1940 in rail transport

This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in 1940.

Events

January events

• January 9 – The Østfold Line in Norway takes electric traction into use between Ås and Dilling.
• January 14 – Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway discontinues the San Francisco-Los Angeles-Chicago Navajo.
• January 27 – The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad ceases operations in Massachusetts in preparation for abandonment.

February events

• February – Electro-Motive Corporation introduces the E5.

March events

• March 29 – Southern Pacific Railroad runs its last passenger train to Fremont-Centerville, California.

May events

• May 1 – The Østfold Line in Norway takes electric traction into use between Dilling and Fredrikstad.
• May 20 – Sixty-six railroads in the United States, in cooperation with the Travelers' Credit Corporation, begin selling railroad tickets, Pullman accommodations and all-expense tours on an installment basis, known as the Travel Credit Plan. Purchases over $50 can be charged.

June events

• June 21 – East Wind begins summer service over the Pennsylvania, New Haven, Boston & Maine and Maine Central railroads between Washington, D.C. and Maine.
• June 30 – Last day archbar freight trucks can legally operate in U.S. Interchange service (and then only on empty cars returning to their home roads).
• June – Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad takes delivery of the unique EMC AB6 locomotives.

July events

• July 15 – The Østfold Line in Norway takes electric traction into use between Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg.
• July 17 – The last section of the Baghdad Railway's mainline linking Istanbul and Baghdad is completed between El Yaroubieh and Baiji.
• July 29 – Rail traffic is suspended in France between French-retained and German-occupied territories.
• July 30 – The Pennsylvania Railroad orders its first 4-4-4-4 T1 duplex-drive steam locomotives. They are expected to be serious competition for diesel power.

August events

• August 1 – Norwegian State Railways runs first through train on the Flåm Line.

September events

• September 2 – Kansas City Southern Railway inaugurates the Southern Belle passenger train service between Kansas City, Missouri, and New Orleans, Louisiana.
• September 13 – The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad is formed by the merger of the Gulf, Mobile and Northern and Mobile and Ohio Railroads.

October events

• October 1 – The Pennsylvania Turnpike opens, constructed using tunnels and grades originally built for the never-completed West Penn Railroad.

November events

• November 4 – Norton Fitzwarren, England: a train driver on the Great Western Railway misreads the signals on a four track line, and drives his train off the end of the track.
• November 11 – The Østfold Line in Norway takes electric traction into use between Sarpsborg and Halden.
• November 22 – The Newark City Subway in New Jersey opens an extension from Heller Parkway to Grove Street.

Deaths

October deaths

• October 24 – William Benson Storey, president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 1920-1933 (born 1857).

Unknown date deaths

• Leonor F. Loree, president of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1901-1903, Delaware and Hudson Railway 1907-1938 and Kansas City Southern Railway 1918-1920 (born 1858).

References

• Wayner, Robert J., ed. (1972). Car Names, Numbers and Consists. New York: Wayner Publications.