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This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in 1981.

Events

February events

• February - Amtrak debuts the Desert Wind passenger train between Los Angeles, California, and Ogden, Utah.
• February 21 - MBTA discontinues passenger train service to Rhode Island.

May events

• May - General Motors Electro-Motive Division introduces the EMD SD50.
• May 29 - Karasuma Line open, for first time of Kyoto Municipal Subway, Kyoto, Japan.

July events

• July 17 - The Manchester–Sheffield–Wath Woodhead Line, carrying electric-hauled freight traffic through the Pennines in England, is closed and all British Rail Class 76 locomotives used on it are stored at Guide Bridge and Reddish before being scrapped.
• July 26 - Fukuoka Airport Line (Kuko Line) open, for first time of Fukuoka City Subway, Kyūshū, Japan.

September events

• September 1 - Illinois Terminal Railroad is purchased by Norfolk and Western Railroad.
• September 15 - the John Bull becomes the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when it is run under its own power by the Smithsonian Institution.

December events

• December 3 - The first of the 2600-Series rapid transit cars (cta 2601-3200), built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are placed in service on the Chicago 'L' system. After this 600 car order was completed in 1987, Budd (later TransitAmerica) retired from railcar manufacturing.

Unknown date events

• Burlington Northern Railroad corporate headquarters are moved from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, Washington.
• Union Pacific 3985 is restored to operating condition, making it the largest operable steam locomotive in the world.
• William W. Stinson succeeds Fred Burbidge as president of Canadian Pacific Railway.
• VIA Rail Canada suspends operation of the Super Continental passenger train.
• The New York City Subway discontinues use of its R8A revenue car.

Births

Deaths

May deaths

• May 11 - Rogers E. M. Whitaker ("E. M. Frimbo"), writer on rail travel (b. 1900).

References

• (February 2005) Trains Timeline, Trains Magazine, p. 9