1869 in rail transport - Definition and Overview

This article will list events related to rail transport that occurred in 1869.

Events

April events

• April 23 - Crews building the Central Pacific Railroad lay 10 miles (16 km) of track in one day.

May events

• May 10 - The golden spike is driven at Promontory Summit, Utah, on the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America.
• May 15 - The first trains operate the entire length of the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America traveling between Omaha, Nebraska and Sacramento, California.

August events

• August 20 - An Irish Mail passenger train collides with cargo trucks loaded with paraffin leaving 33 dead. This is the first major train disaster in Britain. See Abergele Train Disaster

November events

• November 8 - The Central Pacific Railroad completes the final leg of the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America, connecting Sacramento, California to San Francisco, California.
• November 11 - After the New York and Erie Railroad moves its primary shop facilities from Dunkirk, New York, to Buffalo, Horatio G. Brooks leases the facilities in Dunkirk and opens Brooks Locomotive Works.

Unknown date events

• The New York State Legislature authorised the merger of railroads already owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt into the New York Central, including the New York & Hudson Railroad, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, the Canada Southern Railroad and the Michigan Central Railroad into the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.
• William Henry Vanderbilt, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt, is promoted to Vice President of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.
• The first railroad built in New Jersey, the Camden and Amboy Railroad, is merged into the United New Jersey Railroad and Canals Company.
• The Westinghouse Air Brake Company is founded by George Westinghouse.

Births

Deaths