Events January events January 16 – The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, the oldest portion of what is to become the Chicago and North Western Railway, is chartered. February events February 5 – Henry R. Campbell of the Philadelphia, Germantown & Norristown Railroad patents the first 4-4-0, a steam locomotive type that will soon become the most common on all railroads of the United States. February 8 - London and Greenwich Railway opens its first section, the first railway in London, England. March events March - The Syracuse and Utica Railroad, a predecessor of the New York Central Railroad, is chartered to build a railroad between its namesake cities in New York. April events April – The first railroad car ferry in the U.S., the Susquehanna enters service on the Susquehanna River between Havre de Grace and Perryville, Maryland. May events May 5 – The Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad is chartered as the successor to the Castleton and West Stockbridge Railroad in Massachusetts and eastern New York. May 19 – The Bristol and Exeter Railway receives parliamentary authorization. July events July 13 – John Ruggles is awarded for his improvements to railroad steam locomotive tires. July 21 – The Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad opens between St. John and La Prairie, Quebec, the first steam-worked passenger railroad in British North America. August events August 1 – The Utica and Schenectady Railroad, a predecessor of the New York Central Railroad in New York, opens. August 8 – Andover and Wilmington Railroad opens its line to Andover, Massachusetts. September events September 5 – The Lake Wimico and St. Joseph Canal and Railroad, the first steam railroad in Florida, opens. October events The Louisa Railroad of Louisa County, Virginia, an early predecessor of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, begins construction. October 25 – Construction begins on the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad in North Carolina. Due to a lack of support in Raleigh, the route is revised to run from Wilmington to the Petersburg Railroad in Weldon. December events December 14 – The London and Greenwich Railway opens throughout from London Bridge to Deptford. Unknown date events The Bangor and Piscataquis Canal and Railroad Company operates the first steam railroad in Maine with two 2-2-0 locomotives manufactured in England. Births January births January 2 - Fred T. Perris, Chief Engineer of the California Southern Railroad (d. 1916). February births February 9 – Franklin