One hundred fifty years ago, one of the most significant events in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad took place. The incident did not involve the physical laying of any track, but it influenced the final work on the Union Pacific Railroad.
Thomas “Doc” Durant
Thomas “Doc” Durant served as the senior executive officer for the UP, and General Grenville M. Dodge was the company’s chief engineer. Two years earlier, Durant had enticed Dodge to join the Union Pacific to bring his military organizational skills to bear on the UP’s construction. The two men gradually drew apart in their concept of what should be done. Durant favored cheapening and lengthening the line to collect more money in the form of government bonds. Dodge believed in building a quality product covering the shortest route. Their disagreement came to a head on July 26, 1868.
Ulysses S. Grant
General Ulysses S. Grant, recently nominated as the Republican candidate for President, came west for an inspection tour of the Union Pacific. His entourage included several other important Army generals who wanted a quick finish to the work. They anticipated its use in moving troops and supplies more expeditiously around the west in the growing conflict with the Indians. After the generals traveled to the end of track at Benton, Wyoming, they returned to Fort Sanders outside the newly established town of Laramie.
Grenville M. Dodge
In the Officers’ Club there, Doc Durant met with Grant and demanded Dodge follow the plans dictated by Durant’s consulting engineer, Silas Seymour (whom the UP workforce called the “insulting engineer”). Dodge informed Grant that if anyone interfered with his efforts, he would resign. Grant, having witnessed Dodge’s capabilities as a general officer during the war, informed Durant that Dodge must be retained in his position until the job was done. Anticipating Grant’s election, and knowing he would be in a position to withhold government financing, Durant sheepishly withdrew his objection.
Fort Sanders’ Officers’ Club
Photo by Andrew J. Russel
Andrew J. Russel, official photographer for the UP, took this shot of all the participants standing in front of the Fort Sanders’ Officers’ Club, where the meeting took place.
Will Braddock, the youthful protagonist in The Iron Horse Chronicles, witnessed the whole thing. You can read about it in Bear Claws, the second book in the trilogy.
Will continues to work for General Dodge until the railroad is completed on May 10, 1869.
You can read the article by following this link: 
In the article I recommend several books for middle-grade students about the struggles for independence, including what I consider to be the best historical novel ever written for younger readers: Johnny Tremain.
It is a great thrill to announce that Golden Spike, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Book 3, has been nominated as a finalist for the 2018 Will Rogers Medallion Award in the category of Younger Readers. The winners will be announced at the annual banquet in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, October 27, 2018. I am making plans to attend the ceremonies.
Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Book 1, received the Bronze Will Rogers Medallion Award for Younger Readers in 2015, and Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Book 2, received the Silver Will Rogers Medallion Award for Younger Readers in 2016. Followers of this blog will recall that Bear Claws was also awarded first place in fiction in 2016 by the Wyoming State Historical Society.
I attended the 2018 Western Writers of America Convention in Billings, Montana, from June 20 through June 23. On the final day of the convention, I joined two bus-loads of fellow WWA members for a trip to Cody, Wyoming, to visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. A recent addition to the McCracken Research Library, located within the center, is the Western Writers Hall of Fame. I am not a member of the Hall of Fame, but as a part of the display, current WWA authors are included in the display. It was a great thrill to stand beside the entry for my trilogy, The Iron Horse Chronicles. Golden Spike, Book 3, is not yet included in the display. I will take steps to get that corrected.
Park Service will be planning major celebrations when the sesquicentennial celebration of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad takes place next year. Those who can make the trip to Promontory Summit, Utah, for the festivities will be well rewarded. Whether or not you do, you can read my trilogy, The Iron Horse Chronicles, about how this important historical event contributed to ending the traditional way of life of the nomadic Indians.
“Writing a Historical Trilogy” is the title of an article I wrote for the Spring 2018 issue of WriteRiders, the quarterly newsletter of the Nevada chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. Link to the article (it’s on page 4 of the newsletter) 
On Saturday, April 21, 2018, I joined seven other members of Anthem Authors at the 2018 Sun City Anthem Spring Arts & Crafts Fair in Henderson, Nevada.
It was an honor to be included among the sixty authors who sold and autographed their books for the many patrons who visited the event. This was my fourth time to participate. It was obvious that the attendance was greater than any previous event. Thank you Henderson Libraries for organizing and managing this great showcase featuring all the talented authors who reside in the Vegas Valley.
My wife, Barbara, is seated to my left. Opposite me is Carol White, our casino hostess, who arranged the dinner. To my right is Carol’s sister, Connie. We had a delightful meal, as always, at Hank’s. The special highlight of the evening was the birthday cake!
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