Railroad 1869, along the Historic Union Pacific in Utah to Promontory

Railroad 1869, Along the Historic Union Pacific in Utah to Promontory is the third of three books chronicling the construction of the Union Pacific state-by-state, through Nebraska, across Wyoming and in Utah to Promontory Summit. The railroad’s slow initial progress through Nebraska changed as builders raced across Wyoming. But once in Utah, the crews struggled down Echo Canyon, then Weber Canyon and progress slowed to a crawl. There were difficult rock cuts to be hacked out of...
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Railroad 1869, Along the Historic Union Pacific in Utah to Promontory is the third of three books chronicling the construction of the Union Pacific state-by-state, through Nebraska, across Wyoming and in Utah to Promontory Summit. The railroad’s slow initial progress through Nebraska changed as builders raced across Wyoming. But once in Utah, the crews struggled down Echo Canyon, then Weber Canyon and progress slowed to a crawl. There were difficult rock cuts to be hacked out of steep canyon walls, ravines to be crossed with embankments and bridges, and most difficult of all, three tunnels to be driven. Mormon and other work crews alike were strung out down the Echo and Weber canyons. They were pressed hard through severe winter weather and worked doggedly to get rails laid down as far west and as fast as humanly possible. Speed remained elusive and tunnels were bottlenecks. Only a few workers could occupy a tunnel-heading at any one time and there were only so many hours each day. Some work crews by-passed tunnels to work in canyons, but their progress was frustratingly slow. When spring arrived, construction crews broke out of the canyons and resumed their pace, grading and laying rails. After rounding the north end of the Great Salt Lake again there were sharp curves and steep grades, rock cuts, embankments, and trestles. When the railroad construction crews and officials finally met at Promontory Summit, the ceremonial "Golden Spike" signaled the completion of the new transcontinental railroad. The telegraph operator tapped out "D. O. N. E." and the entire nation burst out in celebration. Cheers went up along the 1,776 miles of track. Within hours however, Promontory settled back. Mountains of corrective work had yet to be done and large bills had to be paid. The book is richly illustrated with photographs by Arundel C. Hull and William H. Jackson who followed the work crews as they undertook their monumental effort in Utah.