CP-UP Junction Promontory to Ogden

From: "Kyle Wyatt" kylekwyatt@gmail.com

I am trying to pin down just when the interchange between the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific moved from Promontory to Ogden. The schedule from December 2, 1869 seems pretty clearly to show the junction at Promontory. By December 29 it looks more confused, with part of the schedule indicated Ogden, and sleeping cars listing Promontory. Other indications suggest the transition date may have been Jan 1, 1870.

Does anyone have any articles form more local papers, such as Ogden or Salt Lake City?

—Kyle

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California Pacific Railroad

From: kawich@aol.com

I am interested in the California Pacific Railroad’s role as one of the earliest links and the quickest connection to San Francisco for transcontinental passengers from the Central Pacific in Sacramento during the early years (ca.1869-1872). Research has found that the Cal.P.RR transported passengers from Sacramento to Vallejo via rail; then on the passenger ferry New World to San Francisco.

The steamer New World has a long and interesting history. Early advertisements (notably, in the Daily Alta California 1855-1865) show this steamer as being owned by the California Steam Navigation Company. Prior to this she made the voyage around Cape Horn from New York to San Francisco after being taken illegally by Captain Wakeman (the New World had been seized by the sheriff in New York due to a creditor’s lien) and at one point during the trip she evaded a British ship attempting to capture her.

An ad in the March 20, 1869 Daily Alta California announces the New World and the Cal.P. schedule from Sacramento to San Francisco (and other points).

Also of interest here was the purchase of the California Steam Navigation Company by the Cal.P. in 1871 and the acquisition of the Cal.P. by the Central Pacific that same year.

Was the New World the only steamer operated between Vallejo and S.F. and was she owned by the Cal.P or leased from the California Steam Navigation Company prior to 1871?

The contractor’s name who built the Cal.P. from Vallejo to Sacramento, DeWitt C. Haskin, appears at the bottom of the advertisements for the Cal.P. but no title is associated with his name.

What official position(s) did Haskin hold with the California Pacific? He was honored by having a Cal.P. Mason locomotive named after him.

Information regarding the steamer “New World” and D.C.Haskin’s involvement with the Cal.P. is appreciated.

—Dan Getts

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Newspaper articles courtesy of Kyle K. Wyatt.
(see comment below)