By fall of that year there were 3,000 on the payroll. Chicago milwaukee st paul railway 1908 ledger okoboji iowa car service record. In 1864, a tracklaying crew from the central pacific railroad came eastward across the plain from sacramento, building the western half of the nations first transcontinental railroad. History of the illinois central railroad 1975 stover, john. Distributed by the university of nebraska press for caxton press this 352page, triple indexed reference book covers nearly 500 names in the two north pacific coast states. This article is part of the history of rail transport by country series. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to.
These promoters intended to make colton the railroad center of southern california. However, there are other types of railways, including those whose units consist of single selfpropelled cars, cabledrawn railways used to ascend steep grades, and monorails whose cars. The california state railroad museum library provides public access to the museums documentary collections. Railroads of placer county by arthur sommers and roger. The california pacific railroad company was incorporated in 1865. American railroads in the 1850s 1978 american railroads 2nd ed 1997 good, brief overview.
The establishment of americas transcontinental rail lines securely linked california to the rest. Discover the best history of railroads in best sellers. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, california. It began operations in 1900 as the west side flume and lumber company, started by thomas bullock, and william and henry crock who purchased a ranch near tuolumne. An informal history of the black river and utica railroad boonville, ny.
Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad. Other railroads were constructed to provide passenger and freight service to other parts of the sacramento valley area. Encyclopedia of western railroad history volume iv california. Learn more about railroad history with this selection of books available in the museum store. Browse maps, pictures and histories of abandoned railroad lines in the state of california. Railroad crossing is the story of what happened to that friendship, particularly in california, and it illuminates the chaos that was industrial america from the middle of the nineteenth century through the first decade of the twentieth. We have plucked from obscurity 30 fascinating books most of them outofprint about railways from cairo to new south wales to yosemite encompassing engineering, history, industry, photography, policing. Incorporated march 5, 1876 from an original concept of providing transportation to sell real estate in newark, california, it became one of the most successful narrow gauge railroads in california.
Alaska midland railroad, the a brief history of the alaska midland railroad. List of books and articles about railroad history online. It continues to discuss the history of the big four railroads of california, the southern pacific, santa fe, union pacific, and western pacific. Most important, it offers full text access to the linda hall librarys. Nothing so changed nineteenthcentury america as did the railroad. This book covers 14 different railroads that did or still do exist in some association with placer county.
Railroad history, railways, locomotives, entrepreneurs. Linking california with the east by rail became possible with the passage of the pacific railroad act in 1862, chartering the central pacific to build from the west, and the union pacific to build from the east. Everything was by the book, and increasingly complex set of rules told. Though small in geographic size, placer county is large in its rich history of railroading in california. History of trains in america by christian wolmar, railroads and the. Construction began in vallejo in december 1866 and was complete to davis in august 1868. Sketch map of the first railroad in california, with projected extensions to san francisco, sonora, and tehama, made by the engineer who built the sacramento valley railroad. Final 15 minutes of the ring of fire movie is now on the site. Collectible railroad books the car might be king today but thousands of devoted writers have ensured the railroads will never be forgotten.
The railroad stations of san diego county san diego. The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 was a major event in california history. Railroads history united states western, railroads. California central railroad and other connecting lines.
Statement of the central pacific railroad company of california. The chicano barrio, the southside of colton, is also synonymous with railroads and with the southern pacific, which brought in mexican labor in the 1890s to build, repair, and maintain the rail lines. Following that is a discussion of the historic shortlines which have served the golden state. Stanford, hopkins, huntington, crocker rode railroads to. All known common carrier steam powered operations of ten or more miles are included, plus numerous logging companies, electric traction and diesel operations. California state railroad museum library and archives, online.
It contains original scholarship and fresh interpretations that set the standard in railway research. In 2015 construction began on the california highspeed rail line. With 50 fullcolor original maps, and a keen and perceptive text, the preeminent historian of us railways has created an illustrated atlas that will delight general history readers and railroad fans alike. Ground breaking for the california central railroad took place on june 1, 1858. Trains author tom zoellner takes readers on a historical. The book starts with a history of the railroads of california starting with the central pacific. The iron horse linked california with the rest of the nation and ushered in an era of economic consolidation. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Growing up together, the iron horse and the young nation developed a fast friendship. Here you can read about the fascinating history of california railroads, the. The account covers their histories from inception until sale or.
Browse our images of rail series, which showcases the history of railroads, trolleys. Railroad history books thousands of new, used, and outof. The linda hall library transcontinental railroad website was created with generous support from the bnsf burlington northern santa fe foundation. Timeline of united states railway history wikipedia. Its a train lovers celebration of the great epic story of rail travel itself. In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to subsidize the building of a railroad from the mississippi river to the pacific. The railroad ran from sacramento to vallejo, connecting with a passenger ferryboat to san francisco. Edmondson and franceviglia, railroad station planbook, kalmback books, 1977. The west side lumber company was perhaps the most fabled operation in california, over the years numerous books and model railroads have been dedicated to its history.
In 1857 he published a pamphlet calling for a railroad to connect the east coast and west coast. Ward mcafee, california s railroad era, 18501911, golden west books, 1973. Collis huntington, charles crocker, leland stanford, and mark hopkins. The railroad s agents scoured the towns of california for chinese laborers. Some materials in the collection are housed off site. Stanford, hopkins, huntington, crocker rode railroads to big profits how 4 barons used political, economic pull and made a fortune. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. In 1854 judah came to california where he built the states first railway. He got the backing of a group of sacramento businessmen who would later become known as the big four. The routledge historical atlas of the american railroads 2001 stover, john.
Theodore dehone sacramento valley railroad judah, theodore d. This railroad website was created in december, 2003. Zoellner ends back in california, which occasions a brief account of the. If you are interested in railroads, these books with give you a general idea of their history in california. Here are carefully selected articles, photographs, and art. The following rare books are available from the california state library. Union pacific in southern california golden west books. Wp history books and videos feather river rail society. There were narrowgauge and standardgauge, long transcontinental, and short pointtopoint railroads. Hiltons book, american narrow gauge railroads, it was organized in 1854 by. In 1887 it was sold to the southern pacific which operated the narrow gauge railroad until 1909. American railroads in the 1850s 1978 turner, george e.
History of rail transportation in the united states wikipedia. Irene phillips, the railroad story of san diego county, south bay press, 1956. California state library, california history room california state railroad museum library center for sacramento history sacramento public library, sacramento room all locations. West side lumber and other california logging railroads. Association of american railroads 2003, railroad service in california. The site offers visitors a brief history of the building of the transcontinental railroad as well as information on the history and technology of 19th century railroads. List of books and articles about railroad history online research. Santa fe railroad 1945, along your way, rand mcnally, chicago, illinois.
By october, 1861 the railroad connected lincoln to the sacramento valley railroad. The impact of the railroad california state university. They crossed a small rail line the california central railroad that linked the young towns of lincoln and folsom, and gave the spot the imaginative name of junction. Rare central pacific railroad books at the california. History of rail transportation in california wikipedia.
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