Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
What was the fare of a transcontinental trip when the railroad was complete and what first stop west of Big Mountain Pass when the railroad was completed?
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 3:48 PM
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19 Comments:
From: "Marie Cook" mcook@sllboces.org
Can you tell me the average price of a railroad ticket in the 1860's – especially for a ride on George Pullman's new luxury sleeping car?
Information about ticket prices can be found on our FAQ page. Note that the first transcontinental railroad was not completed until May 10, 1869, and that Pullman Cars were not used initially on the Central Pacific. The CPRR used instead their own Silver Palace Cars. Through sleepers probably were not in use until about 1888,
See Mr. Pullman's elegant palace car: The railway carriage that established a new dimension of luxury and entered the national lexicon as a symbol of splendor
by Lucius Morris Beebe.
From: "Becky Pellegrino" Becky-o@sbcglobal.net
What did a ticket cost to ride the train from New York to Chicago in 1880, including a boxcar?
Not sure if it would have the information that you want, but an 1881 Official Guide of the Railways is included on this DVD.
For information about fares on the transcontinental railroad, see this FAQ.
Not sure what the part of your question about the boxcar means.
From: "RANDALL HEES" hees@astound.net
Subject: New York to Chicago fare in 1880
To clarify, are you looking for an emigrant fare, family in a tourist class car with belongings in a box car?
I am aware of such fares being offered to induce people to move to the plains, to take up farming, but not from NY to Chicago, although it is possible they were offered.
Does your question involve a new emigrant family, if so this may be a fare only offered overseas.
—Randy Hees
From: "Becky" becky-o@sbcglobal.net
... I am trying to write a historical novel about young men coming from Italy in 1880. They are wanting to go to Chicago to work. I was wanting my information to be accurate or at the very least plausible. I don't want to say it cost $20 if it only cost $10. At the same time, I don't want to say it cost $10 if it cost $50. ...
—Becky
From: "Wendell Huffman" wendellhuffman@hotmail.com
My next door neighbor told me that when his family moved to California (it must have been in the teens or 20s) that they came in a boxcar with all their possessions and animals. I don't recall ever hearing of that from any other source, but I can't imagine him making that up either.
From: "Kyle K. Wyatt" kylekwyatt@gmail.com
Several recent discussions in other groups have shown that moving belongings and at least some family members in boxcars was not uncommon – perhaps even rather common. Your neighbor was far from alone. Check out The Zulu by Fred Wishart.
—Kyle
From: "Larry Mullaly" lmullaly@jeffnet.org
John Bergman tells the same story for his great grandparents coming to the Visalia area via SP at the turn of the last century. The box car was set out on a siding along with the family.
—Larry
From: "RANDALL HEES" hees@astound.net
The accounts of traveling via boxcar generally involve established families, usually farming families, with the possessions (farm equipment, stock, household stuff) needed to re-establish a farm.
I would not expect a recent Italian emigrant to have such belongings when moving from NY to Chicago.. Instead I would expect a third class passenger car.
For most of the 19th century common people didn't own much stuff...
—Randy Hees
From: "Becky" becky-o@sbcglobal.net
... still need to know how much these two guys from Italy would have paid to ride a train from New York to Chicago. ...
—Becky
See related discussion.
From: "Mike Killian" renovate@gorge.net
Subject: Rail Fare around 1875
I am trying to determine an average train fare to the West Coast (Oakland Californiaa) from the area around Michigan or Wisconsin around 1875. My purpose is to determine why anyone would make such an arduous trip and would train be the logical choice.
—Mike Killian
See fare cost.
See 1881 Timetable.
Travel from the midwest to the west coast of the United States in 1875 would be by train. This was much faster, safer, and less expensive than travel by horse, wagon, or stagecoach. Going to the east coast to take a ship around Cape Horn (around South America) or via Panama would make no sense once the transcontinental railroad was available.
How much did it cost to ride the transcontinental railroad?
From: "Marj Huyck" marjhuyck@yahoo.com
What was the cost of a first class ticket San Francisco to Chicago and sleeping car. Then from Chicago to Columbus the cost of a rail ticket both in 1890. ...
—Marj
MERTLIK, J. P. [COMPILER]. THROUGH RATES OF FARE FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS AND SIOUX CITY. IN EFFECT AUGUST 1,1893. (CAPTION COVER TITLE).
Chicago: Wm. Johnston Printing Co., [1893]. First edition. 4to. 12" x 9 1/2" printed wrappers, 24 pp. (including covers), tables.
A rare railroad fare guide for journeys originating from Sioux City and Council Bluffs to various points across the country. “The within are Agreed Rates by the Representatives of Lines interested, and Agents will in no case deviate from them without Joint Instructions.” The verbiage on the cover goes on to delineate limits on tickets to certain points east of the Mississippi River. Railroads involved include the Burlington & Quincy; Milwaukee & St. Paul; Chicago & North-Western; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Illinois Central; Kansas City, St. Joe & Council Bluffs; the S.C.& P. and F., E. & Missouri Valley; Sioux City & Northern; and the Wabash. The whole table was compiled by J.P. Mertlik of Chicago, no affiliation listed. We find no copies of this piece in OCLC. A very scarce item.
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