Timeline of US Class I Railroads Since 1977

Summary

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Last update: November 7, 2013 (February 2019) The following is a brief history of the North American rail system, mainly through major changes to Class I railroads, the largest class by operating revenue. 1977 1978 1979 1980 The Colorado and Wyoming Railway (no longer Class I) abandons its operations in Wyoming. March 1: The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, in trusteeship since February 13, 1978,[5] abandons all operations west of Miles City, Montana. Very little of this trackage is taken over by other railroads. March 31: After a bankruptcy that started on March 17, 1975, and directed operation by the Kansas City Terminal Railway since October 5, 1979, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad shuts down entirely.[6] Over the next few years, other railroads will buy large portions of the Rock Island's system, most notably the Iowa Interstate Railroad (Chicago-Council Bluffs), Chicago and North Western Transportation Company (Spine Line), Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad subsidiary Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad (OKT Line), and Southern Pacific Transportation Company subsidiary St. Louis Southwestern Railway (Tucumcari Line). The Fort Worth and Denver Railway (Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad system) becomes sole owner of the Joint Texas Division, formerly owned by the Burlington-Rock Island Railroad until 1964 and then equally by the two companies.[7] June 24: The Grand Trunk Western Railroad buys control of the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad from the Penn Central Corporation.[8] September 2: The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway begins operating the former New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad (no longer Class I), which filed for bankruptcy in January 1976.[9] November 1: Chessie System, Inc. and Seaboard Coast Line Industries merge to form the CSX Corpora...