Transcontinental Railroad stuff/questions

[Queasy Dillo]

Evening all. 

I've lately restarted an old shelved project, but I've run into something of a problem.  Usually I can scare up all the information I need out of various internet search engines or my library.  Not so much this time. 

What I'm after is information and references generally regarding the Union Pacific Railroad in the latter half of 1868, specifically the living conditions, camps, and settlements that appeared to support the road.  Of considerable tangential interest is anything referencing the railroad-paid hunters employed to keep the track crews fed, as this is a major component of the project at hand.  I've got tons of reference material for the building of the road itself (management, routes, feats of engineering) but thus far have located few books or websites that can provide greater detail on the more mundane aspects as listed. 

Any resources provided greatly appreciated. 

[Delmonico]

Get a copy of Steven Ambrose's "Nothing Like it in the World the Building of the Transcontental Railroad."  I lost my bookmark but the UP has a fantastic photo collection.

[Top Kick Ken]

Well,  I don't know how much help this is...but you could give the guys at the UP Museum a shout and see if they can rustle up some of what you require...

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum

200 Pearl Street
Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503
(712) 329-8307
Hours:       Tuesday through Saturday
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
     Closed Sunday and Monday

Museum Staff

    * Beth Lindquist
      Museum Director
    * John Bromley
      Director Historic Projects
    * Margo Bieker
      Sr. Manager Historical Collections

   

    * Andrea "Andi" Hodge
      Director Guest & Member Services
    * Charles "Charlie" Johnson
      Assistant Director Guest & Member Services
    * Patricia LaBounty
      Outreach Coordinator

[Queasy Dillo]

Thanks Dell and Top Kick.  Got a copy of Ambrose's book, plus a pile of others.  Maybe I haven't made it far enough in yet. 

Hadn't thought about talking to UP, though.  Typical brilliant day in Dillo-land, I suppose.   

[ndnchf]

As I recall, "Buffalo Bill" Cody made his name hunting buffalo for the railroad.  There are many written accounts of Bill's life, some may offer insight.

[Delmonico]

Might be splitting hairs, but Cody did not hunt for the UP, he hunted for the Kansas Pacific, if the study was just the UP, then it might.

[Texas Lawdog]

This Sunday, will be the 140th Anniversary of the completion.

[Terry Lane]

Del is right. Kansas Pacific. take care.

[Forty Rod]

Side note:  (Sorry, 'Dillo.)

My mother's grandfather left Cache Valley (Logan), Utah  with two small wagons, his two wives, and four or five of his kids, and made a long two day trip to Brigham City so they could see this momentous event. The morning of the 8th they left Brigham City for Corinne, but turned back because of all the "drunkards, rowdies, and crude and dangerous men" seen on the trail.

They  spent the night of the 8th with friends in Brigham and then returned to Logan without seeing one of the greatest events of the Century.

He had a great presence of history but  gave it up to protect his Mormon Family from what he saw on the way.

He had fought alongside Porter Rockwell and Bill Hickman against Johnston's Army before the Civil War, spent time as a Lieutenant in the Cache valley Minutemen (Affiliated with the Union) during and after the war, and was later imprisoned for polygamy in the late 1880s.

[Books OToole]

Wasn't the Kansas Pacific originally the Union Pacific Eastern Division?

Books

[Delmonico]

Wasn't the Kansas Pacific originally the Union Pacific Eastern Division?

Books

Yes and no from my understanding, splitting hairs they were seperate corperations.

[Books OToole]

Yes and no from my understanding, splitting hairs they were seperate corperations.

That's what I thought.  They were different corporate entities.

Niether name is appropriate.  The UP Eastern Division was not east of the UP and the Kansas Pacific never made it to the Pascific.

I'm not, sure but I think the UP eventually bought out the KP.

Books

[Delmonico]

That's what I thought.  They were different corporate entities.

Niether name is appropriate.  The UP Eastern Division was not east of the UP and the Kansas Pacific never made it to the Pascific.

I'm not, sure but I think the UP eventually bought out the KP.

Books

I'm almost sure they did, the KP never had the sense of urgency the UP did, they seemed happy to at times move far enough beyond the line of homesteaders to be able to ship cattle east.

[Fox Creek Kid]

"The Kansas Pacific began in 1855 as the Leavenworth, Pawnee and Western Railroad, and was later reorganized in 1863 as the Union Pacific Eastern Division. The UP Eastern was authorized by the United States Congress as part of the Pacific Railway Act, in order to create a second southerly branch of the transcontinental railroad, alongside the Union Pacific. The name "Kansas Pacific" was not adopted until 1869. The original intent of the railroad was to build a line west from Kansas City, Kansas across Kansas to Fort Riley, then north to join the Union Pacific main line at Fort Kearny in Nebraska."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_Pacific_Railroad

It's wikipedia so check other sources as well. 

[Delmonico]

Sounds pretty close to what I've seen before, I forgot the original intent was to tie in a Ft. Kearny.

[Top Kick Ken]

Thanks Dell and Top Kick.  Got a copy of Ambrose's book, plus a pile of others.  Maybe I haven't made it far enough in yet. 

Hadn't thought about talking to UP, though.  Typical brilliant day in Dillo-land, I suppose.   

Another thought struck me me...(Ouch, that hurt!), How about contacting the Buffalo Bill Museum for info?

Buffalo Bill Historical Center
720 Sheridan Ave
Cody, WY 82414

307-587-4771

Just a thought.