Time Line - 1970


Last Year | Next Year


  • January: The I.C.C. authorizes the Ann Arbor RR to abandon 80.52 miles of its car ferry route between Frankfort and Menominee, and its switch yard and dock facility at Menominee. [MDOT]

  • March 4: Penn Central petitions the Interstate Commerce Commission to discontinue all passenger service in Michigan, save for some Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter trains. [MT]

  • May 17: Three young bandits boarded a freight train as it entered Detroit, held a conductor at gunpoint and broke into two freight cars. The robbery, which was believed to be Detroit's first train robbery, netted the thieves baby strollers, bassinets and rattles. [MT]

  • June 21: Penn Central railroad enters into bankruptcy. Railroad is loosing $1 million each day. [MDOT/STOV]

  • March 31: Wabash Railroad is purchased by Norfolk and Western. [MRRC]

  • October: Congress establishes Amtrak. Legally called the National Railroad Passenger Corp., Amtrak is a federally supported corporation that will operate nearly all intercity passenger trains in the U.S.  Assumes control of passenger service from the nation's private rail companies the next year. [DWS]

  • December 31: Michigan railroad mileage totals 6,140 miles. [MDOT]


  • Passenger trains cover 49,000 miles of U.S. railroads. 500 passenger trains currently exist. [STOV]

  • ACI labels are now required on all rail cars for identification. [SAM]

  • Cast iron wheels are now banned from interchange. [SAM]

 


 Time line Key:

  • Railroad event in Michigan
  • Event relating to mining
  • Event related to car ferries
  • Event outside of Michigan
  • Improvement in Technology
  • Railroad built or extended
  • Railroad abandoned and/or removed
  • Economic panic or depression

 

Bibliography

The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:

  • [AAB| = All Aboard!, by Willis Dunbar, Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids ©1969.
  • [AAN] = Alpena Argus newspaper.
  • [AARQJ] = American Association of Railroads Quiz Jr. pamphlet. © 1956
  • [AATHA] = Ann Arbor Railroad Technical and Historical Association newsletter "The Double A"
  • [AB] = Information provided at Michigan History Conference from Andrew Bailey, Port Huron, MI

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