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]

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• 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