A circulating collection of books is available to members. The history of the western pacific railroad museum begins in 1983 when the feather river rail society was formed to preserve the history of the western pacific, which that same year disappeared into the union pacific system. The iron feather a corporate history of the western pacific and sacramento northern railroads. Collecting railroad material has been a longstanding priority of the western history department, and our resources are vast. History of the western pacific railroad by norman holmes, founder of the portola. Steamtown national historic site scranton pa railroad history.
My western pacific railroad 1996 edition open library. Western history railroading resources denver public library. Wps feather river route directly competed with sps portion of the. Browse details of the published titles, contact the author, or purchase books and cds by clicking any buy now button. The information presented on and within this site and on the separate pages of this site are an individual effort and in no way is this site affiliated with any preservation group nor is this site affiliated with any transportation company past or present doing business with western pacific, tidewater southern, sacramento. You may want to become a member of the society and help preserve the history of the western pacific railroad and get involved with the many activities that are. Wp western pacific emd at portola, california by ryan slaton even though the western pacific railroad became a part of the union pacific in even though the western pacific railroad became a part of the union pacific in 1982 the wp still lives on. The western pacific railroad was not the largest of the western classone railroads. Incorporated in 1861, cprr ceased operation in 1885 when it was acquired by southern pacific railroad as a leased line. Western pacific railroad wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Today, the western pacific may no longer exist but its legacy lives on through the feather river route, keddie wye, inside gateway and the california zephyr, the name of which survives under amtrak albeit following a slightly altered route. All known common carrier steam powered operations of ten or more miles are included, plus numerous logging companies, electric traction and diesel operations. New listing western pacific railroad track charts book.
Iron feather a corporate history of the western pacific and sacramento northern rrsjeff assay 512 pages hardcover the western pacific railroad, from its inception in 1903 until the union pacific takeover in late 1982, was always fending off one cris. Pacific electric railway company, by van norden, rudolph w. As fortunes rose and fell and the railroad industry changed, the western pacific found it increasingly more difficult to earn a profit. Western pacific, the last transcontinental railroad. Texas and pacific railway the authority on texas history.
Gould, eldest son of wall street speculator jay gould, formed the wp to break edward h. The texas and pacific railway company was the only railroad in texas, and one of the few in the united states, to operate under a federal charter. Here, it is seen preparing to reassemble the feather river express at the western pacific railroad museum in portola, ca for its journey back the the bay area the next day. From one of the most beloved western authors comes an epic historical tale of adventure and romance in the great wilderness. Construction of the western pacific railroad began in san jose in 1865, with the first 17. 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 west. This book includes 368 pages of maps, photographs and technical data on the history of railroading in california. The following account appeared in official guide under central pacific. After completing the central pacific from california to utah in 1869, they started the. Library archives artifacts collection western railway museum.
The railroad press magazine is filled with railroad history, maps and photographs covering modern, vintage and classic trains. The convention will be held may 25 in sacramento at the mcclellan conference center this year. The western pacific railroad was incorporated in 1903 to compete with the southern pacific railway. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum virtual bookstore.
The pacific electric railway historical society, in association with golden west books, is pleased to announce the first reissue publication of monograph no. Dig into the history of the thousands of chinese immigrants who labored blasting, digging and laying track for the great transcontinental railroad, through photographs, excerpts from news and railroad reports, firsthand accounts, and other resources. Perlman reversed the financial picture and western pacific was again profitable by 1971. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the nearmonopoly the southern pacific railroad had on rail service into northern california. Researching old railroad records to find family members. Apr 16, 2018 for a brief history of the northwestern pacific railroad, and a system map, please click on nwp history. The document was created as a result of a colorado state historical fund grant awarded to colorado state parks for the purpose of preparing a historic context that would assist in evaluation and planning efforts related to railroad abandonments and potential railstotrails conversions. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum. The western pacific railroad 18621870 was formed in 1862 to build a railroad from. Learn more about railroad history with this selection of books available in the museum. Welcome to the railroad commissary online railroad dining car china and other collectibles catalog.
Western pacific timetables and operations, a history and compendium. Book is wrapped and mailed in a topquality, durable container. Attracting fans from all over the world, the wps short but diverse route featured everything from urban industrial trackage in the thriving metropolis of the san francisco bay area to the scenic splendors and sleepy mountain communities of the famous feather river. This website contains information regarding the books written and published by author and railroad historian, stephen m. Western pacific railroad museum is asking for donations. The northwestern pacific railroad historical society nwprrhs was founded thirty years ago. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. The iron feather a corporate history of the western pacific and.
The southern pacific was represented by three railroads. At the western railway museum, the library serves members and researchers as the interface to the archives. Oct 19, 2017 a collection of vintage railroad collectibles, ephemera, books and magazines. The resolute david in a marketplace dominated by southern pacific s goliath, long perceived as the scrappy good guy who al. Welcome to the railroad commissary online railroad book catalog. The western pacific railroad, from its inception in 1903 until the union pacific takeover in late1982, was always fending off one crisis or another, managing to remain independent through luck and clever financial maneuvering. The railroad commissary bookshelf we specialize in outofprint and hardtofind used rr books.
The war years, 194246, were spent in the merchant marine where he was ships purser. Train orders is a collection of western pacific railroad train orders organized by the station and then date. The railway history monograph, volume xii, jb publishing co. Railroad commissary authentic railroad china catalog. Railroad dining car china we offer a collection of railroad collectables that have been carefully selected for authenticity. California state railroad museum library and archives. The new piece of road leaves the former main line at vallejo jct. Encyclopedia of western railroad history by donald b. Western pacific railroad taking the same name as the original sacramentooakland part of the central pacific, western pacific was incorporated in 1903 to extend the gould empire west of utah, and was finished in 1909.
From 1910 until merging with union pacific railroad in 1982, the western pacific was one of the wests most popular railroads. A working list of books and booklets on the southern pacific and related subsidiaries by mcclosky, peter j. The great western railway s steam locomotives have always been held in the very highest regard by railway enthusiasts their coppercapped chimneys and brass safety valves were a unique trade mark. The california state railroad museum librarys railroad film collection. A corporate history of western pacific and sacramento northern railroads the western pacific was one of those underdog railroads that had a loyal following with railroad enthusiasts. The western pacific railroad, from its inception in 1903 until the union pacific. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Cslrailroads in california california state library ca. Whereas other rail lines were closed gradually, the federal government closed down the railroad on march 29, 1957.
The pacific electric strike of 1903, by wollenberg, charles, clio books, date unknown. Santa fe and southern pacific wanted wp in 1962, but neither got it. Hogarty library has a priceless collection of photos, maps, drawings and other related memorabilia, associated with the nwp rr. Released in united kingdom by castle vision in 1991. This book also relates the parallel story of the sacramento northern railway. The central pacific railroad cprr was a rail company chartered by u.
For a brief history of the northwestern pacific railroad, and a system map, please click on nwp history. Attracting fans from all over the world, the wps short but diverse route featured everything from urban industrial trackage in the thriving metropolis of the san francisco bay area to the scenic splendors and sleepy mountain communities of the famous. It wasnt formed until 1906, with completion in 1909. 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. Trains are now running from san francisco via benicia to sacramento. The original western pacific railroad 18621870 was established in 1862 to build the westernmost portion of the first transcontinental railroad, between sacramento and san jose, california later oakland, california. The manuscript collection includes papers from the denver and rio grande western railroad, union pacific railroad, northwest terminal railroad, san luis railroad and the san juan railroad. Despite chinese workers contributions to building americas historic infrastructure project, chang says their history is often forgotten. According to brian solomons book, southern pacific railroad, the very first western pacific railroad company dates back to the transcontinental railroad. The new york, ontario and western railway was the first classone railroad in the united states to be abandoned in its entirety.
The iron feather history of western pacific and sacramento. The western pacific was one of those underdog railroads that had a loyal following with railroad enthusiasts. Congress granted a charter to the texas pacific railroad company on march 3, 1871. Against the epic backdrop of the building of the union pacific railroad across plains and deserts and through the mountains to meet up with the southern pacific in utah comes a sprawling, historical tale.
Robertson, wayne cornell editor encyclopedia of western railroad history. Huntington, leland stanford, mark hopkins, and charles crocker. The spectacular scenery, the california zephyr, brightly painted locomotives and freight cars certainly caught many a fans eye. Just a reminder that registration is open for the joine 2019 pacific coast region nmra western pacific railroad historical convention. A corporate history of the western pacific and sacramento northern railroads. It also includes the histories of thousands of locomotives. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. The desert states, arizona, nevada, new mexico, utah vol. Railroads history united states western, railroads, books. The history of the southern pacific stretches from 1865 to 1998. Western pacific was a railroad in transition on january 1, 1972. From the central pacific railroad photographic history museum.
Western history railroading resources denver public. Congress in 1862 to build a railroad eastwards from sacramento, california, to complete the western part of the first transcontinental railroad in north america. Western pacific timetables and operations, a history. Denver and rio grande, western pacific and the missouri pacific s part in the affair, with some. The western pacific railroad reporting mark wp was a class i railroad in the united states. However, operating in the shadow of giants like the southern pacific, santa fe and the union pacific, the relatively young wp had to work that much harder to survive. Wp history books and videos feather river rail society. A pictorial album of electric railroading, compiled by donald duke, by the pacific railway journal, published by golden west books. Western pacific railroad museum portola 2020 all you. Southern pacific railroad, one of the great american railroad systems, established in 1861 by the big four of western railroad buildingcollis p. Many books on the railroad focus on the big four and. Railroad history became a hobby about 1968 and became a serious advocation in 1970. Its pass through the sierra nevada mountains went through portola instead of the famous donner pass, so here at their former maintenance facility is the western pacific railroad.
The library is open on the second and fourth saturday of the month. According to brian solomons book, southern pacific railroad, the very first western pacific railroad company dates back to the transcontinental railroad, incorporated on december, 1862 by collis huntington to give the thencentral pacific railroad cp direct access into the bay area. Western railroad discussion western pacific historic and. It seeks to preserve the rich and diverse heritage of redwood empire railroading and to keep abreast of the patterns of change as they evolve. Widely regarded a seminal work on the history of the transcontinental railroad. For the main page, see southern pacific transportation company. The western pacific railroad company was incorporated in 1862 to connect san jose with sacramento, with timothy dame serving as the first president of the new corporation. Get the best deals on collectible railroad maps when you shop the largest online selection at.
This is a wellresearched, highquality book by author jeff a. For more information on the western pacific railroad, please visit the feather river rail societys web site, it is a must for those with an interest in the western pacific railroad. There are detailed reports on dates of operation, mergers, miles of track, maximum grade, gauge and rail weight. The line, which opened on november 2, 1869, ran from a cp connection at sacramento to. New arrivals train, railroad, transportation books from karens.
Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. The line, which opened on november 2, 1869, ran from a cp connection at sacramento to niles via tracy and altamont pass. Railroads played a significant role in the overall development of colorado. Distributed by the university of nebraska press for caxton press this book includes 368 pages of maps, photographs and technical data on the history of railroading in california. The first locomotive to travel on the feather river route, the engine attended the wps golden spike ceremony in november 1909, and was used for special railroad events after the end of steam on the railway, including an appearance in the movie pollyanna. Brief history of the western pacific railroad mountain. Learn more about railroad history with this selection of books available in the museum store. Western pacific railroad museum portola 2020 all you need.
We handle all books with white gloves no fingerprints on your book. Southern pacific railroad american company britannica. Stockley editors and a great selection of related books. Western pacific the railroad that was built too late. Transcontinental railroad books in print and videotapes. Sep 18, 2014 collecting railroad material has been a longstanding priority of the western history department, and our resources are vast. Texas pacific railroad abebooks shop for books, art. Western pacific railroad news newspapers books scholar jstor february 2015 learn how.
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