Introduction
The year 1922 marked a pivotal period in the history of rail transport, reflecting both technological advancements and socio-political upheavals across the globe. From the rise of powerful labor movements like the Great Railroad Strike in the United States to the formation of major institutions such as the International Union of Railways in Europe, the events of this year underscored the evolving role of railways in industrial economies and national development. Notable milestones included the incorporation of key railway companies, the adoption of electric traction in Norway, and the debut of legendary luxury trains like Le Train Bleu in France. Meanwhile, influential figures in railway engineering and administration were born or rose to prominence, laying the groundwork for transformative changes in the decades to follow. This article chronicles the major developments in global rail transport during 1922, capturing a snapshot of a rapidly modernizing world on the tracks.
Events
May
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May 17 – The Arkansas Short Line Railroad, a predecessor of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway, is incorporated.
July
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July 1 – The Great Railroad Strike of 1922 begins in the United States, triggered by a reduction in railroad shop wages by seven cents per day mandated by the Railroad Labor Board. The strike continues until September 1.
August
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August 31 – H. L. Hamilton and Paul Turner form a company called Electro-Motive Engineering (later to become General Motors Electro-Motive Division) in Cleveland, Ohio.
October
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October – The International Union of Railways (UIC) is established in Paris to promote cooperation and standardization.
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October 22 – Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (first stage) is opened in Germany.
November
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The first Willamette locomotive is built for the Coos Bay Lumber Company of Marshfield, Oregon.
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July 26 – The Drammen Line in Norway adopts electric traction for service between Oslo West Station and Brakerøya.
December
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December 9 – Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée resumes the Calais-Méditerranée Express, now known as Le Train Bleu, operating between Calais Gare Maritime and Menton on the French Riviera.
Unknown Date
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The New York Central acquires the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad (the Big Four Railroad).
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Sir Henry Thornton succeeds David Blyth Hanna as president of Canadian National Railway.
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George Hughes succeeds H. P. M. Beames as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Western Railway.
Births
February
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February 27 – Robert B. Claytor, president of Norfolk and Western Railway (died 1993).
March
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March 22 – Livio Dante Porta, Argentinian steam locomotive mechanical engineer (died 2003).
July
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July 20 – Alan Stephenson Boyd, first United States Secretary of Transportation (1966–1969), president of Illinois Central Railroad (1969–1972), president of Amtrak (died 2020).
References
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Beck, Wayne (1957). “The History of St. Louis Southwestern Railway”. Archived from the original on 2009-10-18. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
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Davis, Colin J. (1977). Power at Odds: The 1922 National Railroad Shopmen’s Strike. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-06612-X.
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Anastasiadou, Irene (2005). “International Railway Organization in 19th and 20th century Europe” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
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Koch, Michael (1971). The Shay Locomotive: Titan of the Timber. The World Press. p. 467.
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“Railway Statistics 2008” (PDF). Norwegian National Rail Administration. 2009. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
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