1939 in rail transport - Definition and Overview

This article will list events related to rail transport that occurred in 1939.

Events

January events

• January - General Motors Electro-Motive Division introduces the EMD SW1.

February events

• February - General Motors Electro-Motive Division introduces the EMD NW2.

March events

• March - General Motors Electro-Motive Division introduces the EMD E3.

May events

• May - Union Pacific, Southern Pacific and Santa Fe passenger trains in Los Angeles, California, are united into a single terminal as Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal is opened.

June events

• June - Union Pacific Railroad retires the M-10001 streamliner trainset from City of Portland service, replacing it with the M-10002 trainset from the City of Los Angeles service.

November events

• November - General Motors Electro-Motive Division introduces the EMD E6.
• November - General Motors Electro-Motive Division introduces the EMD FT.
• November - General Motors Electro-Motive Division introduces the EMD NW3.

Unknown date events

• Hale Holden steps down as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Southern Pacific Company, the parent company of the Southern Pacific Railroad. After Holden's departure, the position is nonexistent until 1964
• Union Pacific Railroad's M-10003-6 streamliner power cars are upgraded from two-car, 2,400 hp sets to three three-car, 3,600 hp sets.
• The General Pershing Zephyr debuts on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad between Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri.

Births

August births

• August 2 - John W. Snow, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSX Transportation, then United States Secretary of the Treasury.

Unknown date births

• Philip Anschutz, Colorado financier who orchestrated the purchase of the Southern Pacific Railroad by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.

Deaths