor to the
Atlantic and Danville Railway , merges into parent
Norfolk and Western Railway .
[30]
December 31: The
Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad (no longer Class I) merges into parent
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway .
[12]
1984
January 4:
Guilford Transportation Industries purchases the
Delaware and Hudson Railway from
Norfolk and Western Railway subsidiary
Dereco, Inc.
[31]
January 19: The
St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas merges into lessee
St. Louis Southwestern Railway .
[32]
March: The
Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville Railroad , not Class I since 1919, ceases operations.
July: The
Louisville, Henderson and St. Louis Railway merges into lessee
Seaboard System Railroad .
[30]
November 1:
Southern Pacific Transportation Company subsidiary
Northwestern Pacific Railroad (no longer Class I) sells its lines north of
Willits to the
Eureka Southern Railroad ; the
North Coast Rail Authority will buy that company's property on April 1, 1992.
[33]
December 31: The
Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad ,
Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway , and
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad are demoted to Class II, leaving 28 Class I railroads.
[34]
1985
Burlington Northern (Oregon-Washington), Inc. merges into parent
Burlington Northern Railroad .
February 19:
Soo Line Railroad subsidiary
The Milwaukee Road, Inc. acquires the property of the
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad ,
[35] in trusteeship since February 13, 1978.
[5]
March 1: The
Indiana and Ohio Railway (not Class I) takes over from
Conrail on a piece of the former
Cincinnati, Lebanon and Northern Railway ; another segment will be transferred on December 19, 1986.
[36]
May 1: The
Rarus Railway begins operating the former
Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway (no longer Class I). The name will be changed back to BA&P on July 19, 2007.
July: The
Gulf and Mississippi Railroad (not Class I) buys a number of lines from the
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad , including most of the old
Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad (ICG retains
Mobile -
Hattiesburg ) and the former
Mobile and Ohio Railroad south of
Corinth (including a branch to
Tuscaloosa ).
MidSouth Rail Corporation subsidiary
SouthRail Corporation will take over in April 1988. After the
Kansas City Southern Railway takes control in 1993, it will dispose of portions, including the ex-M&O Tuscaloosa branch (to the
Alabama Southern Railroad ), ex-M&O
Meridian -
Waynesboro (to the
Meridian Southern Railway ), and ex-GM&N
Houston -
Middleton (to the
Mississippi and Tennessee RailNet ).
October: Washouts west of Petoskey on former C&O line between Petoskey and Charlevoix, Which cause Michigan Northern Railway to abandon the line
December: The
Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad (not Class I) buys the
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad 's
Chicago -
Omaha main line and branches.
[37]
December 31: With the demise of the
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , and the
Southern Railway 's decision to combine its subsidiaries in its report to the ICC (including Class I
Alabama Great Southern Railroad ,
Central of Georgia Railroad , and
Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway ), the number of Class I railroads drops to 24.
1986
January 1:
The Milwaukee Road, Inc. and
Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway merge into parent
Soo Line Railroad .
[18]
[35]
March 18: The
Indiana Rail Road (not Class I) begins operating most of the former
Indianapolis Southern Railroad , purchased from successor
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad .
[38]
March 31: The
MidSouth Rail Corporation (not Class I) acquires lines from the
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad , including the former
Alabama and Vicksburg Railway and
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway between
Meridian and
Shreveport , and a portion of the old
Gulf and Ship Island Railroad between
Gulfport and
Hattiesburg .
June: The
Atlanta and West Point Railroad (no longer Class I) merges into the
Seaboard System Railroad ,
[39] whose predecessors have controlled it since 1920.
July 1:
CSX Corporation subsidiary
Seaboard System Railroad is renamed
CSX Transportation .
[10]
July 21: The
Rochester and Southern Railroad begins operations on a portion of
CSX Transportation lessor
Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway 's line to
Rochester .
August 27: The
Paducah and Louisville Railway (not Class I) begins operations on a line in
Kentucky bought from the
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad .
[40]
September: The
Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (not Class I) buys the
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company 's line between
Rapid City, South Dakota and
Winona, Minnesota .
[41]
September 15: The
Nashville and Eastern Railroad (not Class I) replaces
CSX Transportation on the remaining piece of the
Tennessee Central Railway sold to the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1968, from
Nashville to
Monterey .
[42]
December 8: The
Winchester and Western Railroad (not Class I) takes over the old
Cumberland Valley and Martinsburg Railroad from
Conrail .
[43]
December 31: The
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway drops to Class II.
CSX Transportation , the
Norfolk Southern Corporation , and the
Union Pacific Railroad begin submitting combined reports for all subsidiaries, thus removing the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ,
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway ,
Seaboard System Railroad ,
Southern Railway ,
Norfolk and Western Railway ,
Western Pacific Railroad , and
Missouri Pacific Railroad from the list of Class I railroads, now numbering 18.
[44]
1987
March 26: The stock of government-owned
Conrail is sold to private investors.
April 28: The
Chicago, Missouri and Western Railway (not Class I) acquires almost all of the former
Alton Railroad from the
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad . It will declare bankruptcy in less than a year.
April 30: The
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad merges into the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway , which has controlled it since 1963.
[10]
June 15: The
Sacramento Northern Railway is merged into parent
Western Pacific Railroad .[
citation needed ]
June 16: The
Western Pacific Railroad merges into parent
Union Pacific Railroad .
[45]
August 31: The
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway merges into
CSX Transportation .
[10]
October 11:
Wisconsin Central Ltd. (not Class I) acquires
Canadian Pacific Ltd. subsidiary
Soo Line Railroad 's
Lake States Transportation Division , including most of the remaining trackage east of
Minneapolis-St. Paul formerly belonging to the
Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railroad ,
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad , and
Wisconsin Central Railroad , which merged in 1961 to form the Soo.
[46] (The Soo had acquired the
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1985, and chose to retain those lines east of the Twin Cities. Several Milwaukee Road branches were also included in the WC sale.)
October 31: The
Montana Rail Link leases the former
Northern Pacific Railway main line across
Montana from the
Burlington Northern Railroad .
December 31: The
Oregon Short Line Railroad ,
Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company , and
Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad are merged into lessee
Union Pacific Railroad , as is subsidiary
Spokane International Railroad (no longer Class I).
1988
February 23: The
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad , which has sold off most of the former
Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad , is renamed
Illinois Central Railroad .
[27]
June 1: The
Carolina and Northwestern Railway is merged into parent
Southern Railway .
June 20:
Guilford Transportation Industries subsidiary
Delaware and Hudson Railway files for bankruptcy. The
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (formerly Class I) assumes temporary operation of the D&H.
[31]
June 27: The
Southern Railway acquires the
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad 's line between
Fulton, Kentucky and
Haleyville, Alabama ,
[47] including a piece of the old
Mobile and Ohio Railroad between
Jackson and
Corinth . The
Redmont Railway will take over south of Corinth in 1995, and the
West Tennessee Railroad , which already operates the ex-M&O north of Jackson, will lease the line from Fulton via Jackson to Corinth in 2001.
July 19: The
Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad (not Class I) acquires much of the former
Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway , then leased to
CSX Transportation , as well as the remnants of the former
Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad near
DuBois . The BR&P remains a CSX subsidiary, though none of its lines have been operated by CSX since then.
August 12:
Union Pacific Railroad subsidiary
Missouri Pacific Railroad acquires control of the
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad .
[48]
September: New
Canadian Pacific Ltd. subsidiary
Canadian Atlantic Railway takes over all CP operations east of
Megantic, Quebec , including the former
International Railway of Maine .
[49]
September 20: The
Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway merges into lessee
Norfolk and Western Railway .
[16]
October 7: The new
Ann Arbor Railroad (not Class I) begins operating the former
Michigan Interstate Railway (pre-1976
Ann Arbor Railroad ) south of
Ann Arbor ; that company had been bankrupt since January 1983.
[2]
October 11: The
Arizona Eastern Railway (not Class I) begins operations on the
Bowie -
Miami line of the former
Arizona Eastern Railroad , purchased from successor
Southern Pacific Transportation Company .
[50]
October 13:
Rio Grande Industries , parent of the
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad , buys control of the
Southern Pacific Transportation Company , including subsidiaries
St. Louis Southwestern Railway and
Northwestern Pacific Railroad (the latter no longer Class I).
[51] The Southern Pacific name is retained for the combined system.
1989
January 9: The
Western Maryland Railway is merged into lessee
CSX Transportation , whose predecessors have controlled it since 1967.
[45]
February 1: The
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway sells the former
Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad to a new
Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway (not Class I).
[12]
May 1: The
Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway (not Class I) leases the former
Norfolk Southern Railway west of
Gulf, North Carolina from the
Southern Railway .
[52]
May 19: The
St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad buys the former
Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad from the
Canadian National Railway .
[53] In 1998, affiliate
St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad (Quebec) will replace CN on the portion of the line in Canada.
August: The
Elk River Railroad (not Class I) buys an out-of service portion of the former
Coal and Coke Railway from
CSX Transportation .
[54]
November 8:
Southern Pacific Transportation Company subsidiary
SPCSL Corporation acquires the east half of the old
Alton Railroad from the bankrupt (since April 1, 1988
[55] )
Chicago, Missouri and Western Railway (not Class I).
[56]
December 1: The
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad merges into parent
Missouri Pacific Railroad .
December 31: The
Boston and Maine Corporation and
Delaware and Hudson Railway are demoted from Class I; combined with the demise of the
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad , this drops the number of Class I railroads to 15.[
citation needed ]
1990
CSX Transportation subsidiary
Staten Island Railroad ends freight service.
Conrail will reactivate the line in 2007.
January: The
Gateway Western Railway (not Class I) acquires the remainder of the old
Alton Railroad from the bankrupt (since April 1, 1988
[55] )
Chicago, Missouri and Western Railway (not Class I). Through a
haulage agreement , it gives the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway access to
St. Louis .
April 2: The
Chesapeake and Albemarle Railroad (not Class I) leases the former
Norfolk Southern Railway east of
Edenton, North Carolina from the
Southern Railway .
[57]
May 17: The new
Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (not Class I) acquires lines from the
Norfolk and Western Railway , including most of the former
Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad (merged 1982) and
Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (merged 1988), as well as the lease of the
Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railroad .
June 29: The
Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway is merged into lessee
CSX Transportation .
[58]
October: The
Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Western Railroad is merged into lessee
CSX Transportation .
[59]
October: The
Indiana and Ohio Central Railroad (not Class I) begins operating a portion of the old
Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad between
Washington Court House and
Springfield, Ohio , purchased from
Canadian National Railway subsidiary
Grand Trunk Western Railroad .
[60] Affiliated
Indiana and Ohio Railway will acquire most of the remainder, from Springfield north to
Diann, Michigan , in 1997; GTW retains ownership between Diann and
Detroit .
November:
Conrail acquires full control of the
Monongahela Railway (no longer Class I) by buying the one-third shares owned by
CSX Transportation and the
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad .
[61]
December 15: The
Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (not Class I) begins operations over most of the remaining
Reading Company lines north of
Reading , which they bought from
Conrail .
December 31: The
Southern Railway acquires direct control of the
Norfolk and Western Railway from parent
Norfolk Southern Corporation , and is renamed
Norfolk Southern Railway .
[62]
1991
January:
Canadian Pacific Ltd. purchases the bankrupt
Delaware and Hudson Railway .
[63]
January 14: The
Wichita, Tillman and Jackson Railway begins operations on the remaining piece of the old
Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway between
Wichita Falls and
Altus , bought from successor
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad .
[64]
June 1: The
Texas and Oklahoma Railroad (not Class I) buys the old
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway and
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway of Texas between
Thomas, Oklahoma and
Maryneal, Texas from successor
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway .
Farmrail will take over the portion in Oklahoma in January 1993,
[65] and the T&O will later abandon all but
Sweetwater -Maryneal.
October 10: The railroad properties of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad (no longer Class I) are conveyed to new
CSX Transportation subsidiary Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railway.
[66] CSX had owned an 80% share in the RF&P, the other 20% being the
Norfolk Southern Railway 's.
November 12: The
Wabash Railroad merges into lessee
Norfolk and Western Railway .
[62]
1992
January 2: The
South Orient Railroad (not Class I) begins operating portions of the former
Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway and
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway of Texas , bought from successor
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , between
Santa Anna, Texas and the
Mexican border .
[67]
Texas Pacifico Transportation will replace the South Orient in 2000.
February 17: The
Lake State Railway takes over operation of the
Detroit and Mackinac Railway (no longer Class I).
April 11:
Conrail sells the remnants of the
Evansville, Indianapolis and Terre Haute Railway (except at
Terre Haute ), and a former
Vandalia Railroad branch, to the
Indiana Southern Railroad (not Class I).
[68]
April 17: The
Columbus and Ohio River Rail Road (not Class I) begins operations on the former
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad main line between
Columbus and
Steubenville, Ohio , sold by
Conrail .
[69]
July 6: The
Louisiana and Arkansas Railway (no longer Class I) and
Fort Smith and Van Buren Railway (never Class I, but successor to the
Fort Smith and Western Railway ) merge into parent
Kansas City Southern Railway .
September 13:
CSX Transportation subsidiary
Three Rivers Railway takes over the remaining trackage of the
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (no longer Class I).
[70]
October 1: The
Northwestern Pacific Railroad (no longer Class I) merges into parent
Southern Pacific Transportation Company .
[71]
December 21:
San Joaquin Valley Railroad lessor
Tulare Valley Railroad leases a portion of the property of the
Sunset Railway (only Class I in 1911), a joint subsidiary of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and
Southern Pacific Transportation Company ; the rest is abandoned.
[72]
December 31: The
Colorado and Wyoming Railway (no longer Class I) sells its Southern Division at
Trinidad, Colorado to the
Trinidad Railway (operated by the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad ), leaving only the Middle Division at
Pueblo .
1993
May 1: The
Monongahela Railway (no longer Class I) merges into parent
Conrail .
[22]
May 4:
Rio Grande Industries , parent of the
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad ,
Southern Pacific Transportation Company , and
St. Louis Southwestern Railway , is renamed
Southern Pacific Rail Corporation .
June:
Kansas City Southern Industries , parent of the
Kansas City Southern Railway , acquires control of the
MidSouth Corporation , parent of several non-Class I railroads:
MidSouth Rail Corporation (former
Alabama and Vicksburg Railway and
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway ),
MidLouisiana Rail Corporation ,
SouthRail Corporation (former
Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad and
Mobile and Ohio Railroad ), and
TennRail Corporation .
August 27:
Wisconsin Central Ltd. (not Class I) subsidiary
Fox Valley and Western Ltd. acquires the properties of the
Green Bay and Western Railroad (formerly Class I),
Fox River Valley Railroad (a 1988
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company shortline spin-off), and
Ahnapee and Western Railway (never Class I).
[73]
September 17:
CSX Transportation takes over the operations of subsidiary
Three Rivers Railway (ex-
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad ).
[72]
September 26: Shortline
California Northern Railroad replaces the
Southern Pacific Transportation Company as operator of the former
Northwestern Pacific Railroad .
[74]
1994
January 1: The
MidSouth Rail Corporation is merged into the
Kansas City Southern Railway , its parent since June 1993.
January 1: The
Bay Line Railroad begins operating the former
Atlanta and St. Andrews Bay Railway (no longer Class I).
March 12: The
Louisville and Indiana Railroad (not Class I) begins operating a former major branch of the
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad between
Indianapolis and
Louisville , sold by
Conrail .
[75]
May 20:
South Orient Railroad affiliate
Cen-Tex Rail Link (not Class I) begins operating most of the former
Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway , bought from successor
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , between
Fort Worth and
Ricker, Texas .
[76] The
Fort Worth and Western Railroad will take over in 1998.
July 15: Service ends on the
Cambria and Indiana Railroad (no longer Class I).
December 31:
Canadian Pacific Ltd. subsidiary
Canadian American Railway , including the former
International Railway of Maine , shuts down.
Bangor and Aroostook Railroad affiliate
Canadian American Railroad restores service west of
McAdam, New Brunswick on January 6, 1995, and the
New Brunswick Southern Railway begins operations between McAdam and
St. Stephen on January 8. NBSR subsidiary
Eastern Maine Railway takes over between
Brownville Junction, Maine and McAdam on April 10, 1995.
[77]
1995
1996
February 9: The
Illinois and Midland Railroad begins operating the property of the
Chicago and Illinois Midland Railway (no longer Class I).
June: The
Illinois Central Railroad buys control of the
Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad (not Class I), which it had spun off in 1985.
July 4:
Canadian Pacific Ltd. is renamed back to
Canadian Pacific Railway , its name until 1971, and a new CP Ltd. takes over as
holding company .
August:
Conrail sells its main line through the
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area, formerly
Lehigh Valley Railroad and
Central Railroad of New Jersey , to the
Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (not Class I).
September: The
Connecticut Southern Railroad (not Class I) replaces
Conrail as freight operator on
Amtrak 's
New Haven-Springfield Line , one of the main lines of the old
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad .
September 11:
Union Pacific Railroad parent
Union Pacific Corporation takes control of
Southern Pacific Rail Corporation subsidiaries
Southern Pacific Transportation Company ,
St. Louis Southwestern Railway , and
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad .
September 28:
Bangor and Aroostook Railroad affiliate
Quebec Southern Railway and subsidiary
Northern Vermont Railroad replace the
Canadian Pacific Railway on several lines east of
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ,
Quebec , including the
Newport and Richford Railroad to
Wells River, Vermont .
October 1: New
Canadian Pacific Railway subsidiary
St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway begins operating the portion of CP's network east and south of
Toronto , including subsidiary
Delaware and Hudson Railway .
December 31: The
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and
Burlington Northern Railroad , both subsidiaries of the
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation , merge to form the
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway .
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
January 1: The
St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway merges into parent
Canadian Pacific Railway , from which it was split in 1996, making the
Delaware and Hudson Railway again a direct CP subsidiary.
April 23: The
Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad (not Class I) begins operating the old
Erie Railroad main line between
Hornell, New York and
Corry, Pennsylvania , sold by the
Norfolk Southern Railway . In January 2002 it extends operations on the ex-Erie from Corry to
Meadville , on which
Oil Creek and Titusville Lines, Inc. had replaced
Conrail in 1995.
October 1: The
Gateway Western Railway is merged into the
Kansas City Southern Railway , its parent since 1997.
October 9: The
Canadian National Railway acquires control of
Wisconsin Central Ltd. (not Class I) and subsidiaries, including
Fox Valley and Western Ltd. , successor to the
Green Bay and Western Railroad .
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2021
References
^ Lewis, p. 115
^
a
b
c Lewis, pp. 24, 315-316
^ ICC (1976, 1977)
^ Moody's (1988), p. xxv
^
a
b
c Moody's (1980), p. 891
^ Moody's (1984), p. 901
^ George C. Werner:
Burlington-Rock Island Railroad from the
Handbook of Texas Online . Retrieved April 2009.
^
a
b
c Moody's (1992), p. 237
^ Moody's (1992), p. 442
^
a
b
c
d Moody's (1992), p. 421
^
a
b
c
d Moody's (1992), p. 12
^
a
b
c Moody's (1992), p. 403
^ Moody's (1984), p. xxiii
^ Lewis, p. 165
^ Moody's (1990), p. 64
^
a
b
c Moody's (1992), p. 94
^ Lewis, p. 257
^
a
b Moody's (1992), p. 223
^ Moody's (1984), p. xxii
^ Moody's (1992), p. 122
^ Lewis, p. 316
^
a
b Lewis, p. 359
^ Lewis, p. 230
^ Moody's (1990), p. 273
^ Moody's (1983), p. 725
^ Moody's (1986), p. 668
^
a
b Moody's (1992), p. 32
^ Lewis, pp. 110, 354
^ Moody's (1992), p. 233
^
a
b Moody's (1992), p. xxiii
^
a
b Moody's (1990), p. 277
^ Moody's (1992), p. 270
^ Lewis, pp. 356, 360
^ ICC (1984)
^
a
b Moody's (1992), p. 221
^ Lewis, p. 156
^ Lewis, p. 80
^ Lewis, p. 155
^ Moody's (1988), p. xxiii
^ Lewis, p. 241
^ Lewis, p. 94
^ Lewis, p. 213
^ Lewis, p. 337
^ ICC (1986)
^
a
b Moody's (1992), p. xxiv
^ Lewis, p. 342
^
Union Transportation Union, Petitioner, v. Interstate Commerce Commission and United States of America, Respondents, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Southern Railway Company, and Illinois Central Railroad Company, Intervenors , decided March 28, 1989
^ Moody's (1988), p. 187
^ Lewis, p. 58
^ Lewis, p. 29
^ Moody's (1992), p. 255
^ Lewis, p. 14
^ Lewis, p. 270
^ Lewis, p. 352
^
a
b Lewis, p. 355
^ Moody's (1992), p. 241
^ Lewis, p. 77
^ Moody's (1992)
^ James B. Burns, Railroad Mergers and the Language of Unification, 1998, p. 90
^ Lewis, p. 157
^ Moody's (1992), p. 418
^
a
b Moody's (1992), p. 68
^ Moody's (1992), p. 205
^ Lewis, p. 334
^ Lewis, pp. 119, 304
^ Moody's (1992), p. 424
^ Lewis, p. 290
^ Lewis, p. 160
^ Lewis, p. 89
^ Lewis, p. 360
^ Lewis, pp. 360
^
a
b Lewis, p. 361
^ Lewis, p. 125
^ Lewis, pp. 55
^ Lewis, p. 183
^ Lewis, p. 66
^ Lewis, pp. 58, 114, 215
^ Lewis, p. 252
^ Hirsch, Lauren (2021-03-21).
"$29 Billion Railroad Merger to Connect U.S., Mexico and Canada" . The New York Times .
ISSN
0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-06-05 .
Current
Former
Timeline Railroads in italics meet the revenue specifications for Class I status, but are not technically Class I railroads due to being passenger-only railroads with no freight component.