The story of huntington, stanford, hopkins, and crocker, and of the building of the central pacific the railroads. Rise and fall of a railroad southern pacific shaped california. List of books and articles about railroad history online. The story of huntington, stanford, hopkins, and crocker, and of the building of the central pacific the railroads lewis, oscar on.
Ray swank suggested i read this history, written by oscar lewis of san. Joint biography of the builders of the central pacific railroad and its. In 1861, hopkins and the rest of the big four men founded the central pacific railroad. The story of the california big four suggests that the local and regional. The first transcontinental railroad known originally as the pacific railroad and later as the overland route was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern u.
Huntington began working at a young age on the family farm to contribute to the family income. Mark hopkins huntington so frames and dominates the book that it might. Elementary education simulation game teaching the history of the first transcontinental railroad, 18631869. The greatest challenge was laying rails through the heart of the sierra nevada. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The impact of the railroad california state university. Remnants of the big fours railroad shops remain in wabash from the early 1870s to the mid1920s, wabash was an important railroad town, community blogger tim ashley says. Big four railroad station, acton, indiana postcards of.
Many books on the railroad focus on the big four and the barons of the up, he says. Stanford university history professor richard white told the story of the big four key investors in the transcontinental railroad read more. Big four rode railroads to big profits sfgate a good book about the railroad is white, richard, railroaded, the transcontinentals and the making of modern america, w. Big four railroad railroad crossing in rural area this project is made possible by a grant from the u.
Fun read and a good history of the domination of callifornia by the railroad during the forty years following its completion in 1869. Mont saint michel and chartres is a book written by the american historian and scholar henry adams 18381918. The line continued as one of the busiest tracks in the state. My father worked for the railroad, and whenever a train crashed, we would go as a family and steal food from. Organization of railway labor began with the unionization 1864 of locomotive engineers. Stanford university history professor richard white told the story of the big four key investors in the transcontinental railroad project. If you have similar interest, this is a must read as it goes into depth the characters of each other big four and their specific role to the building of the central pacific. Friends of the big four depot is a group of individuals who share a common love and interest in the big four. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our.
It contains original scholarship and fresh interpretations that set the standard in railway research. However, the advent of the automobile caused a subsequent decline of rail travel and. The four men, known as the associates and in the popular mind as the big four, formed a group that was unique in american industrial history. The four merchants eventually dubbed themselves the big four and their manytentacled empire of railroads and freight lines was renamed southern pacific railroad in 1884, although its detractors preferred to call it. There are many more mistakes in this book that was done from railroad album pictures donated to the kankakee historical society. The southern pacific railroad was the single largest corporation in california and controlled 85 percent of the states railroad tracks. With this knowledge, he was one of the first in manistee and in michigan to use rails to transport logs. Here are carefully selected articles, photographs, and art. The big four was the name popularly given to the famous and influential businessmen, philanthropists and railroad tycoons who built the central pacific railroad, c.
Home martin photo shop big four railroad tracks in terre haute reference url share. In 1930, over 350,000 railroad cars had stopped in anderson on the big four lines. Welcome to the railroad commissary online railroad book catalog. Home martin photo shop big four railroad tracks in terre haute. After failing to sell the stock necessary to build his dream, a transcontinental railroad, visionary engineer theodore dehone judah met four shopkeepers who made his dream come true. They didnt get around to paying back the money until 1909, many years. In terms of building the railroad, it was stanford who helped secure much of the land grants and funding through the state of. Stanford, hopkins, huntington, crocker rode railroads to big profits. Huntington, charles crocker, leland stanford, and mark hopkins. Visit these websites or explore a book on the transcontinental railroad. Huntington, leland stanford, mark hopkins, and charles crocker.
View all hotels near big four bridge on tripadvisor. The railroad commissary bookshelf we specialize in outofprint and hardtofind used rr books. The nyc owned, leased or controlled 10,356 miles, so the big 4 was 21 percent of nyc. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad. The big four railroad barons and other railroad stories ebook by alton pryor. Find best sellers about civil war, american legends, breweries and wineries, and more. Eventually, the big four railroad, which consolidated with the bee line in 1889, took over the operation of the depot. I am a big fan of the transcontinental railroad history, and have read numerous books on the subject. As early as 1556 georgius agricola, in his book on minerals. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869. May 10, 2019 many books on the railroad focus on the big four and the barons of the up, he says.
San francisco and the connection to the big four chinese. Big four bridge sidney 2020 all you need to know before. Adams wrote this book, a meditative reflection on medieval culture, well after his historical masterpiece, the history of the united states of. History of the big four men railroad system sample essays. The case of the california big four, openedition journals. Railroads history united states eastern, railroads.
January 11, 2020 nancy waldo todays amit american history. Louis and chicago railway, and 3 indianapolis and st. All aboard for this photographic journey through the unique railroad history of niles canyon, near the city of fremont. The founders of the central pacific railroad were a study in contrast. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document. They preferred to be known as the associates, rather than the big four, to no avail. History of the big four men railroad system essay example for free newyorkessays database with more than 65000 college essays for studying. So although its nominally about the big four who made their fortunes from the building of the central pacific railroad huntington, leland stanford, charles crocker and mark hopkins. Charles crocker is best remembered for being part of the big four in financing the construction of the central pacific railroad, which included along with himself. After six years of toil, the railroad was completed with. The big fourcollis huntington, mark hopkins, leland stanford and charles. Check page 47 the palace hotel on cypress street was located across the street from the big four, new york central tracks not illinois central tracks. Home postcards of indiana the jay small collection big four railroad station, acton, indiana reference url share.
The big four of the central pacific railroad the dollop dot net. I have read it but i have also read several articles in prototype rr magazines buy respected rr historians claiming it is wrong in many areas and continues false history as if it were fact. Building the railroad was a monumental undertaking. They had effectively laid the groundwork to establish one of the most comprehensive and oppressive monopolies in american history. Louis railroad big four route 1889 merger of 1 cleveland, columbus, cincinnati and indianapolis railway, 2 cincinnati indianapolis, st. I have no family, so im not taking busy time away from people that i should be spending it with. He later moved to new york to work for his brother who. Huntington was a master salesman born on october 22, 1821 in harwinton, connecticut. The many unions were headed by the big four the brotherhoods of the engineers, the firemen and enginemen, the conductors, and the trainmen. Manistees big four railroads manistee county tourism. Judah also was instrumental in securing government aid for the construction of the railroad. Jan 20, 2008 so although its nominally about the big four who made their fortunes from the building of the central pacific railroad huntington, leland stanford, charles crocker and mark hopkins. The big four railroad barons and other railroad stories ebook by.
Friends of the galion big four depot home facebook. The four railroad barons responsible for this ambitious reach across the nation were collis p. He was the main power behind the railroad, but preferred to stay behind the scenes. Stanford, hopkins, huntington, crocker rode railroads to. The big four was the name popularly given to the famous and influential businessmen. Louis railway, formed the cleveland, cincinnati, chicago and st.
Ambrose was a pop history writer who wrote for the masses. With their funds and business acumen, they helped to build the first transcontinental railroad. The melodic wail of the steam whistle first echoed. Leland stanford, is remembered for being part of the big four in financing the construction of the central pacific railroad, which included along with himself collis huntington, charles crocker, and mark hopkins. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Peters had spent over a decade working on railroads before entering the logging business. The many unions were headed by the big fourthe brotherhoods of the engineers, the firemen and enginemen, the conductors, and the trainmen. Huntington leland stanford more leland stanford charles crocker more charles crocker.
Lots of history a shame it is not taken care of very well it. Its primary routes were in illinois, indiana, michigan, and ohio. Workers, including the irish, receive little attention. Stanford, hopkins, huntington, crocker rode railroads to big. The nyc owned, leased or controlled 10,356 miles, so the big4 was 21 percent of nyc. The story of huntington, stanford, hopkins, and crocker, and of the building of the central pacific the railroads oscar lewis on. Cspan3s american history tvtranscontinental railroad 150th anniversaryfourpart series. Among the prominent figures in the early history of san franciscos nob hill neighborhood were the big four, a popular name given to the railroad magnates charles crocker, mark hopkins, collis p. Founded as an investment by these four men in 1861.
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. Steamtown national historic site scranton pa railroad history museum book. The big 4 owned or leased 2,222 miles of line, about 875 39 percent of which were in indiana 673 owned and 201 leased. The manistee and luther railroad was the longest and longest lived of r. Central pacific railroad, american railroad company founded in 1861 by a group of california merchants known later as the big four collis p. The four merchants eventually dubbed themselves the big four and their manytentacled empire of railroads and freight lines was renamed southern pacific railroad in 1884, although its. Dont forget to bookmark this page so you can return easily and often.
Transcontinental railroad fourpart series ahtv blog c. The big four railroad barons by alton pryor, paperback barnes. Big four railroad tracks in terre haute martin photo shop. Fun read and a good history of the domination of callifornia by the railroad during the forty years following its. Popular history of the central pacific railroad as told through its leaders. Friends of the galion big four depot, galion, ohio. Another point of view, perhaps is ambrose, stephen, nothing like it in the world. They were men of diverse character but all were in the prime of life and each found a place in the work of building the railroad to which he was best suited. Oscar lewis, the big four, signed hardcover first edition 1938. The big4 owned or leased 2,222 miles of line, about 875 39 percent of which were in indiana 673 owned and 201 leased. A ppopular history of the central pacific railroad as told through its leaders.
Central pacific railroad photographic history museum. Rise and fall of a railroad southern pacific shaped. Charles crocker is best remembered for being part of the big four in financing the construction of the central pacific railroad, which included along with himself collis huntington, leland stanford, and mark hopkins. Big four of the central pacific railroad ii a moment in. It operated in affiliation with the new york central system. Institute of museum and library services, administered by the indiana state library. Read on for a bit about the areas place in railroad history. Vintage hc book the big four central pacific railroad history oscar lewis 1946. 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. Early history of the cleveland cincinnati chicago and st.
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