Steel Rails to Montana Trace Transcontinental Roads
Dan R. Conway examines Montana’s rail boom as three major transcontinental lines push toward completion and extension. The piece highlights rail entrepreneurs, engineering feats, and the transformative impact on Montana’s settlement, economy, and national growth with historical context and Stevenson quotes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Francisco
Omaha
Jim Bridger
Black East
America
United States
Union Pacific
Central Pacific
Railroads Target Eastern Montana Riches Circle Center of Four Extensions
Eastern Montana counties in Circle valley form a fertile zone attracting four railroad extensions. The region, long underserv ed by rail, now lures completion of 251 miles of new track by major systems. The expansion mirrors a two year surge making Montana a hub for transcontinental rail growth and settlement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montana
Treasure State
Rockies
Union Pacific
Northern Pacific
Great Northern Railways
Vertneuf Canyon
New Rock
Mississippi
Pacific Coast
Pacific Ocean
United
Circle
Redwater River
McCone County
Union
Northern Pacific and
the Great
United States
Watt
Richard Trevethick
London
George Stephenson
Killingworth
Stockton and
Darlington
England
Peter Cooper
Baltimore and Ohio
Stephensons
Father and Son
Horatio Allen
Maryland
Virginia
South Carolina
Congress
Sidney Breese
Committee On Public Lands
Asa Whitney
New York
Whitney
Lake Michigan
Columbia River
Northern Pacific Railway
Illinois Central
Dubuque
Iowa
Chicago
Great Western
Southern Pacific
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Great Northern
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Uncle Sain
Wabash River
Lake Erie
Stephen A. Douglas
N. Pr
Northern Pacific Railroad
Maine
Louisiana
A+ Whitney
Ba Whitney
Intermountain
National House of Representatives
Missouri
Rocky Mountains
Kit Carson
Fremont
Stevens
George B. McCelland
Iis
McClelland
Vancouver
Cascades
Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie
Nahchess
Wenachee
Pisquouse
Coner d'Alene
Mission
Gilmore & Pittsburg
Salmon
Idaho
Jefferson Davis
Pacific
Central Pacific
Union V Pacific
Central Pacific Railroads
Glendive
Richey
Milwaukee and
Sea Lines
Lewistown
Scobey
Opheim
Wheat Belt
Also Mentioned on This Page
Plains
Jay Gould
Utah & Northern
Dan R. R. Conway
Thomas M. Cooley
Dan R. Conway
International Boundary Line
Gulf of Mexico
Brotherhood of Free
Europe
Paris
Troy
Robert Louis Stevenson
Stevenson
Robert Mills
Isaac I. Stevens
Washington Territory
Great Lakes
Mississippi Valley
Puget Sound
Asia
Union and
Central Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Hne
Northern Pacific Railroad Company
Lake Superior
Jeff” Davis
Pierce
Great American Desert
Utah
Nevada
Texas
New Mexico
Arizona
California
Democratic
McClelan
Salt Lake
Corinne
Franklin
Fort Benton
Missouri River
Montana Territory
Nebraska
Corrinne
Virginia City
Far West
Utah & Northern Railroad
Moontana
Gould
Atai & Northern
Silver Bow Junction
Butte
Monthan Territory
Tefena
Vlan
Loura
Ogden
Wasaten Range
Bear River
Hampton EU
Cacha Valley
Table Lands
Portneuf Canyon
Pocatello
Snake River
Lava
Montana-Iolaho
Suuimamit
Divide
Beaver Canyon
Montania
Utah & Northern Railway
F Tulanski
Tulanski
Sioula
Ena
Huffman
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!