Portal:Trains/Anniversaries/August 20/More

19th century

 * 1854 – The first trains operate in what is now Romania between Oraviţa, Transylvania, and Baziaş, on the Danube.
 * 1857 – The European and North American Railway in New Brunswick, Canada, opens between Shediac and Moncton.
 * 1868 – The Abergele train disaster, the first major railway disaster in Britain, occurs when a train uncouples and runs away down a steep incline; railroads install catchpoints to prevent such a disaster in the future.

20th century

 * 1909 – The Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad, a predecessor of the Kansas City Southern Railroad, announces the construction of a new line from Murfreesboro to Hot Springs, Arkansas.
 * 1930 – The Kururi Line in Japan is regauged from to.
 * 1935 – Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway discontinues all interurban operations.
 * 1963 – The one millionth railroad carload of lettuce is shipped from Salinas, California.
 * 1979 – San Diego's Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) purchases the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway Company in restored condition for $18.1 million.

Births

 * 1855 – Ira G. Rawn, vice president of operations for Illinois Central Railroad 1907-1909; president of Monon Railroad 1909-1910, is born (d. 1910).

Deaths

 * 2010 – Charles S. Roberts, American railroad historian, dies (b. 1930).