Promoting the Transcontinental Railroad

In 1866, The Union Pacific Railroad arranged an all-expense paid trip for a group of influential citizens and government officials so they could witness firsthand the railroad’s construction progress “Out West”. This was known as the “Grand Excursion to the 100th Meridian”. The Meridian was a point in the Platte Valley of Nebraska where the railroad had so far reached in its progress towards its eventual meeting with the Central Pacific Railroad at Promontory Point, Utah.

Congress had mandated that periodic monitoring be done to make sure sufficient progress was being made on the railroad and monies spent on building the railroad were not going to waste. This excursion was actually more of a boondoggle and a reason to spend more of the government’s own money. The Union Pacific’s director spared no expense to entertain his guests and demonstrate the success of their ventures and investment.

Nothing was spared in making this excursion a memorable one for the travelers aboard the Union Pacific trains. The railroad, intent on ensuring a steady supply of funds for its continued construction needs, made sure that the excursionists were suitably impressed. Ultimately the trip was a success as funding continued and enabled the Central Pacific to succeed. Never before had so much been spent on a rail trip for so few. 

It was a public relation's extravaganza that the railroad's organizers hoped would bring more money and investment into the transcontinental railroad. Politicians and dignitaries were wined and dined over a three-day period of unrivaled opulence out in the middle of the untamed West.

The Union Pacific had arranged a stop near the shelter of an outcropping of rock, rare out on the prairie. The organizers planned a dinner and entertainment under the stars for its excursion guests. Sparing no expense, this stop was hoped to further cement the continued flow of government money into the Union Pacific coffers. The transcontinental railroad was never hugely popular, especially during the war years. If not for the expected allegiance to the Union from the western states, the entire project may have never gotten off the ground. These little “excursions” helped to raise the spirit and patriotism of the railroad’s guests to continue funding the project. It didn’t hurt to line the pockets of many Congressmen either when it came to funding the votes it needed.

In the early years of train travel in the United States, passenger cars consisted of little more than transferring bodies from one place to another. There was little regard for the comforts of those aboard. Sleeper cars were unheard of and sanitary facilities were usually no more than a curtain and a bucket at one end of the car. Bad luck to the passengers who were seated near that end of the car. Air conditioning was an open window and heating was sometimes a wood stove that either over-heated some passengers or gave little comfort to those on the other end of the car. Dining onboard was what you personally brought or if you were lucky, a dinner stop at a dining hall. The excursion participants, because of their exalted positions, were the lucky recipients of dinner by campfire on tables bedecked with white tablecloths and gleaming silver.

The Union Pacific was not taking any chances in their efforts to influence and impress the excursionists. The organizers of the excursion had pre-erected several tents near the rail stop and filled them with all the creature comforts one could ever hope to have out in the wild west. Soft beds and carpets were laid out. Sufficient water was provided, carried aboard in a special car directly from Omaha. During the day, several intrepid riders went foraging for game to provide the night’s repast. Three elk and four deer were shot and brought back to camp.

In its attempt to entertain its guests, the excursion planners had arranged several scenarios that didn’t quite work out as planned. They thought that the guests would appreciate a mock Indian raid, so without notifying guests beforehand, the attack they arranged occurred early in the morning and scared several people who were jarred awake, fearing that they may be murdered by the “savages.” A buffalo hunt was arranged by the railroad. It was not a success because several of the guests came back to the camp empty-handed.

The railroad also thought that it would be entertaining for the passengers to see a “genuine prairie fire” so one was lit.  As the train pulled away on its journey, the fire burned out of control and spread, upsetting the Indians whose lands were charred in the aftermath. No wonder the Native Americans grew to hate the Iron Horse.