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<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-UnionPac.html" title="Facts and informations about Union Pacific Railroad">Union Pacific Railroad</a>

Union Pacific Railroad

Union Pacific Railroad transportation company chartered (1862) by Congress to build part of the nation's first transcontinental railroad line. Under terms of the Pacific Railroads Act, the Union Pacific was authorized to build a line westward from Omaha, Nebr., to the California-Nevada line, where it was to connect with the Central Pacific RR—which was to be built simultaneously from Sacramento, Calif. Each railroad company, after completion of an initial 40 mi (64 km) of track, was to be granted 6,400 acres (2,589 hectares) of public lands and a loan of from $16,000 to $48,000 for each mile of track laid. In 1864, Congress doubled the land grant, considerably eased the terms of government loans, and allowed the two railroad companies to borrow private capital. Also in 1864 and again in 1866 the Central Pacific was authorized to build eastward beyond the Nevada line.

In 1865 construction of the Union Pacific was begun from Omaha westward, and a long succession of harrowing construction problems, Indian troubles, and delays were encountered. Nevertheless, on May 10, 1869, the Union Pacific joined the Central Pacific, NW of Ogden, Utah, thus connecting the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean by rail and completing the nation's first transcontinental railroad. The joining of the roads was marked in ceremony by the driving of a golden spike.

Construction of both roads involved tremendous profiteering, and in 1872 the scandal involving the Crédit Mobilier of America , an ephemeral holding company to which most of the Union Pacific's liquid assets had been transferred (1867), was unearthed. The fraud, combined with later mismanagement and overextensions, left the Union Pacific with heavy financial burdens, and in 1893 the company went into receivership. It was reincorporated (1897) as the Union Pacific RR Company in Utah, and under the management of Edward H. Harriman the railroad was expanded, vastly improved, and stabilized.

n 1901, Harriman added the Southern Pacific (see Southern Pacific Company ) and the Central Pacific to his expanding railroad empire, and his spectacular attempt to control the Northern Pacific led to the formation of the Northern Securities Company, a huge rail monopoly that controlled transportation throughout the Northwest. Under pressure from President Theodore Roosevelt, the giant holding company was dissolved by the Supreme Court in 1904. Four years later the court ordered the Union Pacific RR Company to relinquish its control of the Southern Pacific, and in 1913 the separation was completed.

The Union Pacific also acquired large holdings in railroads in the East and later gained control over Western motor-coach lines. In 1936 the railroad initiated the development of Sun Valley, Idaho, into a popular winter resort. The Union Pacific acquired the Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific RRs in 1982 and M-K-T RR in 1988. In 1995 it agreed to purchase the Chicago and North Western RR, and it acquired the ailing Southern Pacific in 1996. By 1997 the much-expanded railroad was plagued by accidents, late arrivals, and congested rail lines; federal regulators intervened, allowing two competing railroads to share Union Pacific's tracks, to keep shipments moving (the track-sharing order was lifted in 1998). Today the railroad, with around 33,000 mi (53,000 km) of track in the West, Midwest, and Gulf Coast regions, is a subsidiary of the highly diversified Union Pacific Corporation; in 1999 the corporation split the railroad operation into three semiautonomous units (for the northern, southern, and western sections of the system).

Bibliography: See J. P. Davis, The Union Pacific Railway (1894, repr. 1973); G. M. Dodge, How We Built the Union Pacific Railway (1910, repr. 1966); N. Trottman, The History of the Union Pacific (1923); D. H. Bain, Empire Express: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad (1999).

Related newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles from HighBeam Research

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	Back on track: how an old-fashioned Kansan with railroading in his blood breathed new life into the UP.(Regional Report: Midwest)(Union Pacific) Magazine article from: Chief Executive (U.S.); 1/1/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...account, Union Pacific's takeover of Southern Pacific in 1996 and...technology, saved Union Pacific. Davidson...underfinanced Southern Pacific and its new...bought by Union Pacific in 1982...contrast, Southern Pacific was seen... Read more
	Union Pacific losing market share over capacity problems. Magazine article from: Los Angeles Business Journal; 8/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...are causing Union Pacific Corp. to turn...purchase of Southern Pacific Rail Corp...with demand, Union Pacific needs to add...Last year, Union Pacific began a major...decade ago, Southern Pacific operated the...profit margins. Union Pacific ... Read more
	Union Pacific: Volumes 1 & 2.(Union Pacific: 1862-1893, vol. 1)(Union Pacific: 1894-1969, vol. 2)(Brief article)(Book review) Magazine article from: Internet Bookwatch; 8/1/2006; 198 words ; Union Pacific: Volumes 1 & 2 Maury Klein University...two-volume set covering the history of the Union Pacific won't be for every general collection...collection solid in railroad history. Union Pacific: Volume 1 covers the period from 1862-18... Read more
	Dearth of rail workers leads to cargo delays for retailers.(Up Front)(Union Pacific Railroad Co) Magazine article from: Los Angeles Business Journal; 11/24/2003; ; 665 words ; ...partially to blame. For nearly a year now, Union Pacific Railroad Co. has been struggling to...beginning of the year, Omaha, Neb.-based Union Pacific underestimated the number of employees...rely on 20 outbound and 14 inbound Union Pacific trains, each with up to 125 cars ... Read more
	Union Pacific, 2 vols.(Brief article)(Book review) Magazine article from: The Bookwatch; 8/1/2006; 198 words ; Union Pacific: Volumes 1 & 2 Maury Klein University...two-volume set covering the history of the Union Pacific won't be for every general collection...collection solid in railroad history. Union Pacific: Volume 1 covers the period from 1862-18... Read more
	The road traveled, the road ahead UP at 140.(Union Pacific Railroad Co.) Magazine article from: Railway Age; 10/1/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...Utah, and known today as the Union Pacific. Contributing Editor Larry Kaufman...rewarding road traveled so far by Union Pacific. Where has the road led? Where does Union Pacific stand today? The answer, most...among North American Class I's. Union Pacific is showing ... Read more
	Railroad to respond to pollution.(Environment)(Union Pacific calls a meeting for residents who may be affected by vapors, but state officials offer words of caution) Newspaper article from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR); 7/12/2007; 620 words ; ...Diane Dietz The Register-Guard The Union Pacific Railroad will put its own spin tonight...neighbors raise, said James Barnes, Union Pacific's spokesman in Omaha, Neb. The purpose...cleanup manager on the railroad project. Union Pacific has specifically wanted to do this... Read more
	Railroad Transaction.(involving Jeffrey Sand Co. and Union Pacific Railroad Co.)(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Arkansas Business; 9/24/2001; ; 70 words ; ...Arkansas River west of Buckeye Street from Union Pacific Railroad Co. of Omaha, Neb. Southern Pacific Railroad bought the Cotton Belt nearly 70 years ago. Union Pacific acquired Southern Pacific Rail Corp. of San Francisco in 1996. Read more
	JUDICIAL DECISIONS.(Union Pacific Railroad Company, Borman's Incorporated) Magazine article from: Security Management; 10/1/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...disclosure. Brent Mower was employed by Union Pacific Railroad Company from 1979 to 1992...claims leveled at the company. In 1992, Union Pacific asked Mower to resign. As part of his...December 31, 1995. In 1997, a former Union Pacific employee sued the company for injuries... Read more
	Entergy blasts Union Pacific, proposes new rail line to feed White Bluff.(Entergy Corp; Union Pacific Corp; Entergy's White Bluff generating plant) Magazine article from: Arkansas Business; 3/8/1999; ; 402 words ; ...connect to Pine Bluff. Union Pacific Corp. has been the...since its merger of Southern Pacific Rail Corp. in 1996...since that merger, Union Pacific has been suffering...merger between UP and Southern Pacific Railroads, it preserved... Read more

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