Railfaning The Great Scenic West -

UNION PACIFIC country

A Railfan guide to Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, S Idaho

West from Omaha, Union Pacific rails follow the original "Overland Route. In earlier days, it was a natural trail for wandering buffalo, Indian tribes, fur traders, gold seekers, the overland stage coach and pony express riders.

President Lincoln established the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad at council bluffs, Iowa, and in December, 1863, ground was broken to inaugurate the first transcontinental railroad. The Western Terminus of the Central Pacific (Southern Pacific) began at Oakland. CA on the original Overland Route and met the Union Pacific Railroad at Promontory summit in Utah in 1869 completing the first transcontinental railroad.

At Granger, Wyoming, the railroad leaves the Overland Route and at about Kemmerer, WY follows the historic "Oregon Trail" to Portland. This was the earlier name for the Overland Trail, beginning at Independence, MO. Later, the route from Omaha to San Francisco became the Overland Route. At Ogden, the rails run west to Oakland, and then turned south to Salt Lake City and on to Los Angeles. Once called the "Arrowhead Trail" and the "Morman Trail", this later became the "Salt Lake Route".