ON THIS DAY: RAILFREIGHT

JUNE 13

1928 THE first tests are performed with the first rail detector car, invented by Elmer Ambrose Sperry, Sr. (1860-1930) in Beacon, NY. The American Railway Association (ARA) commissioned Sperry to put his laboratory equipment on a car and to test rails in track.

This detector car was hailed by the Bureau of Safety of the Interstate Commerce Commission as the greatest advance in the safety of railroading in sixteen years.

JUNE 14

1965 THE 24-hour clock is rolled out to all remaining British Rail public and working timetables a year after it had been introduced on the Western Region on June 15, 1964. Córas Iompair Éireann inroduced 24-hour clock public timetables from June 12 1967 and Northern Ireland two weeks later.

JUNE 15

1973 THE Chessie System became the parent of B&O, C&O, and Western Maryland.

JUNE 17

1998 AT approximately 15:45, St. Lawrence & Hudson Railway freight train #501-16, travelling westward on the south main track of the Galt Subdivision, ON, struck two stationary track units, a small crane and a lorry, at Mile 37.8.

The wheels of the lorry became entangled underneath the second locomotive and punctured the fuel tank, spilling approximately 2000 gallons of diesel fuel oil. There were no injuries.

JUNE 18

1831 THE John Bull 4-2-0 steam locomotive (later rebuilt as a 4-4-0) is constructed by Robert Stephenson and Company in England.

Built by Robert Stephenson and Company, the John Bull was initially purchased by and operated for the Camden and Amboy Railroad, the first railroad in New Jersey, which gave John Bull the number 1 and its first name, Stevens. Robert L. Stevens was president of the Camden and Amboy Railroad at the time.

1910 US Congress passed the Mann-Elkins Act which allowed the Interstate Commerce Commission to begin proceedings against railroads, pipelines, terminals, telegraph, and telephone companies in violation of rate regulations.