Tag Archives: Westward Expansion (1866-1869)

Wyoming History News Announces Golden Spike

Wyoming History News, the official newsletter for the Wyoming State Historical Society, announced the upcoming release of Golden Spike, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Three, in its April 2017 edition. I have created this collage from the newsletter’s masthead and the announcement … Continue reading

Posted in Book Awards, Book Review, Central Pacific, Golden Spike - Book Three, Museums and Parks, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Roundup Magazine Article

I am proud to inform readers of this blog that Roundup Magazine published an article I wrote in the April 2017 issue.  The article is entitled: “In 1866, the UP made tracks to the first Wild West Show.” Shown here … Continue reading

Posted in Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific, Writing | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Book Three Sample Chapters Continued

This week you will find Chapter 2 of Golden Spike, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Three under the Books tab of this website. Next week I will complete the offering of sample chapters by posting Chapter 3. Then, you will have … Continue reading

Posted in Central Pacific, Golden Spike - Book Three, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Presidents in The Iron Horse Chronicles

In The Iron Horse Chronicles I include scenes about the impact certain Presidents of the United States had on the construction of the first transcontinental railroad. In the first volume of the trilogy, Eagle Talons, I point out the fact … Continue reading

Posted in Bear Claws - Book Two, Eagle Talons - Book One, Geography, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will Braddock, Fort Bridger, and Christmas

Will Braddock spent his first Christmas in the far west in 1867 at Fort Bridger, which at that time was still Dakota Territory. I reveal in Chapter 1 of Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two, that Will had wintered-over at the fort with … Continue reading

Posted in Army, Bear Claws - Book Two, Geography, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, Museums and Parks, Stagecoaches, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Trails, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific, Wagon Trains | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming

On September 11, 2016, I spent the day at Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming, touring the interpretive center, walking the remains of the old fort, and tromping the nearby battlefields. I had this opportunity because I was attending the annual meeting … Continue reading

Posted in Army, Bear Claws - Book Two, Book Awards, Geography, Indians, Museums and Parks, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Trails, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fort Sanders, Wyoming

Fort Sanders, Wyoming, near where the present city of Laramie arose, is the location for significant incidents in the first two books of The Iron Horse Chronicles. Unfortunately, not much remains of this installation. U.S. Highway 287 runs through the old … Continue reading

Posted in Army, Bear Claws - Book Two, Eagle Talons - Book One, Geography, Indians, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dale Creek Bridge, Wyoming

[media-credit name=”A. J. Russell” align=”aligncenter” width=”485″][/media-credit] The Dale Creek Bridge in southeastern Wyoming figures in the first two books of The Iron Horse Chronicles. The Union Pacific Railroad completed the timber trestle in the spring of 1868. The bridge was the highest … Continue reading

Posted in Bear Claws - Book Two, Central Pacific, Eagle Talons - Book One, Geography, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, Stagecoaches, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific, Wagon Trains | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wyoming State Historical Society Award for Bear Claws

The Wyoming State Historical Society Awards Committee informed me this past week that Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two has been selected to receive an award in the Publications Category for 2016. The award will be presented at a … Continue reading

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Fortieth Wedding Anniversary

On July 24, 2016, Barbara and I celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary with a great dinner at one of Las Vegas’s five-star restaurants. While we enjoyed the fine food and a buttery chardonnay, we reminisced about the many other places where we had … Continue reading

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