This Day in Railroad History

Great Western Railway Electrification

Great Western Railway

London

The Great Western Railway begins electric operations on suburban lines near London.

Empire State Express Speed Record

New York Central Railroad

Batavia, New York

The New York Central's Empire State Express achieves a new world speed record of over 100 mph.

Canadian Pacific Railway Completion

Canadian Pacific Railway

Craigellachie, British Columbia

The last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway is driven at Craigellachie, completing Canada's first transcontinental line.

The inaugural run of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Royal Blue from Washington, D

The inaugural run of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

The inaugural run of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Royal Blue from Washington, D.C., to New York City, the first U.S. passenger train to use electric locomotives.