This article will list events related to rail transport that occurred in 1869.

Events

April events

• April 23 - Crews building the Central Pacific Railroad lay 10 miles (16 km) of track in one day.

May events

• May 10 - The golden spike is driven at Promontory Summit, Utah, on the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America.
• May 15 - The first trains operate the entire length of the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America traveling between Omaha, Nebraska and Sacramento, California.

August events

• August 20 - An Irish Mail passenger train collides with cargo trucks loaded with paraffin leaving 33 dead. This is the first major train disaster in Britain. See Abergele Train Disaster

November events

• November 8 - The Central Pacific Railroad completes the final leg of the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America, connecting Sacramento, California to San Francisco, California.

Unknown date events

• The New York State Legislature authorised the merger of railroads already owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt into the New York Central, including the New York & Hudson Railroad, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, the Canada Southern Railroad and the Michigan Central Railroad into the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.
• William Henry Vanderbilt, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt, is promoted to Vice President of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.
• The first railroad built in New Jersey, the Camden and Amboy Railroad, is merged into the United New Jersey Railroad and Canals Company.
• The Westinghouse Air Brake Company is founded by George Westinghouse.

Births

Deaths