 |
This timeline is also available for download in Microsoft Excel format:
|
|
 |
Home > Great Northern History > GN Timeline
GN Timeline
|
This timeline is also available for download in Microsoft Excel format:
|
|
|
Important dates in Great Northern history and beyond of interest to the Great Northern railfan and modeler.
This list is compiled and maintained by Jim Betz. Please email Jim with your corrections and/or additions at:
| DATE | ITEM | SOURCE (see below) |
| 1857 | Charter issued for Minnesota & Pacific Railway | B29 |
| 1860 | William Crooks built for St. P. & P. (4-4-0), Delivered in 1861 | B25 |
| 1862 | St. Paul & Pacific acquires Minnesota & Pacific | B29 |
| 1866 | First 4-4-0 built for the GN | B25 |
| 1870s | Archbar trucks dominate freight car market | B31 |
| 1878 | J.J. Hill acquires the St. Paul & Pacific | B29 |
| 1879 | Reorganized to St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba | B29 |
| 1879 | The #3 built (0-4-0) | B25 |
| 1879 | A-1 #13 built (0-6-0) | B25 |
| 1882 to 1883 | Stone Arch bridge is constructed over the Mississippi | B27 |
| 1883 | November 18th - Standard Time adopted | THC1 |
| 1885 | Rails reach Devil's Lake, N.D. | B29 |
| 1887 | Rails reach Montana | B29 |
| 1889 | Great Northern Railway formed from its predecessors | B27,B29 |
| 1889 | Stevens surveys Marias Pass (winter) | B29 |
| 1889 | First 2-6-0 built | B25 |
| 1890 | Construction of Pacific Coast extension begins | B29 |
| 1890 | First 4-6-0 built | B25 |
| 1891 | First 4-8-0 built | B25 |
| 1892 | First 2-8-0 built | B25 |
| 1890s | Pressed steel trucks such as Fox introduced | B31 |
| 1892 | First Rock Creek bridge is completed across the Columbia | B27 |
| 1892 | Foss River bridge built - of wood | B27 |
| 1892 | GN reaches tidewater at Everett | B25 |
| 1893 | Last 4-4-0 built | B25 |
| 1893 | GN reaches Seattle | B25 |
| 1893 | GN Flyer inaugurated as first Transcon on the GN | B25 |
| 1893 | Final spike driven near Scenic | B29 |
| 1893 | GN begins regular service from Mn to Wa | B29 |
| 1900s | Andrews and Vulcan trucks introduced | B31 |
| 1900 | Last 0-6-0 built | B25 |
| 1900 | Last 4-8-0 built | B25 |
| 1900 | First Cascade Tunnel completed | B25, B29 |
| 1900 | All freight cars use air brakes and knuckle cplrs | Thompson, James D. |
| 1900 | Great Northern Steamship company formed | B27 |
| 1901 | First 0-8-0 built | B25 |
| 1901 | Foss River bridge rebuilt - with steel | B27 |
| 1901 | GN and NP acquire CB&Q to have access to Chicago | B29 |
| 1904 | Fraser river bridge completed (Vancouver) | B25 |
| 1905 | First 4-6-2 built | B25 |
| 1905? | King Street Station opens in Seattle (GN & NP) | B25 |
| 1905 | First run of the Oriental Limited (58 hour schedule) | B25, B29 |
| 1905 | GN and NP form S.P.&S. as a jointly-owned subsidiary | B29 |
| 1905 | Glacier Park Co. formed as GN subsidiary | B29 |
| 1905 | Great Northern Flyer renamed to the Fast Mail | B4 |
| 1905 or 1906 | First iron ore trains ship from Duluth | B27 |
| 1906 | First 4-4-2 built | B25 |
| 1906 | First GN electrics are built (B+B) | B25 |
| 1906 | First 2-6-2 built | B25 |
| 1906 | First 2-6-6-2 built | B25 |
| 1906 | Last 2-6-0 built | B25 |
| 1906 | Last 4-4-2 built | B25 |
| 1906? | King Street Station opens in Seattle (GN & NP) | B27 |
| 1907 | Last 2-8-0 built | B25 |
| 1907 | Last 2-6-2 built | B25 |
| 1907 | First and Last of the 2-6-6-2s built | B25 |
| 1907 | Start of rebuild of 2-6-6-2s to 2-8-2s | B25 |
| 1907 | Hill leaves presidency and assumes Chairman of the Board | B29 |
| 1907 | Louis Hill becomes President of the railroad | B29 |
| 1908 | First 2-6-8-0 built | B25 |
| 1908 | End of rebuild of 2-6-6-2s to 2-8-2s | B25 |
| 1909 | Milwaukee reaches Seattle | B25 |
| 1909 | Slant lettering in white square herald introduced | B27 |
| 1909 | First electrics run in Cascade Tunnel (original) | B27, B29 |
| 1909 | First silk trains run - 45 hour schedule | B25 |
| 1910 | Last 4-6-0 built | B25 |
| 1910 | Last 4-6-2 built | B25 |
| 1910 | Last 2-6-8-0 built | B25 |
| 1910 | Rebuild of 2-6-8-0 to 2-8-2 | B25 |
| 1910 | Union Pacific reaches Seattle via OWR&N | B25 |
| 1910 | GN begins operating Seattle to Portland (trackage rights) | B29 |
| 1910 | Wellington Disaster, town renamed to Tye | B27 |
| 1910 (?) | Andrews trucks in production ("1st decade") | B31 |
| 1910 (?) | Vulcan trucks in production ("1st decade") | B31 |
| 1910 (?) | Bettendorf T-section in production ("1st decade") | B31 |
| 1911 | First 2-8-2 built (as a 2-8-2) | B25 |
| 1912 | First and last 2-8-8-0 built (2 later rebuilds) | B25 |
| 1912 | Surrey Cutoff completed | B29 |
| 1912 | Carl Gray becomes President of the railroad | B29 |
| 1912 | James J. Hill retires from Board | B29 |
| 1912 | Louis Hill becomes Chairman | B29 |
| 1913 | First Gas Electric | B25 |
| 1914 | First order of 4-8-2 delivered (P-1, 63" drivers) | B25 |
| 1914 | Hill makes his last trip over the entire line | B27 |
| 1914 | Louis Hill again becomes President of railroad | B29 |
| 1914 | SP&S formed, GN and NP joint venture | B27 |
| 1914 | Great Northern Pacific Steamship company formed | B27 |
| 1915 | GN station in Vancouver completed | B25 |
| 1915 | Louis Hill coins slogan "See America First" (earlier?) | B27 |
| 1915 | Standard ladders, grabs, steps, etc. | Thompson, James D. |
| 1916 | Surrey Cutoff built | B4 |
| 1916 | James J. Hill dies in St. Paul | B27, B29 |
| 1918 | Last 0-8-0 built | B25 |
| 1918 | Express companies merged into Railway Express | WWW1 |
| 1917 | USRA formed to operate RRs during WW-I | WWW1 |
| 1919 | Ralph Budd becomes President of the railroad | B29 |
| 1920 | Last 2-8-2 built (as a 2-8-2) | B25 |
| 1920 | ARA standards for stenciling reporting marks | Wilber, Guy |
| 1920s | PRR introduces the U-section truck ("after WWI") | B31 |
| 1920s | U-section/one piece cast side frames adopted by ARA | B31 |
| 1920 | US Government disbands USRA | WWW1 |
| 1921 | GN ships automobiles stacked on flat cars (1st 'piggybacks') | B27 |
| 1922 | Pullman assumes operation of sleepers | B25 |
| 1923 | First order of 2-10-2 (Q-1s) | B25 |
| 1923 | Front facing goat herald replaces slant lettering in square | B27 |
| (First "Rocky" herald) | ||
| 1923 | Second & last order of 4-8-2s (P-2, 73" drivers) | B25 |
| 28 engines, 18 oil, 10 coal | ||
| 1923 | GN and FGEX form WFEX company | WWW1 |
| 1924? | Q-2 class produced by rebuilding P-1 4-8-2s | B25 |
| 1924 (22?) | The new Oriental Limited (steel sheathed cars) 68 hr schedule | B25, B29 |
| 1924 | All cars in primary psgr service are Pullman cars | B25 |
| 1925 | First 2-8-8-2s built and delivered | B25 |
| 1925 | New freight cars have steel center sills | |
| 1925 | ARA requires std capacity and size info | Wilber, Guy |
| 1925 | Statue of John F. Stevens is erected on Marias Pass | B27 |
| 1925 | Rock Creek rebuilt to 'a bridge within a bridge' | B27 |
| 1925 | Alternative date for the start of the 2-6-6-2 rebuild program | Fr. Peterka |
| 1925(?) | Bettendorf U-section replaces T-section ("mid 20's") | B31 |
| 1926 | First diesel locomotive on the GN (#5100) | B25 |
| 1926 | Alternative date for the end of the 2-6-6-2 rebuilds into 2-8-2s | Fr. Peterka |
| 1927 | First Z-1 electrics in service | B25 |
| 1927 | First Y-1 electrics in service | B25 |
| 1927 | Electrics built in 1909 are retired | B25 |
| 1928 | Last Z-1 built | B25 |
| 1928 | New freight cars have all steel under frames | |
| 1928 | Wood draft sills banned from interchange (steel center sills OK) | Hendrickson, Richard |
| 1928 | First GN train into Klamath Falls | B29 |
| 1929 | The Empire Builder goes into service - 60 hour schedule | B25 |
| 1929 | First order of 4-8-4s (S-1) delivered | B25 |
| 1929 | New Cascade Tunnel goes into service | B25, B29 |
| 1929 | Last train over the old line is powered by R-1 #2043 | B27 |
| 1929 | Old Cascade Tunnel abandoned | B25 |
| 1929 | Train numbers 37/38 renamed to "Cascadian" | B25 |
| 1929 | Glacier Park Limited withdrawn from service | B25 |
| 1929 | Louis Hill retires from Chairman | B29 |
| 1930s | Snubbers introduced on trucks | B31 |
| 1930 | Second order of 4-8-4s (S-2) delivered | B25 |
| 1930 | Last steam ordered from outside builder (S-2s) | B25 |
| 1930 | Last 2-8-8-2 delivered | B25 |
| 1930 | Last NEW steam engine delivered | B25 |
| 1930 | Last new Y-1 delivered | B25 |
| 1930 | Last Gas Electric delivered | B25 |
| 1931 | GN enters California (Bieber) | B25, B29 |
| 1931 | Oriental Limited is dropped from service | B25, B29 |
| 1931 | Cars constructed of all wood banned from interchange | Wilber, Guy |
| 1931 | B&O introduces the first air conditioned train (ice) | WWW1 |
| 1931 | ARA adopts "Type E" coupler as recommended practice | WWW1 |
| 1932 | William Kenney becomes President of GN | B29 |
| 1932 | The O-7s are rebuilt to O-8s | B25 |
| 1933 | Last runs of the silk trains (45 hour schedule) | B25 |
| 1933 | Freight cars get additional grab (left side) | Wilber, Guy on STMFC |
| 1933 | AB brakes required on all new built cars | Wilber, Guy |
| 1933 | GN & SP begin joint/alternating operation of OC&E (K-falls) | GNGoat - Don Delay |
| 1934 | First rebuild of the 2-8-8-0s (to N-2) | B25 |
| 1934 or so | SCT introduces the Barber S-1 which quickly becomes S-2 | B31 |
| 1935 | Empire Builder is air conditioned | B25 |
| 1935 | Empire Builder uses "semi-streamlined/light weight" equipment | B25 |
| (Cars have bolted sides and 6-wheel trucks, look stream-lined.) | B4 | |
| 1935 | Last passenger trains to Anacortes | GN PTTs |
| 1936 | Initial ban of archbar trucks (extended to 1940) | Wilber, Guy |
| 1936 | First MARS light developed (used on CNW first, on GN later) | WWW1 |
| 1937 | 4-6-6-4 built (and also year of last - only one order) | B25 |
| 1937 | Pullman built semi-streamlined coaches on Builder | B25 |
| 1937 | Most billboard reefers and box cars gone | Westerfield, Al |
| 1937 | All new cars built after Jan 1st have "power" brakes | Gene Green in STMFC |
| (this means they were not built with the brake wheel above roof) | Some exceptions, of course | |
| 1937(?) | Barber S-2 truck introduced ("late 30's") | B31 |
| 1938 | First and last NW-1s delivered | B25 |
| 1938 | All new switchers from now on are diesels | B25 |
| (Among 1st steamers to be replaced are the Class "A" switchers) | B27 | |
| 1938 | Billboard reefers and box cars gone entirely | Westerfield, Al |
| 1939 | Start of 2nd rebuild program (N-2 to N-3) | B25 |
| 1939 | First NW-2 diesels delivered | B25 |
| 1939 | First NW-3 diesels delivered | B25 |
| 1939 | First SW-1s delivered | B25 |
| 1939 | Two 4-6-6-4s delivered to GN (and quickly passed to SP&S) | B27 |
| 1939 | Frank Gavin becomes the President of the GN | B4, B29 |
| 1939 | The William Crooks goes to N.Y. World's Fair (own power?) | B29 |
| 1940 | First and last GE 44-tonners delivered | B25 |
| 1940 | Archbar trucks banned in interchange (final) | Wilbur, Guy and WWW1 |
| 1941 | EMD formed by GM - from EMC and Winton Engines | WWW1 |
| 1941 | End of 2nd rebuild program (N-2 to N-3) | B25 |
| 1941 | Last steam (rebuild program) completed | B25 |
| 1941 | First road power diesels | B25 |
| 1941 | First FT's delivered (First Orange and Green) | B25 |
| 1941 | First VO-1000s delivered | B25 |
| 1941 | Empire Builder adds 2nd section (WWII) | B25 |
| 1941 | Side Facing Goat Herald introduced | ? |
| 1941 | Last SW-1 delivered | B25 |
| 1941 or 1942 | Number boards applied to all GN steamers except switchers | B27 |
| 1942 | Last NW-3 delivered | B25 |
| 1942 | Z-6 Challengers (2) delivered 4-6-6-4 | B25 |
| 1942 (approx.) | Bettendorf ceases to produce freight car trucks entirely | B31 |
| 1943 | All Ten Wheelers are either scrapped or in dead storage | B27 |
| 1944 | Last VO-1000 delivered | B25 |
| 1944 | First and last RS-1s delivered | B25 |
| 1944 | First use of Scotchlite lettering by the GN | WWW1 |
| 1944 | All time freight record - 19,586,780,000 ton miles in one year | B29 |
| 1944 | ASF "ride control" A-3 trucks go into production | B31 |
| 1945 | First E-7s delivered | B25 |
| 1945 | Last FT delivered | B25 |
| 1945 | NW-5s delivered (predecessor to GP-7) | B25 |
| 1945 | Wood roofwalks/running boards outlawed on new cars | O'Connor, Tim and WWW1 |
| 1945 | S-2 Northern's are equipped with roller bearings | B27 |
| 1945 | First Vista Dome cars (on the CB&Q) | WWW1 |
| 1945 | All time passenger record - 1,305,138,000 passenger miles | B29 |
| 1946 | First F3's delivered | B25 |
| 1947 | Orange and Green Empire Builder initiated (withOUT domes) | B25 |
| 1947 | E.B. is stream-lined, lt. weight - 45 hour schedule, E-units | B25 |
| 1947 | Heavyweight E.B. becomes re-incarnated/2nd Oriental Limited | B25, B29 |
| 1947 | W-1 electric created in GN shops | B25 |
| 1947 | Steam repaints start using white lettering | GNGOAT - Laasko |
| 1947 | First RS-2s delivered | B25 |
| 1947 | Last E-7 delivered ('unsuccessful' on the Builder) | B25 |
| 1947 | First Pullman Standard 40' PS-1 box cars built (6/47) | STMFC (Kline, Hawkins) |
| 1948 | Last F-3 delivered | B25 |
| 1948 (?) | E-units replaced with F's on E.B. | B27 |
| 1948 | New/repainted freight cars use "Great Northern" | Westerfield, Al |
| instead of "Glacier Park" in logo | ||
| 1948 | Plate "B" adopted (maximum height 15'1") | 1948 ORER |
| 1948 | Running boards and platforms must be "grid" (new only?) | Wilber, Guy |
| 1948 | Heavy "asphalt" paint prohibited on trucks | Wilber, Guy |
| 1948 | Car wheels must NOT be painted | Wilber, Guy |
| 1948 | Covered hoppers start to show up on the GN | B4 |
| 1948 | Mechanical reefers in service for FGEX | WWW1 |
| 1948 | First 50' PS-1 box cars built (12/48 - for GTW) riveted | STMFC (Hawkins) |
| 1949 | Last NW-2 delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | Both Z-6s 'sold' to SP&S 4-6-6-4 | B25 |
| 1950 | First F-7 delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | First and last Alco S-2s delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | First and last SW-7s delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | First SW-9s delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | First RS-3s delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | First and last order of FA-1s delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | First and last order of FA-2s delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | First GP-7s delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | Last RS-2 delivered | B25 |
| 1950 | International goes into service between Seattle & Vancouver | B29 |
| 1950 | Red River goes into service between St. Paul & Fargo | B29 |
| 1950 | E-units replaced with F-3's and F-7's on E.B. | B18? |
| 1951 | New equipment replaces 1947 Builder | B25 |
| 1951 | First time since 1924 not 'all Pullman' | B25 |
| 1951 | 1947 E.B. equipment goes to Oriental Limited | B25 |
| 1951 | Oriental Limited is renamed Western Star | B25, B29 |
| 1951 | June - Western Star begins operation | B29 |
| 1951 | Last SW-9's delivered | B25 |
| 1951 | Frank Gavin is replaced by John Budd as President of the GN | B4, B29 |
| 1951 | Gavin becomes Chairman | |
| 1951 | Reduced rates for Federal shipments for Land Grant RRs ends | NPTellTale |
| (The GN was -not- a land grant RR, NP was.) | ||
| 1952 | First SD-7s delivered | B25 |
| 1952 | Truss rod cars banned in interchange | ICC/ARR |
| (steel center beams excepted) | ||
| 1953 | Last F-7 delivered | B25 |
| 1953 | Last RS-3s delivered | B25 |
| 1953 | First and last Baldwin S-12s delivered | B25 |
| 1953 | First and last NW-1s delivered | B25 |
| 1953 | Last SD-7 delivered | B25 |
| 1953 | Last GP-7 delivered | B25 |
| 1953 | K brakes banned on all cars except tank cars (AB brakes required) | Tony Thompson |
| 1953 | Extensive use of radio implemented | B29 |
| 1953 | Caboose safety slogans introduced | B23 |
| 1953 | Trucks with "T" and "L" section banned | Wilber, Guy |
| 1953 | Lower tack boards introduced on freight cars | Wilber, Guy |
| 1953 | GN donates F-8 #1246 to City of Seattle, it is the | B27 |
| last active steamer on the Cascade Division | B27 | |
| 1954 | Jan 1, K brakes banned in all service | Kelly, Bill |
| 1954 | First SD-9s delivered | B25 |
| 1954 | First GP-9s delivered | B25 |
| 1954 | First and last order of F-9s delivered | B25 |
| 1954 | First Piggyback service on the GN | B4, B29 |
| 1955 | Allied full cushion truck banned due to derailments | Hendrickson, Richard |
| 1955 | Dome coach and Dome Lounge cars on the Empire Builder | B4 |
| 1955 | Airslide hoppers from General American | B4 and WWW1 |
| 1955 | Construction begins on Gavin Yard | B29 |
| 1956 | Ag and Industrial Development departments 'joined' | B29 |
| 1956 | Fan exhaust system for Cascade Tunnel finished | B25 |
| 1956 | Diesels begin regular service thru Cascade Tunnel | B25 |
| 1956 | RDC-3 #2350 from Budd in service | B25 |
| 1956 | GN completes Mn to Wa VHF radio network | B29 |
| 1956 | Headlights during daytime mandated by ICC | WWW1 |
| 1956 | Y-1 electrics are retired (many sold to Pennsy) | B25 |
| 1956 | W-1 and Z-1 electrics are retired (scrapped?) | B25 |
| 1956 | Cascade tunnel ventilation project completed | B29 |
| 1956 | Gavin Yard in Minot opens - hump | B4 |
| 1956 or 57 | Catenary comes down | B25 |
| 1957 | First and last SW-1200s delivered | B25 |
| 1957 | Last steam operations - August (some locos stored) | B29 |
| 1957 | Integrally cast journal boxes required in interchange | Hendrickson, Richard |
| (only Andrews "U" section survived this change) | ||
| 1958 | All steam retired - spring | B29 |
| 1958 | Last SD-9 delivered (most lasted until M-day) | B25 |
| 1958 | Cast iron wheels banned from all new cars - or rebuilds | WWW1 |
| 1959 | Last GP-9(m) delivered | B25 |
| 1959 | Last gas electric retired | B25 |
| 1959 | Last runs of the Cascadian | B25 |
| 1959 | Hydrocushion under frames introduced | WWW1 |
| 1960 | First and last GP-20s delivered | B25 |
| 1960 | Fast Mail and Western Star combined into a single train | B4 |
| (for passenger, Fast Mail becomes a 'freight' on same sched?) | ||
| 1960 | Last delivery of Original E.B. (GP20s) | B25 |
| 1960 | May - Western Star operates thru Chester | Mark Meyer |
| 1960 | First auto racks on the GN, GN joins Trailer Train | B29 (B4 disagrees on date) |
| 1960 | First unit train (coal) operates on the Southern Railway | WWW1 |
| 1961 | Glacier Park Co. sold to Glacier Park, Inc. (not subsidiary) | B29 |
| 1961 | Rumors have it that a few diesels were repainted in "simple" | GNGoat |
| 1961 | CTC is already on 874 miles and ribbon rail up to 287 | B29 |
| 1962 | First E.B. "Simple" color scheme units (repaints?) | B25 |
| 1962 | GN station in Vancouver abandoned | B25 |
| 1963 | Plate "C" adopted, maximum height 15'6", Hi-cube box cars | ORER, WWW1 |
| 1963 | First GP30s delivered (1st new power in "simple" E.B.) | B25 |
| 1963 | Bulkhead flats, 57foot, 90 ton | B4 |
| 1964 | First GE U-25Bs delivered | B25 |
| 1964 | First GP-35s delivered | B25 |
| 1965 | Last U-25B delivered | B25 |
| 1965? | Last new diesel painted in "Simple" E.B. scheme => BSB | |
| 1965 | Last GP-35 delivered | B25 |
| 1965 | GN station in Vancouver torn down | B25 |
| 1966 | First SD-45s | B25 |
| 1966 | First Big Sky Blue color schemes (diesels and freight) | B25 |
| 1966 | First and last SDP-40s delivered | B25 |
| 1966 | First and last U28Bs delivered | B25 |
| 1966 | Federal ban on new cars delivered with running boards | Kaminski, Bill |
| 1966 | COTS standard adopted - label not required | ORER? |
| 1966 | FRA created | WWW1 |
| 1967 | First Big Sky Blue on the Empire Builder | B6-B |
| 1967 | GN BSB paint does not use Caboose safety slogans | B23 |
| 1967 | First and last SW-1500s delivered | B25 |
| 1967 | First and last SDP-45s and F-45s delivered | B25 |
| 1967 | Thrall introduces the all door boxcar | WWW1 |
| 1967 | First shipments of taconite ore (to pocket docks) | B19 |
| 1967 | Last Pullman Standard 40' PS-1 box cars built (9/67) | STMFC (Kline, Hawkins) |
| 1968 | First U33Cs delivered to GN | B25 |
| 1968 | ACI labels begin use (should be earlier?) | O'Connor, Tim |
| 1968 | First Bi-Level and Tri-level autorack cars (open sides) - May | B4 (B29 disagrees on date) |
| 1969 | Last U33C delivered | B25 |
| 1970 | ACI labels required | |
| 1970 | Merger day (3 March) - Burlington Northern | B25 |
| 1970 | Some power goes to BN in all three paint schemes | GNGoat |
| 1970 | Flathead Tunnel dedicated | B25 |
| 1970 | Cast iron wheels banned from interchange | Neubauer, Eric |
| 1971 | Last run of the Empire Builder (pre-Amtrak) | B25 |
| 1971 | Amtrak formed, May 1st - 1971 | WWW1 |
| 1971 | First runs of Amtrak E.B. and International | B25 |
| 1971 | BN renames the Fast Mail to "Pacific Zip" | B4 |
| 1972 | Latah Bridge dedicated (Spokane) | B25 |
| 1972 | COTS label recommended by AAR | Eager, Jim |
| 1972 | AAR "consolidated" stencils adopted | ORER? |
| 1972 | Last Pullman Standard 50' PS-1 box cars built (11/72) | MFCL, Eager |
| 1973 | First enclosed tri-level autoracks | WWW1 |
| 1974 | Roofwalks/Running boards removed from all freight cars | Kaminski, Bill |
| 1974 | Plate "E" adopted, 15'9" | ORER, WWW1 |
| 1974 | Plate "F" adopted | ORER |
| 1974 | Plate "G" adopted (17'0") | WWW1 |
| 1974 | Plate "H" adopted (20'2") | WWW1 |
| 1974 | COTS label required | MFCL, Eager |
| 1974 | FRA "consolidated" stencils required | ORER? |
| 1974 | Railbox is formed | WWW1 |
| 1976 | US Government forms Conrail | WWW1 |
| 1977 | GN SW1200 #162 (Orig E.B.) repainted into CG, May 10 | B30 |
| 1977 | GN NW2 #494 (BSB) repainted into Cascade Green, May 23 | B30 |
| 1977 | GN SW1 #83 (simple) repainted into Cascade Green, June 10 | B30 |
| (This was the last motive power still in GN paint on the BN) | ||
| 1977 | Hazmat Markings change | Illinois Central Employee Pub (Dec 77) |
| 1977 | Last R.P.O. trains in U.S. are operated | WWW1 |
| 1978 | ACI labels not required (but stayed long after) | ORER |
| 1978 | White dot/Yellow Dot wheel inspection labelling begins (3/78) | MFCL |
| 1978 | White dot/Yellow Dot wheel inspection ends (12/78) | MFCL |
| 1980 | Staggers rail act - ICC | WWW1 |
| 1982 | Walkways banned in interchange (date should be 1979?) | WWW1 |
| Roofwalks ban was never really enforced and relied upon car retirement | ||
| 1982 | COTS stencil changed to 3rd version | MFCL |
| 1986 | Cabooses not required on mainline freights | MFCL |
| 1987 | CAPY started to be removed from freight cars | MFCL |
| 1989 | CAPY data no longer required | MFCL |
| 1991 | Hazmat cars must have journal roller bearings | WWW1 |
| 1994 | Journal roller bearings required on all cars in interchange (1995?) | WWW1 |
| 1995 | BNSF formed | |
| 1996 | Conrail sold to CSX, NS, others | WWW1 |
| 1996 | AEI 'FET' tags required on interchange cars | MFCL |
| 1996 | ICC replaced by STB | WWW1 |
| 2004 | June 11th, Amtrak celebrates 75 years of the E.B. | Mark Meyer |
|
Last updated: |
February 27, 2006 |
Copyright © 2006 Jim Betz |
|
|
||
| SOURCE-ID | AUTHOR | TITLE |
| B1 | C.E.R.A. | Electrification by G.E. (G.N.) |
| B2 | Dorin, P | Iron Ore Railroads, Minnesota-Ontario |
| B3 | Dorin, P | Lake Superior Iron Ore Railroads |
| B4 | Dorin, P | Lines East, Great Northern |
| B5 | Great Northern | Empire Builder Breakfast Menu, circa 55? |
| B6 | Hickcox, D | Great Northern Steam & Electric in Color |
| B6-B | Hickcox, D | GN Color Guide to Freight and Passenger |
| B7 | Hidy/Hidy/Hidy | Great Northern Railway, A History, The |
| B8 | Kalmbach | Train Album of Photographs, GN |
| B9 | Martin, C | Locomotives of the Empire Builder |
| B10 | Olsen, B | Great Northern Railway, 1945-70 Photo Archive |
| B11 | Olsen, B | Great Northern Railway, 1945-70, Vol. II |
| B12 | R.&L.H.S. | Railroad History #143 - Great Northern Railway |
| B13 | Randall/Ross | Pullman-Standard GN, NP, SP&S, Vol 3. |
| B14 | Shine, J | Great Northern Pictorial - Volume 1 |
| B15 | Shine, J | Great Northern Pictorial - Volume 2 |
| B16 | Strauss, J | Great Northern Pictorial - Volume 3 |
| B17 | Strauss, J | Great Northern Pictorial - Volume 4 |
| B18 | Strauss, J | Great Northern Pictorial - Volume 5 |
| B19 | Strauss, J | Great Northern Pictorial - Volume 6 |
| B20 | Strauss, J | Great Northern Pictorial - Volume 7 |
| B21 | Thompson, S | Great Northern Equipment Color Pictorial |
| B22 | Thompson, S | Great Northern Equipment Color Pict, Book 2 |
| B23 | Thompson, S | Great Northern Equipment Color Pict, Book 3 |
| B24 | Wilson, Jeff | Great Northern Railway in the Pacific Northwest |
| B25 | Wood, C | Great Northern Railway |
| B26 | Wood, C | Great Northern Railway (2nd Copy) |
| B27 | Wood, C | Lines West, Great Northern REVISED |
| B28 | Wood, C | Lines West, Great Northern |
| B29 | Great Northern Public Relations Dept. | GN Railway Condensed History, Revised '62 |
| B30 | Del Grosso? | BN Motive Power Annual, 1977-80 |
| B31 | Hendrickson, Richard | RP Cyc #4 Article on Trucks and Wheels |
| R__ | Various | GNRHS Reference Sheet Numbers |
| THC1 | Modern Marvels Program - RR Safety | The History Channel |
| WWW1 | www.hosam.com/grd/dates.html | Website |
| GNGoat | Yahoo Groups - not a 'solid' reference at all times but useful | Website |
| STMFC | Yahoo Groups - Steam Freight Car list | Website |
| MFCL | Yahoo Groups - Modern Freight Car list | Website |