This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in 1916.
January 15 - First through Berlin-Istanbul train.
April - Motor Rail deliver the first of over 900 petrol engined 60 cm narrow gauge railway locomotives for the British War Department Light Railways on the Western Front (World War I); substantially the same design is in production until the 1980s.
April 13 - Oris Paxton Van Sweringen and his younger brother Mantis James Van Sweringen purchase a 75% controlling interest in the Nickel Plate Road from William Kissam Vanderbilt for $8.5 million.
May 6 - Rome and Fiuggi Rail Road opens for service.
July 16 - Much of the Southern Railway's mainline in North and South Carolina is damaged or destroyed by flooding.
August 24 - After a bankruptcy, the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad is reorganized as the St. Louis - San Francisco Railway (often called the "Frisco").
August 24 - Due to several serious accidents caused by broken red lenses in its signals, the New York Central Railroad discontinues white lights as indications to proceed. The new color is green.
September 11 - The almost-completed Quebec Bridge collapses for the second time.
September 30 - Construction is completed on the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City.
October 5 - Opening of Amur River line completes through rail communication on Trans-Siberian Railway.
November 16 - The two-story station opened by the California Southern Railroad in San Bernardino, California, is destroyed by fire.
November 24 - German sleeping and dining car operator Mitropa is founded.
December 1 - In the Herceghalom rail crash in Hungary, a side collision occurs between an express train and a shunting passenger train, killing 69
The Pennsylvania Railroad adopts the motto "the Standard Railroad of the World".
The Pennsylvania Railroad's first I1s 2-10-0 "Decapod" locomotive is completed and first A5s 0-4-0 and B6sb switching locomotives enter service.
Joel Coffin purchases Lima Locomotive Corporation; the company is renamed Lima Locomotive Works.
The first all-steel fish car is built for use on American railroads.
Underground Electric Railways Company of London, operator of the London Underground, adopts Johnston (typeface) as part of its corporate identity.
Early Summer - The Fairbourne Railway, in Wales, is converted from a horse-drawn tramway into a 15 in (381 mm) gauge steam railway.
April 15 – Benjamin Biaggini, president of the Southern Pacific Company (U.S.) 1964–1976 (died 2005).
September 10 – Michael Cobb, British railway historian (died 2010).
March 18 – Karl Gölsdorf, Austrian steam locomotive designer (born 1861).
April 19 - Ephraim Shay, American inventor of the Shay locomotive (born 1839).
May 12 - Fred T. Perris, Chief Engineer of the California Southern Railroad (born 1836).
May 29 - James J. Hill, American financier who gained control of the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway (born 1838).
1916 in rail transport Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA