Cheyenne and Northern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Cheyenne and Northern Railway was a railroad in the U.S. state
of Wyoming
. The railroad was incorporated in 1886 to build a line from Cheyenne, Wyoming
into northern Wyoming and Montana. The line extended 125 miles (201.2 km) to Wendover on the North Platte River
. It was absorbed by Union Pacific Railroad
subsidiary Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
and later became part of the Colorado and Southern Railway
when the Union Pacific went into receivership.
in 1868 closed much of northeastern Wyoming to exploration and settlers. As a result, the Union Pacific was reluctant to build a line north from Cheyenne. The defeat of the Sioux
in the Great Sioux War of 1876-77
re-opened the region and it was quickly populated by ranchers and settlers. Throughout the 1870s and 1880s businessmen and politicians in Wyoming petitioned the Union Pacific to build a line to support the growing region.
In 1886 the Wyoming Central Railway
, a subsidiary of Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad
entered eastern Wyoming. Territorial Governor Francis E. Warren
estimated that Wyoming Central shipped $300,000 worth of cattle east through Nebraska
instead of Cheyenne. Due to fears that the lingering dislike for Union Pacific would prevent the passage of a bond, cattleman Thomas Sturgis suggested to Union Pacific that a local company be created to build the line which could then be absorbed into the larger company at a later time.
The Cheyenne and Northern Railway was established in March 1886. The initial investors included Warren, Sturgis and Phillip Dater, first president of the Cheyenne Club. The eventual goal of the railroad was to build all the way north to the Northern Pacific line in Montana but the immediate target was Douglas, Wyoming
. Over a year and a half the line was constructed 125 miles (201.2 km) north to Wendover. In the mean time the Wyoming Central had reached Douglas. The investors lost interest in continuing north and construction ceased.
Union Pacific took over the line in 1887. They extended the line slightly to Orin Junction to connect to the Wyoming Central line. In 1880 Union Pacific created the Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
comprising the Cheyenne and Northern, Colorado Central Railroad
, Denver, Texas and Gulf Railroad, and other companies. In 1893 UPD&G went into receivership along with the rest of Union Pacific. The line was combined with the Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railway railroad in 1898 to form the Colorado and Southern. C&S was merged into the Burlington Northern system in 1981.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. The railroad was incorporated in 1886 to build a line from Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
into northern Wyoming and Montana. The line extended 125 miles (201.2 km) to Wendover on the North Platte River
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long counting its many curves, It travels about distance. Its course lies in the U.S...
. It was absorbed by Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
subsidiary Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
The Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway was a subsidiary of Union Pacific Railroad created from what was the Colorado Central Railroad in 1890. It operated lines from Denver, Colorado through Cheyenne, Wyoming to Wendover, Wyoming and a route from Denver to Golden, Colorado...
and later became part of the Colorado and Southern Railway
Colorado and Southern Railway
The Colorado and Southern Railway was a railroad company in the western United States that operated independently from 1898 to 1908, then as part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad until it was absorbed into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.The railway began as the...
when the Union Pacific went into receivership.
History
The Treaty of Fort LaramieTreaty of Fort Laramie (1868)
The Treaty of Fort Laramie was an agreement between the United States and the Oglala, Miniconjou, and Brulé bands of Lakota people, Yanktonai Dakota, and Arapaho Nation signed in 1868 at Fort Laramie in the Wyoming Territory, guaranteeing to the Lakota ownership of the Black Hills, and further...
in 1868 closed much of northeastern Wyoming to exploration and settlers. As a result, the Union Pacific was reluctant to build a line north from Cheyenne. The defeat of the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
in the Great Sioux War of 1876-77
Great Sioux War of 1876-77
The Great Sioux War of 1876, also known as the Black Hills War, was a series of battles and negotiations which occurred between 1876 and 1877 involving the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne, against the United States...
re-opened the region and it was quickly populated by ranchers and settlers. Throughout the 1870s and 1880s businessmen and politicians in Wyoming petitioned the Union Pacific to build a line to support the growing region.
In 1886 the Wyoming Central Railway
Wyoming Central Railway
Wyoming Central Railway was a railroad in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The railroad was incorporated in October 1885 and built a line from Chadron, Nebraska through Douglas to Casper. The line was initially leased to the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad and the two railroads...
, a subsidiary of Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad
Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad
The Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad , sometimes called "the Elkhorn," was an American railroad established in 1869 in Nebraska.-About:...
entered eastern Wyoming. Territorial Governor Francis E. Warren
Francis E. Warren
Francis Emroy Warren was an American politician of the Republican Party best known for his years in the United States Senate representing Wyoming.-Early life and military service:...
estimated that Wyoming Central shipped $300,000 worth of cattle east through Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
instead of Cheyenne. Due to fears that the lingering dislike for Union Pacific would prevent the passage of a bond, cattleman Thomas Sturgis suggested to Union Pacific that a local company be created to build the line which could then be absorbed into the larger company at a later time.
The Cheyenne and Northern Railway was established in March 1886. The initial investors included Warren, Sturgis and Phillip Dater, first president of the Cheyenne Club. The eventual goal of the railroad was to build all the way north to the Northern Pacific line in Montana but the immediate target was Douglas, Wyoming
Douglas, Wyoming
Douglas is a city in Converse County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 5,288 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Converse County...
. Over a year and a half the line was constructed 125 miles (201.2 km) north to Wendover. In the mean time the Wyoming Central had reached Douglas. The investors lost interest in continuing north and construction ceased.
Union Pacific took over the line in 1887. They extended the line slightly to Orin Junction to connect to the Wyoming Central line. In 1880 Union Pacific created the Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
The Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway was a subsidiary of Union Pacific Railroad created from what was the Colorado Central Railroad in 1890. It operated lines from Denver, Colorado through Cheyenne, Wyoming to Wendover, Wyoming and a route from Denver to Golden, Colorado...
comprising the Cheyenne and Northern, Colorado Central Railroad
Colorado Central Railroad
The Colorado Central Railroad was a U.S. railroad company that operated in Colorado and southeastern Wyoming in the late 19th century. Originally founded in the Colorado Territory in the wake of the Colorado Gold Rush to ship gold from the mountains, it eventually expanded from its initial...
, Denver, Texas and Gulf Railroad, and other companies. In 1893 UPD&G went into receivership along with the rest of Union Pacific. The line was combined with the Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railway railroad in 1898 to form the Colorado and Southern. C&S was merged into the Burlington Northern system in 1981.