– The Rock Island Railroad converts all of its Chicago-area commuter trains to diesel locomotive power. Seventeen new units replace the 23 Pacific type steam locomotives previously used. December 31 – Common-carrier rail service on Cyprus ends. Unknown date Southern Pacific Railroad subsidiary Sud Pacifico de Mexico is sold to the Mexican government. Train service ends on Ferrocarril Mexicano's narrow gauge Córdoba branch. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad's streamlined Comet passenger trainset (built in 1935) is retired from revenue service and scrapped. Armand Mercier steps down from the presidency of the Southern Pacific Company, parent company of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Earnest E. Norris is succeeded by Harry A. deButts as president of the Southern Railway. Births Deaths March deaths March 2 - Edgar Alcock, general manager and chairman of Hunslet Engine Company (born 1877). July deaths July 10 - Charles E. Johnston, president of Kansas City Southern Railway 1928-1938 (born 1881). References Brief biographies of major mechanical engineers. Retrieved February 9, 2005. Colin Churcher's Railway Pages (August 16, 2005), Significant dates in Canadian railway history. Retrieved August 26, 2005. Kansas City Southern Historical Society, The Kansas City Southern Lines. Retrieved August 15, 2005. Krishnamurti, Indra (June 25, 2005), History of railways in Indonesia. Retrieved August 22, 2005. Norfolk Southern Railway. Retrieved February 22, 2005. Accidents