Category Archives: Transcontinental Railroad
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
In February 1869, both the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad were stymied in their race to be first to Ogden, Utah, by fierce snowstorms. In Wyoming, the Union Pacific’s 90-mile line between Rawlins Springs and Laramie was … Continue reading
The “Shrine”
My sister, Suzanne Fisher, of Farmington, New Mexico, recently presented me with a framed photograph taken by Philip Boden, of Durango, Colorado, entitled “Baldwin-K36 Class Steam Locomotive.” This photo is of Engine 486 working on the Durango & Silverton Narrow … Continue reading
A Reader’s Question
Recently a reader asked me why and how I wrote The Iron Horse Chronicles. I decided to share my answer with all the readers of this website. The idea for The Iron Horse Chronicles first came to me in 2006 when … Continue reading
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
The following was originally posted on January 9. It did not get distributed to various social media sites with which I share my posts, so I’ll repost it. In January 1869, Charles Francis Adams, Jr., grandson and great-grandson of U. … Continue reading
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
The following was originally posted on January 9. It did not get distributed to various social media sites with which I share my posts, so I’ll try again. In January 1869, Charles Francis Adams, Jr., grandson and great-grandson of U. … Continue reading
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
Both the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad hoped to beat their competitor to the opposite border of Utah from where they would enter the state in order to maximize the amount of government bonds they could claim. … Continue reading
SCA Winter Club Fair
On December 1, 2018, I participated in the Winter Club Fair at the Recreation Center in Sun City Anthem, Henderson, Nevada, from 9 AM until 12 PM. Ten fellow members of Anthem Authors joined to offer their books as Christmas … Continue reading
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
Orville Hickman Browning, Secretary of the Interior during the Andrew Johnson administration, had the responsibility of issuing government bonds used to finance the building of the first transcontinental railroad. Browning had earlier completed the senatorial term of Stephen A. Douglas, … Continue reading
Golden Spike Wins Silver Will Rogers Medallion!
Golden Spike, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Book Three, has been awarded the 2018 Silver Will Rogers Medallion in the category of Younger Readers. I went to Fort Worth, Texas, to receive this prestigious award and enjoyed wonderful fellowship with the … Continue reading
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
During October 1868, the Union Pacific contract workers, under the direction of General Jack Casement, increased the pace at which they laid track. The typical rate averaged two to three miles per day, occasionally five. On October 26, however, they … Continue reading
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