Union Pacific Electronic Book Brings 150-year Railroad History to Life
July 1, 2012 / Updated July 4, 2012
Class 1 Railroads
“Union Pacific Timeline”, an e-book that details Union Pacific Railroad’s 150-year historical timeline, was released was July 1. The book is free in the Apple iTunes Store.
To mark its 150th anniversary this year, UP created www.up150.com, which includes an interactive timeline. “Union Pacific Timeline” allows users to swipe among timeline entries to view photos, as well as read stories about critical moments during UP’s history. There also is an index where users can go directly to specific dates and events they wish to view.
Union Pacific’s digital timeline can be found at www.up150.com/timeline.
The book’s debut came on the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln July 1, 1862 signing of the Pacific Railway Act, authorizing construction of the transcontinental railroad and creating UP. From the groundbreaking and laying of the first rails to the opening of UP’s Harriman Dispatching Center and new headquarters building, the timeline covers major achievements, innovations, milestones, and railroad mergers.
The book also marks UP’s 150th anniversary this year.
“Union Pacific Timeline” was created using Apple’s iBooks Author, an e-book authoring application released earlier this year. The book is the first e-book published by a North American railroad and is among the first corporate e-books available for download at the Apple iTunes Store.
Union Pacific released the UP Steam App in the Apple Store in late 2011. The free app can be used to track UP’s legendary No. 844 steam locomotive.
There’s no shortage of history on the Murphy Branch, one of the most compelling stories of the Southern Railway’s system in the Southeast U.S. Historians speak of the perseverance and dedication of the men who built the 111 miles through the mountains and along rivers in Western Carolina. Passenger business flourished by the turn of the 20th century with four daily trains between Asheville and Murphy, NC. Today the only passengers who ride the former line are on a 63-mile stretch from Dillsboro to the Nantahala Gorge, considered the most scenic on the Murphy Branch. Bryson City lies between them. The whistles, horns and bells echoing through the valley are from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, operated by American Heritage Railways. The train has become Bryson City’s calling card.
Trainz.com has parlayed new and used model trains into a big business north of Atlanta, GA. In March, Trainz opened a 73,000-square-foot warehouse in Flowery Branch and much of the shelf space is already consumed.
Readers who participated in the Cowcatcher's annual State of Model Railroading survey in November indicate the hobby remains in good shape, but its value appears to be slipping amid a changing landscape that is pushing prices higher.
InterMountain Railway's latest HO and N grain cars pay tribute to one Iowa grain company and elevator that a played a role in the U.S. agriculture industry's rise. Chicago's elevated railroad, better known as the 'L', spreads in every direction and touches many lives along the Windy City's lakefront. Also, Atlas Model Railroad Co. say its role is clear after buying Micro-Trains Line Co.: Preserve the company's product line. And more!
