Travel in 1870 by rail
From: "Bill McIntyre" bill@canadian-biocoal.com, billmci@telus.net
I am in the process of writing a screenplay that involves getting a character from Chicago to Washington State in 1870 by rail. If that was impractical then I would shift his destination to Oregon or California. He would still have to reach Washington by some other means. He would want to ship his horse and pack mule with him as well. If this was possible in whole or in part what would have been the travel time? ...
—Bill McIntyre
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 9:54 AM
5 Comments:
From: "Larry Mullaly" lmullaly@jeffnet.org
He could ship his animals by rail on from Omaha to San Francisco, then have the transported by ship to Puget Sound. Probably at rather high cost.
At least three railroads would be involved: one of the several routes that existed between Chicago and Omaha, then the Union Pacific to Ogden, finally the Central Pacific to Oakland/San Francisco.
Going overland from Sacramento or San Francisco to Puget Sound was also possible. Stagecoaches made this journey, but it was tough going.
—Larry Mullaly
From: "Bill McIntyre" bill@canadian-biocoal.com, billmci@telus.net
Thank you for the information. It is most helpful. I was thinking about the shipping angle from San Francisco but it makes the journey too easy for my character. I will probably force him to take the overland route to Puget Sound. Would you have any idea as to the length of time it would take to get from Chicago to San Francisco by rail? ...
Travel Guides with timetables.
The following book describes the Chicago to San Francisco trip by rail in 1887:
BITS OF TRAVEL AT HOME. By "H. H." [Helen Hunt Jackson]. BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS, 1887.
From: "Wendell Huffman" wendellhuffman@hotmail.com
Train to San Francisco and coastal steamer to Portland or Puget Sound. But ship the pack mule? Gotta be kidding. I knew some good mules in my day as a packer and shoer, but I'd say the only animals worth shipping would be blood stock or race horses – especially in the 19th century when good animals were available nearly everywhere, and anyone familiar with animals would be able to pick one. Too, if the hero is going to be doing any real packing, he'd need a string. I supose Caligula might have shipped his mare. Just MHO, Wendell.
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