Contents

Introduction

ONE   PICKING THE ROUTE 1830-1860

TWO   GETTING TO CALIFORNIA 1848-1859

THREE   THE BIRTH OF THE CENTRAL PACIFIC 1860-1862

FOUR   THE BIRTH OF THE UNION PACIFIC 1862-1864

FIVE   JUDAH AND THE ELEPHANT 1862-1864

SIX   LAYING OUT THE UNION PACIFIC LINE 1864-1865

SEVEN   THE CENTRAL PACIFIC ATTACKS THE SIERRA NEVADA 1865

EIGHT   THE UNION PACIFIC ACROSS NEBRASKA 1866

NINE   THE CENTRAL PACIFIC ASSAULTS THE SIERRA 1866

TEN   THE UNION PACIFIC TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS 1867

ELEVEN   THE CENTRAL PACIFIC PENETRATES THE SUMMIT 1867

TWELVE   THE UNION PACIFIC ACROSS WYOMING 1868

THIRTEEN   BRIGHAM YOUNG AND THE MORMONS MAKE THE GRADE 1868

FOURTEEN   THE CENTRAL PACIFIC GOES THROUGH NEVADA 1868

FIFTEEN   THE RAILROADS RACE INTO UTAH JANUARY 1—APRIL 10, 1869

SIXTEEN   TO THE SUMMIT APRIL 11-MAY 7, 1869

SEVENTEEN DONE MAY 8-10, 1869

Epilogue

Notes

Bibliography

Index

MAPS

From Chicago to Omaha

Nebraska

Wyoming

Nevada

Utah

California