merger with the Pennsylvania Railroad to form the Penn Central. December 10 – The Pennsylvania Railroad discontinues its all-Pullman (sleeping car) Broadway Limited, and assigns the train's name and much of its services to the General on the same New York-Chicago run, adding coaches and a separate dining car for coach passengers. December 20 - The Pennsylvania Railroad achieves its highest speed on their New York Division (a.k.a. Northeast Corridor) while operating one of their Turbo Liners. December 29 – The first steam locomotive powered train operates at Illinois Railway Museum using a Shay locomotive. Unknown date events Southern Pacific Railroad opens the longest stretch of new railroad construction in a quarter century as the first trains roll over the Palmdale Cutoff through Cajon Pass. The Central Railroad of New Jersey declares bankruptcy. General Motors Electro-Motive Division introduces the EMD FP45. English Electric supplies first batch of CP Class 1400 diesel-electric locomotives from its Vulcan Foundry to Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses, its first mainline locomotive export order for continental Europe. D. William Brosnan is succeeded by W. Graham Claytor as president of the Southern Railway (US). Cessation of steam operation on the Eastern Region of British Railways. Accidents February 28 – Stechford rail crash on British Rail at Stechford railway station in Birmingham: a diesel locomotive collides with a passenger train as a result of a shunting error, killing the driver and 8 passengers and injuring 16. March 5 – Connington South rail crash on the British Rail East Coast Main Line near Conington, Huntingdonshire: 5 passengers killed and 18 injured as the result of a deliberate act by the signalman. June 18 – A home-made bomb explodes on a Hyōgo-Himeji local commuter train at Shioya Station on the Sanyo Electric Railway Main Line, Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan. No one claims responsibility in this case, which kills two persons with 29 wounded. July 31 – Thirsk rail crash on the British Rail East Coast Main Line at Thirsk: an express train collides with a derailed freight. 7 passengers are killed, 45 injured, and prototype diesel locomotive DP2 is written off. November 5 – Hither Green rail crash on the Southern Region of British Rail in south-east London: derailment caused by a broken rail; 49 killed. Births Deaths May deaths May 13 – Eric Treacy, English railway photographer, former Anglican bishop (born 1907). December deaths December – Wayne A. Johnston, president of