1968 in rail transport

This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in 1968.

Events

January events

• January 6 - The Hixon rail crash occurs when a low-loader road transporter is struck by an express train on an automatic half-barrier level crossing at Hixon, Staffordshire, England. 11 people are killed. This has repercussions on the arrangements for automating level crossings on British Rail.

February events

• February 1 - The Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad merge to form the Penn Central. Terms of the merger with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad have not yet been agreed with the Interstate Commerce Commission; in the interim, the Penn Central will financially support the New Haven.

April events

• April 4 - Transit Planning Study Chicago Central Area, a three volume report authorized in 1965, is published by the City of Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority, and other public agencies. It proposed a new Loop Subway under Randolph, Wabash, Van Buren and Franklin Streets to replace the Loop elevated system (which still exists today), and a Distributor Subway system under Monroe Street to the North Michigan Avenue business district and McCormick Place. After 1970, it was referred to as the Chicago Central Area Transit Project.
• April 5 - The Ulster Transport Authority (UTA), responsible for closing most of the northern part of the Irish railway system, is dissolved. Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) (formed as Ulster Transport Railways) takes over operation of railways in Northern Ireland.
• April 8 - The last run of the Golden State passenger train on the Rock Island and Southern Pacific railroads departs Los Angeles, California.

June events

• June 12 - Following the withdrawal of Soo Line Railroad's objections, the Interstate Commerce Commission reaffirms its approval of the proposed CNW/CGW merger.

July events

• July 1 - The Chicago Great Western Railway is merged into the Chicago and North Western Railway to avoid bankruptcy.
• July 19 - Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's Texas Chief passenger train discontinues station stops at Dallas, Texas.
• July 30 - The Chicago and North Western Railway railroad acquires the Des Moines and Central Iowa Railway and the Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railway.

August events

• August 11 - British Rail operates its last steam locomotives on the standard gauge, the "Fifteen Guinea Special".
• August 22 - Magma Arizona Railroad discontinues its use of steam locomotives.

Ticket issued on first day of service on London Underground’s Victoria line

September events

• September 1 - The Victoria line of the London Underground opens between Walthamstow Central and Highbury and Islington.

November events

• November 30 - Swiss Federal Railways officially operates its last steam locomotive on the standard gauge.

December events

• December 6 - Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad operates its last steam-hauled freight train over its 914 mm (3 ft)  gauge San Juan Extension, Alamosa–Durango.
• December 31 - Penn Central's purchase of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad is completed.

Unknown date events

• Construction is completed on the Muskingum Electric Railroad in southeastern Ohio.
• The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway operates the last passenger train on its subsidiary Grand Canyon Railway, carrying only three passengers for the final run.
• South African Railways 2 ft  (610 mm) gauge NGG16 class no. 156 completed by Hunslet Taylor, Johannesburg: last Garratt locomotive and SAR's last steam locomotive.

Deaths

• October 7 - Richard M. Dilworth, General Motors Electro-Motive Division chief engineer credited with developing the diesel-electric locomotive concept in the 1930s (b. 1885).

References

• Rivanna Chapter, National Railway Historical Society (2005), This Month in Railroad History: July. Retrieved July 18, 2005.