Earlier this month, May 10th to be exact, was the 145th anniversary of the driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit in Utah, uniting the East and the West via the first transcontinental railroad in the United States (May 10, 1869).
For our young nation, that was a huge accomplishment. The trip that pioneers had made from Missouri to Oregon in the 1840’s took many months and was fraught with danger (disease, accidents, Indians, etc.). With the completion of the railroad, the country could be crossed in mere days and with relative ease.
Begun in 1863, the transcontinental railroad was built by the Western Pacific (Oakland to Sacramento), the Central Pacific (Sacramento to Promontory Summit), and the Union Pacific (Council Bluffs, Iowa to Promontory Summit). The latter two railroad companies competed to see who could complete the most track. No one knew exactly where the two railroads would meet until very close to the end. In the final days, crews for both railroads set amazing records of number of track laid per day.
In the early 1800’s, it was believed it would take 100 generations to populate the land between the Missouri River and the San Francisco Bay. It took only five generations. And the railroad had a great deal to do with that.
The “golden age” of rail travel in America was the period between 1900 and the late 1940’s. During those years, most travel was done by train and some of it in luxury. After 1946, the airlines became a serious challenge to rail travel. By the 1950’s, travel by rail was in its twilight. And by the 1960’s, schedules had been drastically curtailed. Traveling by train would never be the same again.
The Oregon Trail passes right through Boise. I don’t have to go far afield to see the ruts that the passing wagon wheels carved into the earth. The first transcontinental railroad stayed pretty close to the Oregon Trail until it got to Utah. Then it turned toward California and San Francisco. But before the turn of the century, in the 1890’s, rails were laid across southern Idaho, following that last segment of the Oregon Trail, bringing the train through the place I call home.
When I was ten years old, my family (mother, grandmother, brother, and I) took a vacation by train through Oregon and Washington. That’s the gorgeous, historic Boise Depot at left, where all train travel out of Boise began. I thought it was wonderful! I especially liked to sit up in the observation car (double decker) and watch the passing countryside with a 360 degree view.
When my daughters were close to the same age (ten and twelve), we took the train to Portland in a major snowstorm to spend Christmas with my brother and his family. I loved that trip too!
Most people who travel by rail today do it as commuters. Passenger trains no longer follow the rails from Salt Lake up to Portland. Only freight trains blow their whistles across southern Idaho.
And who wants to take days to cross the country when it can be done in hours by air? To be honest, me! Not every trip, of course, but just once would be grand. The history lover in me wishes the golden age of rail travel had lasted just a little longer.
What “golden age” did you miss and wish you could experience?
~Robin
PS My new novel, The Heart’s Pursuit, is currently on a blog tour and there’s a giveaway attached to it. Check it out on the Events & Giveaways page. (See the menu at the top of any page.)
Train Photo Credit: Just Used Pixels via Compfight cc
Butte Photo Credit: daleexpress via Compfight cc
Robin Lee Hatcher
Latest posts by Robin Lee Hatcher (see all)
- Peanut Butter and . . . What? - May 2, 2025
- Walking with Jesus - April 18, 2025
- What do you call a group of writers? - April 4, 2025
Fascinating history, Robin (and I think it’s amazing that you can see wagon ruts on the Oregon Trail—Wow!).
When I was in the 7th grade I was thrilled to travel by train from Georgia to Washington, DC (and a few days later the return trip). I can still remember that experience as clearly as though it were last week. 🙂 But I must admit, traveling by train now doesn’t appeal to me (okay, I don’t like flying anymore either, LOL).
I do think it might be fun to travel (short distances) by horse and carriage—although that would have its drawbacks too.
Guess I’m just a homebody at heart. 😉 Which makes me especially thankful for books and the internet!
Hugs, Patti Jo (who IS still eager to visit Idaho!)
It’s true, Patti Jo. All across Southern Idaho, so many wagons passed this way, that their tracks can still be seen in spots. There are probably still places where remains of wagons and things discarded can be found as well. That was true when I was a girl, but perhaps no more.
Come visit Idaho. You can fly. 😉 I’ll take you to see the Boise Depot and the wagon ruts, etc.
P.S. I meant to add – – The Boise Depot is BEAUTIFUL!! 🙂
(I need coffee…..) 😉
That train trip sound incredible, Robin. A long train trip is on my bucket list. One both here and through Europe. Dream dream dream!
As for what golden age I missed. I honestly think it’s a very good thing I was born in this modern age. I am a total wimp when it comes to being too hot, too cold, too hungry, too ANYTHING. I probably would NOT have done well in any other period of history unless I’d been born royalty and could live in the lap of luxury. And now you know the truth about me. 🙁
You aren’t alone, Deb. I’ve always said that if the settling of the West had depended on me, the entire American population would still be on the eastern side of the country. I like to rough it for a few days every now and then (and my definition of “roughing it” is pretty pathetic), but then I’m ready for all of my creature comforts.
Wow. I have always thought I would like to live during the Civil War. However, like Deborah, I think I would not be cut out for life in those times. I am a jeans and tee-shirt girl and would hate to have to wear all of those clothes, all the time, not to mention having my oxygen seriously curtailed by a corset. No, God knew when in time to put me. I love to dream of the old days, meeting Lincoln, Dickens and other times, but I like to wake up and know the water is safe and will come out of the pipes and there are no long walks to the bathroom, in my future.
I think I would like to have seen the pomp and witnessed a lot of the history that has happened, but I don’t think I could have lived in a different time. However, having said that, if God had placed me in those times, I probably wouldn’t have thought about living in any other time, because that is where He wanted me.
I agree with all you said, Dora. We were born “for such a time as this,” each and every one of us. But sometimes I wish time travel were possible so I could just go visit for a few days (taking along some antibiotics and penicillin, etc.). Oh, the corsets would ruin me.
I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that the railroad made it across the continent before we had modern technology to make it easier. And the fact that somebody had the idea to do it in the first place…mind boggling! I would love to go on a long train trip if I could have one of those swanky personal suites complete with bed and room service. Now that’s the way to see a country! Unfortunately it costs more than a first class air ticket…way more…so I’ll be an armchair traveler as well.
The Heart’s Pursuit sounds like a great read — love the cover — very beguiling.
During the Olympics, a reporter took a trip on the Trans Siberian Railroad (I think I got the name right). Oh my. That is another train trip I would love to take.
Thanks, Kav. I love the cover of this book so much. Glad you like it too.
I like traveling by train,though mostly it is just 4/5 hours from here to another place in California. My son & I did a 36 hour trip from Martinez, CA to Denver, CO one year in coach. It was interesting and you get to meet some interesting people. In the dining car you share a table and my son spent time in the observation car.
I always thought I would like to reenact the Oregon Trail, but would not survive without porter potties. So I just enjoy reading all the historicals you wonderful writers offer me. Keep up the good work. God Bless