Train schedule question- early 1900's

From: "Amanda D." joyintherain8@gmail.com

I'm working on a piece of writing that takes place in 1903, and was wondering if you could tell me what time a train would have departed from San Francisco and arrived in Truckee during that time period, and what time a train would have departed from Truckee and arrived in Reno?

I've been enjoying perusing your website; very informative. Thank you so much!

—Amanda

Cost of Railroad Ticket

From: "Helen Steinbrueck" hasteinbrueck@yahoo.com

I found your website most informative ... With respect to the cost of a train ticket in 1893, would it be possible for you to give me a general dollar amount for going from Rock Springs, Wyoming to any major city in New Hampshire? Would the cost be doubled if it were a roundtrip ticket.

I am writing a story and would like one of my characters to take this trip. The Panic of 1893 also occurred and there were numerous bankruptcies filed by the railroads.

If this is not too onerous, I would appreciate greatly any information you might be able to provide. ...

—Helen A. Steinbrueck

"The Octopus"

From: "Christine Long" joseph.long2@verizon.net

We can't seem to find an answer to this question –
How did the Central Pacific get the nickname the "tortoise"[sic]? ...

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When did the transcontinental railroad end?

From: "Marla Friedman" mfcorefitness@comcast.net

When did the transcontinental railroad end?

Transcontinental Railroad versus Intercontinental Railroad

"New gaffe: Obama hails America's historic building of 'the Intercontinental Railroad'" by ANDREW MALCOLM, © Los Angeles Times, September 23, 2011. (POLITICAL COMMENTARY)

""We’re the country that built the Intercontinental Railroad," Barack Obama. ... It's yet another humorous gaffe by the Harvard graduate. ... " [More]

[Courtesy Google Alerts.]

Historical question - rail and ballast

From: "B.F.G. Gabe" nommalednew@gmail.com

I have a language Arts assignment that I am supposed to ask a question about a historical event that isn’t asked very much. I live out here by Golden Spike National Historic Site. My dad worked one summer when I was a little kid as a fire tender/track repair/ and locomotive operator for the locomotives. So I thought about what he does and thought something I hadn’t heard about was how did they make and where did the railroad workers get ... the ballast for the transcontinental railroad to put under the rails and where did they get the stuff for the rails and how were the rails made.

I have been looking on the internet and haven’t found much on this could you please provide the information you have available to you on the matter? ...

—Ammon Wendel

Information Request - JB Silvis Locomotive

From: "William T. Shenton" shentonw@bellsouth.net

In the paper, J.B. Silvis Union Pacific's Nomadic Photographer, there is a picture of UP Locomotive #5, a 4-4-0T. Do you know of any drawings for this locomotive, who built the locomotive, or other information that I could use to build a model of this engine. I have built a model of the photographers car and now desire to build an engine model.

—Bill Shenton, Apex, North Carolina

Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was a strong advocate for the construction of the Pacific Railroad

"Colfax's namesake was strong advocate for railroad" by Nancy Hagman, © Colfax Record, 9/15/2011. (News Article)

"Long before the Civil War took place Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was a strong advocate for the construction of railroads across the nation ... During the summer of 1865, at the request of President Lincoln just before his assassination, Colfax took a lengthy trip across the continent. ... Samuel Bowles, traveling with Colfax, reported in his journal, Across the Continent (1865), 'Our party made a very profitable and interesting excursion over the route of the Central Pacific Road from Sacramento to Donner Lake, on the eastern slope of the mountains, by special train and coaches, and along the working sections on horseback. The track is graded and laid, and trains are running to the new town of Colfax (named for the Speaker), which is fifty-six miles from Sacramento. Grading is now in active progress on the next section, to Dutch Flat.' " [More]

[Courtesy Google Alerts.]

Travel Guide

What are significant places along route of the first transcontinental railroad?

Cost

What is the price of first transcontinental railroad? How much did it cost?

North Platte, Nebraska - Union Pacific’s Bailey Train Yard

"HIGHWAYMAN: Golden Spike towers over 'Hell on Wheels'." © Delaware County Daily Times, September 10, 2011. (News Article)

"... world’s largest and busiest railroad yard ... eight miles long and covers 2,850 acres ... includes 315 miles of track and 766 turnouts ... handles up to 10,000 railroad cars per day ... 8,500 locomotives are serviced monthly ... shop crews handle about 300 locomotives a day ... and replaces 10,000 pairs of wheels annually ... Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center ... an eight-story tower with a 360-degree view of Bailey Yard and the Platte River Valley ... " [More]

[Courtesy Google Alerts.]

"Union Pacific Railroad Museum Launches New Website"

"Union Pacific Railroad Museum Launches New Website." © UPRR, September 07, 2011. (News Release)

" 'The new website is dynamic and quickly captures viewers' interests, with the ultimate goal to have them visit the museum,' said Beth Lindquist, director – Union Pacific Railroad Museum. ... " [More]

Above not affiliated with the CPRR Museum.

"Walk through the Donner Pass train tunnels Tuesday, Sept. 13"

"Walk through the Donner Pass train tunnels Tuesday, Sept. 13." © Sierra Sun, September 9, 2011. (News Article)

"Walk through 145-year old train tunnels bored through solid granite and walk along the wagon routes that date back to 1844. ... " [More]

North Lake Tahoe Historical Society
Gatekeeper's Museum

[Courtesy Google Alerts.]

Not affiliated with the CPRR Museum or the Union Pacific Railroad; Entirely at your own risk.

Rail Travel in 1903 to San Francisco

From: "JOHN MEADOWS" johnmeadows851@btinternet.com

I'm researching the route my Great Aunt Harriet Wiltshire would have taken after landing at Ellis Island New York in 1903. She arrived on the SS Celtic from Liverpool, England bound for San Francisco.

Understanding that the Panama Canal did not open until 1914 I am assuming that she would have used the Central Pacific railroad to get to San Francisco. Is this the route taken by most immigrants at that time? Can you please give me any further information relating to travel on your railroad in 1903 to this destination. ...

—John Meadows, Sandhurst, Berkshire, England

Doctor William Curless

From: "Barbara Czerwinski" bczerwin@suddenlink.net

For a historical Truckee, California medical project, I am seeking information about Dr. William Curless (23. Jan. 1823 - 26. Jan. 1898). He was a student at Rush Medical College in 1847. In late 1860's, he came to Truckee as the first Central Pacific Railway physician-surgeon. He remained in Truckee as a CPRR and family practice physician-surgeon for the completion of his career and is buried in the Truckee Cemetery. Do you have any pictures of Dr. Curless during his Truckee time? ...

Barbara Czerwinski, PhD
Truckee-Donner Historical Society, Inc.
Research Volunteer

Redwood Snowshed Remnants at Donner Pass

See a video of the Redwood Snowshed Remnants at Donner Pass.
[SKIP TO 5:45 in this Youtube video.]

Old growth redwood with original nails/spikes/hardware discarded from wooden snowsheds at Donner Pass found on hillside below concrete snowshed. Video by Alex Kerekes of storiesbyalex.com.

[Courtesy Google Alerts.]

Railroad Jobs, Careers

From: "Michael Armstrong" chevyjones50@gmail.com

I have been trying to figure out how to apply for the rail road and all I can find is museum stuff. Is there another web site or some thing I can go to?

CPRR Bell - real or fake?

From: mbpatr01@windstream.net

I recently purchased a CPRR bell and I can't seem to find any information about it anywhere. All I have found out is that it was a horse drawn bell. Where can I gather more information on this and is their any way to determine if the bell is real or fake?

—SPC. Mark B. Patrick, U.S. Army

Unknown plaster tile image of Train hauling Stagecoaches

From: "Paul Russell" assistant@digitalpath.net

Was wondering if you can tell me anything about this image, such as the original artist, Wells Fargo Stages being hauled to ?, etc. This is a plaster of paris tile with this image carved in relief on it (probably taken from an old photograph or engraving). Any information would be appreciated.

—Paul Russell, Assistant Director, Plumas County Museum, Quincy, California

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Railroad Network website relaunched

From: "Evan Britton" evan@resourcewebs.com

I'm Evan Britton with Railroad.net. ... I wanted to let you know about the re-launch of our website.

Railroad.net was re-launched to help users track what is happening within the railroad industry. The website provides daily news, opinions, and commentary surrounding Amtrak, Freight Rail, High-Speed Rail, Railroad Events, & Passenger Rail.

The site launched in 1996 and over the years it has been a widely popular railroad forum. With over 11,000 members, the forum has been a place for users to ask and answer questions, and comment on railroad related issues. So today, in addition to this forum, the site will now be a hub for railroad industry news.

Check it out and let us know what you think. ...

—Evan Britton, President, ResourceWebs

Rail travel from Dakota Territory to El Paso, Texas c. 1880's

From: "Eric Stoltz" eric@ericstoltz.com

My great-great grandfather Ludwig Josef "Louis" Stoltz was born in Delano, Wright County, Minnesota in 1866. A family story tells the story of him suddenly leaving the family homestead in the Dakota Territory at the age of 16 and striking out on his own. The last record of him in either North Dakota (near Casselton, Cass County) or St. Paul, Minnesota was in 1880.

The next known record of Louis was his marriage to Apolonia Lujan in 1895 in El Paso, Texas.

What railroad route, why and when did Louis most likely move to El Paso? he had no family there and his roots and connections were in St. Paul.

I know the Southern Pacific was the first railroad to arrive in El Paso in 1881. And ideas as to how he got from either Casselton or St. Paul to El Paso?

—Eric Stoltz, Los Angeles

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