A group of construction officials of the Union Pacific Railroad at their headquarters in Laramie in 1867. Click here to learn more about the history of the Union Pacific Railroad.  Resources

Building the railroad required a constant supply of timber to build railroad ties. The ties were cut from timber in the mountains surrounding Laramie, including the logs in this photograph, which were cut down in the Medicine Bow Mountains southwest of Laramie. The ties were milled in the mountains, floated down the rivers to a … Continue reading Railroad Ties Floating Down the River →

The railroad laborers visited the paymaster every week.  The paymaster was in charge of paying the men their wages and keeping track of which men were assigned which jobs. Protection was necessary in order to guard the paymaster and ward off any potential thieves. On the other hand, crooked paymasters often took advantage of the immigrant … Continue reading The Paymaster’s Tent →

Work progresses on the Union Pacific Railroad’s bridge in Green River, Wyoming near the Green River Butte, now better known as Castle Rock. The city of Green River takes its name from the river, which flows through the center of town, and its identity from the impressive rock formations that tower above it. Learn more about … Continue reading Green River Bridge →

Thomas Clark “Doc” Durant was an American financier, as well as vice-president and general manager of the Union Pacific Railroad. In the 1860s, he negotiated a contract to oversee the construction of the Union Pacific’s juncture with the Central Pacific as part of America’s Transcontinental Railroad. In this role, Durant extended his interests to benefit from … Continue reading Thomas Clark Durant →

General Grenville M. Dodge was the chief engineer and a driving force behind the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. A veteran of the Civil War, Major General Dodge was hired by financier Thomas Durant and was indispensable in this role. However, the project suffered due to Durant’s constant meddling and efforts to milk the … Continue reading General Grenville Dodge →

Sidney Dillon was one of America’s premier railroad builders and was involved in the construction of many railroads. His largest contract was made with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1865. Dillon’s experience in the construction of railroads made him an invaluable member of the Union Pacific construction team. However, in 1865 he also became actively … Continue reading Sidney Dillon →