Building the Union Pacific

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This Page: Dale Creek Bridge, A. J. Russell.



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Dale Creek Trestle, 1869, A.J. Russell

As discussed below the Dale Creek trestle was the highest bridge on the Union Pacific. A. J. Russell was employed during the Civil War by Matthew Brady with some of the photographs commonly attributed to Brady being, in fact, taken by Russell. Following the war Russell served the Federal Government on some of the surveying expeditions in the west before being employed by the Union Pacific. For additional view of trestle see below right.


Dale Creek Bridge under construction, engraving, Harper's Weekly, 1868


.Dale Creek Trestle

The Dale Creek Trestle, originally built of wood, pictured at the top of the page, was later replaced with one made of iron depicted below. At the time it was regarded as an engineering marvel, 150 feet above the creek bed and the longest trestle on Railroad. The masonry foundation was commenced in December of 1867 and on April 21, 1868 the rails were laid across the bridge. The wooden bridge was replaced with an iron bridge. Henry T. Williams described the iron bridge:

"Dale Creek Bridge -- is about two miles west of Sherman. This bridge is built of iron, and seems to be a light airy structure, but is really very substantial. The creek, like a thread of silver, winds its devious way in the depths below, and is soon lost to sight as you pass rapidly down the grade and through the granite cuts and snow sheds beyond. This bridge is 450 feet long, and nearly 130 feet high, and is one of the wonders on the great trans-continental route. A water tank, just beyond it, is supplied with water from the creek by means of a steam pump. The buildings in the valley below seem small in the distance, though they are not a great way off. The old wagon road crossed the creek down a ravine, on the right side of the track, and the remains of the bridge may still be seen. This stream rises about six miles north of the bridge, and is fed by numerous springs and tributaries, running in a general southerly direction, until it empities into the Cache La Poudre River. The old overland road from Denver to California ascended this river and creek until it struck the head-waters of the Laramie. Leaving Dale Creek bridge, the road soon turns to the right, and before you, on the left, is spread out, like a magnificent panorama,

The Great Laramie Plains."


The Bridge at Dale Creek

Dale Creek Bridge viewed from below, photo by A. J. Russell

While it may have been the wonder of the age, it was terrifying. The bridge would sway in the wind and trains were required to slow to four miles per hour while crossing it, even though, as shown in the above engraving, guy wires were attached to the bridge. Adding to the terror was the wind which seemingly threatened to blow the cars off the bridge. Ellen G. White described her 1873 passage over Dale Creek:

The scenery over the plains has been uninteresting. Our curiosity is excited somewhat in seeing mud cabins, adobe houses and sagebrush in abundance. But on we go. From Cheyenne the engines toiled up, up the summit against the most fearful wind. The iron horses are slowly dragging the cars up the mountain to Sherman. Fears are expressed of danger, because of the wind, in crossing the Dale Creek bridge--650 feet long and 126 feet high---spanning Dale creek from bluff to bluff. This trestle bridge looks like a light, frail thing to bear so great weight. But fears are not expressed because of the frail appearance of the bridge, but in regard to the tempest of wind, so fierce that we fear the cars may be blown from the track. In the providence of God the wind decreased. Its terrible wail is subdued to pitiful sobs and sighs, and we passed safely over the dreaded bridge. We reached the summit. The extra engine was removed. We are upon an elevation of 7,857 feet. No steam is required at this point to forward the train, for the down grade is sufficient for us to glide swiftly along.
As we pass on down an embankment we see the ruins of a freight car that had been thrown from the track. Men were actively at work upon the shattered cars. We are told that the freight train broke through the bridge one week ago. Two hours behind this unfortunate train came the passenger cars. Had this accident happened to them, many lives must have been lost.

Mrs. White was not the only one to write of the terror of the bridge. Rae expressed concern with the rapidity of the bridge's construction. He noted that the "contractors are said to baost of having erected it in the short space of thirty days. It is not stated how many days the bridge will bear the strain almost hourly put upon it."

By 1876, the wooden bridge was replaced by an iron bridge, which, itself, was hardly less terrifying. It too required guy wires, and the view out the windows of the passenger coaches would hardly have been reassuring, giving the impression that the train was floating in mid-air. Today, the line has been relocated and nothing is left except the foundation piers.


The Great Iron Bridge at Dale Creek, undated

The reason for the haste in the building of the railroad was the race with the Central Pacific to reach Utah. Originally, the Central Pacific was limited to a distance no more eastwart than 150 miles of the Nevada-California border. That was lifted and once Nevada was reached, construction continued apace while the Union Pacific was slowed down in the crossing of the Wasatch. Ultimately, Congress resolved the issue and decreed that the junction point was to be Promontory Point north of Ogden. In the race, the Union Pacific on the Utah Plains achieved a record of eight miles in one 10 hour day. Shortly before the junction, the Central Pacific beat the record and made 10 miles in one day.

Great Iron Bridge at Dale Creek, photo by Charles Weitfle

For information as to Charles Weitfle see next page.

Originally, the date for the junction was set to be May 8, 1869. Governor Stanford, President of the Central Pacific arrived. California and Nevada each sent golden spikes. A special hand-rubbed laural tie was created for the ocassion. The Union Pacific sent a silver plated sledge for the ceremony. Unfortunately, Vice President Durant of the Union Pacific was delayed. Railroad workmen complaining about unpaid backpay, disconnected Durant's private car from his train and chained it to the rails until arrangements were made for the money. Ultimately, the ceremony was conducted on May 10 with President Stanford and Vice President Durant to drive the two spikes. They both missed. After both spikes were driven, the two locomotives were placed nose-to-nose while C. R. Savage took a photo.

From Dale Creek the trains descended to Laramie. As noted by Mrs. White, the trains required no steam for the descent. Indeed, the downward trip into Laramie was also fearful. Rae noted:

Dowards speeds the train, at a pace which makes one shudder at the consequences of an accident. In twenty miles the descent of a thousand feet is accomplished. No steam power is employed. On the contrary, the brakes are tightly screwed down alike on the locomotive and the cars.

Next Page: Snow Removal, Palace Cars, Dining Service.