WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD - Nevada Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

One of a group of six detailed history markers at the Victory Highway Monument near Wendover Will on Wendover Blvd. (old U.S. Hwy. 40).

Text of sign:

The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad financed the Western Pacific Railroad (WP) from San Francisco to Salt Lake City to compete with the Southern Pacific route. The WP, incorporated March 6, 1903, provided a standard-gauge-track connection to the Pacific Coast, operating 1,719 route miles in California, Nevada, and Utah. Operation through Wendover began in 1907, when the route was completed west from Salt Lake City across the Bonneville Salt Flats to the Nevada border at Wendover. In 1908, the Denver and Rio Grande consolidated its various branch lines and subsidiary companies in Utah and Colorado, including the Rio Grande Wester, to finance the completion of the Western Pacific line. By the end of 1909, Western Pacific Railroad began operating its newly laid rail line through the area. The final spike was driven at the center of the Spanish Creek trestle, known today as Keddie Wye in California, connecting Salt Lake City to Oakland and San Francisco. The Rio Grande lost control of the Western Pacific in 1916, and the WP remained independent until it merged with the Union Pacific in 1982.

WENDOVER CHOSEN
Wendover was chosen as the desirable location for a railroad subdivision encampment. Although no water was available, extensive studies by WP engineers and accountants determined that installation of a water line at Wendover instead of Shafter, 30 miles to the west, would save $100,000 a year in operating costs. Wendover lay at the foot of 33 miles of one percent grade track to the west and 100 miles of level track to the east. Westbound trains had helper engines added to make the trip over the mountains. The helper engines were removed before heading eastbound across the Bonneville Salt Flats. Wendover’s Western Pacific Railroad had loading docks, train station facilities, water storage, housing, maintenance facilities, yards, and terminals, with permanent yard crews to provide service before the trains continued to the Pacific Coast or east to Salt Lake City.

AREA WAR EFFORTS
During World War I, the Western Pacific Railroad served as a connection point for the Deep Creek Railroad. This line hauled valuable processing ores from the arsenic mines of Gold Hill, some 30 miles to the south, for distribution throughout the West. In the early 1900’s, arsenic was used in the processing of fine metals such as copper, silver, and gold. During World War II, Wendover was booming, and a large contingent of workers operated the railroad in Wendover 24 hours a day. The WP brought men, women, equipment, and materials to Wendover Field, providing much-needed transportation in and out of the area as part of the overall war effort.
From 1909, until merging with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1982, the WP was one of the West’s most popular railroads, including the operation of the famous passenger train, the California Zephyr. One hundred years after the first train pulled into Wendover, the route is still in use. Steam locomotives are no longer in need of water, but now large diesel-electric locomotives pull the freight coast to coast along these same rail lines of an era long past.

Marker Title (required): WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD Marker Text (required): See Detailed Description County (required): Elko Marker Type (required): Metal Plaque Other Marker Type (optional): NA Is Marker Damaged? (required): No Other Damage Type (optional): NA URL - Website (optional): [Web Link] Marker Number (If official State Marker from NV SHPO website above, otherwise leave blank): Not Listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/07/2021 drgw3128 visited it 09/27/2016 Volcanoguy visited it 07/13/2011 DougK visited it

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