End of Track

[@lornes_only_working_lung]

The older I get the more I'm fascinated by stuff like this

[@jerryyager2601]

Thank you Wyoming PBS. Texan here, but this is and has been my favorite channel, from my favorite state. Really, excellent content. Can't wait to return to your state.

[@kevinj2261]

Thank you PBS, intesting story, also the the voice of narrator is a plus

[@quantum_cricket8555]

Love this Wyoming PBS documentary!!

[@arrrgonot7801]

I sure love historical stories of our country like this. Thank You for sharing.

[@1kafkasyali]

History ? Yeah blood and crime....

[@kindlefoxx4566]

over the bodies of 'good Indians', like Black Kettle and his wife. Why don't white people ever tell the truth. America was built on blood and greed.

[@DramaMustRemainOnTheStage]

It's an amazing story

[@DramaMustRemainOnTheStage]

@@kindlefoxx4566 America was built on the backs of blacks, irish, as well as many more. We can't change it but we can honor our histories.

[@josearcila2762]

@@kindlefoxx4566 agree 100%

[@bobbrock4221]

I love stuff about the transcontinental railroad. It has always fascinated me.

[@andrewcutts3197]

A great documentary. I’ll always remember my visits to Cheyenne back in 1980 and ‘81 as part of two railfanning holidays from over here in the U.K.

[@darrellborland119]

At 9:40, we see two kids by the track crew, one being Julia, and the boy, Sam, will be in one of the photos at "wedding of the rails". They were adopted by Hannah and James Strobridge, amongst 4others. James Strobridge was construction supervisor of CPRR from Sac. to Promontory Summit. Thanks.

[@chugwaterjack4458]

8:00 Many of the streets of Cheyenne were named after members of the survey parties - Evans, House, Van Lennon, Maxwell (my street), Seymour, Pebrican, Russell, and Morrie at least. When I worked on a survey party on the UPRR out of Laramie in the mid-60's, we could still occasionally refer to the actual survey notebooks done by the initial parties, and some were real works of art with the illustrations of terrain, rivers, and other features. The work we did was much the same, using steel chains and tapes, transits, stakes, and good, hard, math by hand - no fancy theodolites or satellite data, let alone GPS. I am sure they (the notebooks and instruments) are locked up for good at 14th and Dodge in Omaha now.

[@chugwaterjack4458]

One of the survey parties was attacked by Indians, and fellow was scalped. He lived, and I believe his scalp is still in the UP museum.

[@nmelkhunter1]

I bet that was very rewarding work. How could one not like being outside and using some good old trig? I’ve often thought that any profession that uses higher level math should be required to do manual calculations on a semi regular basis just to keep the mind sharp. 🤠

[@justinbrown927]

I just think I do physical labor!! These men were beast !!! So impressed

[@bethbartlett5692]

Union Pacific was one of my clients and I enjoyed lasting friendships with many there, Omaha.

[@wes326]

Hello from Omaha. Thank you for the outstanding presentation.

[@PhysicsBear]

I've been to Green River. Fascinating story of its origin and shrewd foundation!

[@mikepoteet1443]

Corruption has built this nation and corruption will destroy it.

[@pritz47]

WOHA….! Go Mike!!!

[@davidbladen5667]

Agreed to greed

[@parkeranderson5074]

Lust for everything. We’ll call it “freedom” for the plebs.

[@riverfreddy]

Humans by our very nature are greedy animals. The Earth will cure our infection. End of the line.

[@chugwaterjack4458]

28:50 "Weather more favorable." The Lincoln Highway followed along the UPRR across Wyoming after Laramie, and in this area that turned lout to be critical. When I-70 was designed and constructed much further west of the railroad from Laramie to Rawlins, skirting the Snowy range and Elk Mountain, the locals all said that was nuts. It was - that section is subject to much more snow and many more closures than the old US 30.

[@urbanurchin5930]

Well, you're almost correct. It is Interstate 80 that crosses Wyoming......I-70 crosses Colorado.

[@brianrose528]

I love these docs so informative

[@ooyginyardel4835]

Dodge’s discovery of the Gangplank was credited to his observation of migratory routes taken by buffalo, as per John McPhee’s book “Rising from the Plains”.

[@JamesPrestonThomas]

A terrific story, expanding my knowledge of truly American History!!! Thank you!!!

[@paulmc3457]

When I lived in Evanston, I had a good friend that worked for Union Pacific and literally watched Corvettes, and other brand new expensive products that were undamaged get buried along the tracks after a derailment. I couldn't believe it, but he told me they were instructed to, due to insurance.

[@swingrfd]

That rarely if ever happens now.

[@streetfightinmanrs]

@@swingrfd destroying the barely damaged cargo still happens. A few years back, a CSX auto rack derailed outside of Kingston, GA. My brother in law asked to buy one of the brand new jeeps that they were driving to the portable car crusher. His offer was declined.

[@randallwhite536]

You must mean due to insurance fraud?

[@devilsatan2973]

@@randallwhite536 Not fruad, for liability! If they sell a car, it later gets in an accident or breaks, the railway gets the bill! So they just crush everything.

[@SirBumRush]

I fell asleep to Ghost Videos and this ended up playing when I woke up. Pretty interesting video!

[@E180TEKNO]

24:15 it's amazing to build of bridge really ! it's incredible for the time 24:25 it's crazy look at the number of wood it took for the construction.

[@flounder31]

You guys do a nice job with these docs... I think of them as Ken Burns Light, which is a compliment! Wish more PBS affiliates shared their content online. It's not like our tax dollars didn't already pay for it.

[@jeffreymcneal1507]

Ken Burns ultra lite. A bit tedious and with a lot of hyperbole.

[@donreed]

@@jeffreymcneal1507 As opposed to Ken Burns, [unprintable].

[@Me97202]

Actually…these stations get the majority of their funds from individual contributions and underwriters. Tax dollars might be 15%.

[@EricHamm]

You are so wrong. Tax payers do not pay for this. You think Sesame Street is funded by taxes? It is 100% donations by individuals and organization including the Koch brothers. You need to do research before you make ignorant comments about Taxes. They get tax breaks which may be what you are thinking of, they just don't have to pay as much taxes like a regular cable channel because they are funded by the public and provide education for free.

[@ColoradoMartini]

Can't wait to visit many of these places this summer in Wyoming. And do some Heritage videoing for Colorado Martini. I'm so excited to see them in person

[@EudaemoniusMarkII]

Well done! A nice look at how WY grew.

[@cowboygeologist7772]

Wonderful video. I was looking up the towns on maps, as you mentioned them, to see what was visible on satellite view.

[@deanb4799]

I do that a lot too.

[@strangersound]

"Towns strung out like gems on a vast steel necklace." - Beautifully said. :)

[@luciusveritas9870]

Shackles

[@pritz47]

Mmm,…. Depends how much you like steel I guess. :(

[@njkauto2394]

@@pritz47 😉

[@Dr_Reason]

Somebody doesn't understand that 100 ft per mile elevation change is about 2.2% grade and that was the maximum grade in the legislation.

[@JR-es5zl]

GREAT MUSIC !

[@isaachuerta]

brave hardworking men then.. Thank You!!

[@flashgordon2563]

RivJ Be interested in your point of view! My understanding it was about there economic way of life. That was built around Slavery. There was language like states rights, sovereignty. But that centered around the economy. Correct me if I misspeak, 3/4 of the states that issued a"Declaration of cause" the slavery issue dominated.

[@andrewslagle1974]

Ok ! what ever lie you want to believe!

[@hoomalumalu]

does anyone out there get the connection between federal money handouts and corruption?

[@paullangford8179]

Is there any difference?

[@nmelkhunter1]

There is a direct correlation...

[@jacquesblaque7728]

To be clear, the Feds were NOT handing out money, but land and bonds (which had to be redeemed, with interest). That redemption bankrupted the UP. See www.britannica.com/event/Pacific-Railway-Acts

[@jaminova_1969]

Federal money? I think that money belongs to the tax payers!

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

Look at it playing out again in 2021 . . .

[@dogwedl1167]

[@bradbutcher3984]

1868 sounds like a great year.

[@tyreekmurillo4524]

except for the racism and genocide lol

[@WillyMcCoy50]

Can't wait for mobs to be a thing of the past. Great video!

[@inkyguy]

Unfortunately, that is like waiting for stampedes to be a thing of the past for herds. Of course, as humans we can educate ourselves and our children to be careful and criticize thinkers to help them avoid being victims or useful tools of con men and groupthink, but there is such a strong current of anti-intellectualism and disdain for education and science in large parts of the U.S.

[@johnstudd4245]

@@inkyguy Umm.. Yeah, as long as our universities are places where education has taken a back seat to indoctrination for left wing extremism, and hate and violence towards any one who does not agree with them. Who scream the loudest about their freedom of speech while denying it to others. Where they openly state they are more interested in creating "activists" than educating young people to think critically for themselves to function in the real world. Universities used to be a place where all ideas were free to be looked at and talked about, and where students were encouraged to explore all viewpoints and different ideologies. It starts in high schools and even earlier than that where teachers unions have an iron hand. Then professors with their worthless "studies" degrees who spout nonsense behind the shield of tenure who we are supposed to believe actually know what they are talking about. Get out in the real world, any degree with "studies" at the end is looked at as a joke. It's all a political power grab. Disdain?...... you bet.

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@johnstudd4245 Very well said. If we were in person I’d shake your hand and toast a toast to your good health. 🍻

[@jessstone7486]

@@johnstudd4245 Well stated - thank you. His 'rant' is know-nothing blather.

[@njkauto2394]

Reading these opinions here, and elsewhere, perhaps it would have been better if your rail road had failed 🤔 Perhaps the DISENFRANCHISED STATES OF AMERICA would be more to everyone's favour, or should I say flavour. When politics becomes nothing more than a football game it's time to ask the hard questions. Just my personal observations of course. I grew up with great admiration of the USA and I wasn't the only one in my country or family. Such a sad sad state of affairs. God Bless You All. I'm praying for you.

[@shelleypurser204]

Abraham Lincoln did not really have a dream of abolishing slavery. His main goal was to keep the Union intact at all costs.His views on Emancipation evolved during his presidency however because he did believe slavery was morally wrong.

[@alanaadams7440]

That's right. His main goal was to save the Union and he gave his life for it.

[@torque3022]

Slavery was an antique: morally, financially, ethically. Male DNA genocide from the hundreds of thousands of young soldiers killed in the War Between the States. Ain't no "civil" wars

[@danielattias1525]

I think you right

[@garyball6986]

And Southern Democrats killed Abraham Lincoln because of his views of that so how you like that Abraham Lincoln's try to keep the nation together and the Democrats down-south we're trying to separate and do it for their own and this trip to get every everything that they could get this thing about that people who were the bad people I believe it was the Democrats who killed Abraham Lincoln annihilated Native American population under General us Grant it was president at the time is nice friend General Sherman

[@rj6683]

Lincoln wouldn't have been elected if he ran on a strictly abolitionist platform. He walked a tightrope, He new he wouldn't be able to get the northern whites to sacrifice their life to free the slaves, but to save the union, yes. And if the union was victorious, then, eventually slavery would end.

[@davidgodley521]

I'm now a retired trucker. 25 years ago I saw a tall train tressel in Wyoming but I don't remember where it was. Does anyone have any knowledge of where that is located?

[@cowboycody8094]

What highway was it along?

[@carywest9256]

It lies between two sets of tracks that stop at a gorge,canyon or great fissure. That would be where your railroad trestle would be!

[@steveib724]

Google earth it you'll find it

[@jasonw4932]

If you”re anymore vague I’d say just follow the rail line until you are a trestle in Wyoming.

[@kentcourtney5535]

First rate production! More backstory on the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862... One of the immediate reasons for the swift passage of the Pacific Railroad Act was the invasion of Mexico by French troops. Cinco de Mayo - May 5, 1862, Benito Juarez repulsed the French advance and delayed them. Napoleon III’s intention was to install Maximilian as Emperor of Mexico so that the Rothchilds could control the former Mexican lands that contained the Comstock Load in Nevada territory - one of the largest gold and silver strikes the world had ever seen - discovered in 1857. The French thought that the American Civil War would distract attention away from the intrigue in Mexico. Instead, Lincoln used the Mexican invasion as a reason to assure the American west - California - that they were a vital part of these United States. Lincoln had realized the French intentions and acted quickly. The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 assured the loyalty of the former Mexican Californios to these United States.

[@jacquesblaque7728]

Just FYI, Comstock Lode. Otherwise, it sounds like someone needs a change of drawers.

[@jayshanahan4502]

Excellent!

[@glenarledge1825]

Somewhat side stepped the injustice toward Native Americans.

[@davewallace8219]

thank you...

[@jimjackson1087]

When talking about the financing of the railroad, and "business ethics" you have to consider that the source of the project was government money displayed to people who had no ethics, such as politicians and con men. This was the heart of the corruption, not the capitalist ethic.

[@rayunseitig6367]

looks like fun.

[@garyjohns4711]

netflix HELL ON WHEELS an excellent mini-series.

[@avisjohnson6185]

Thank you ! Going to watch tonight.

[@EricHamm]

It was made by AMC. Netflix just has rights to stream it.

[@cowboykody6775]

The UP won the the "rail race" because most of the track was flat ground

[@StevenTorrey]

I thought something similar. Central Pacific had to cross the challenging Sierra Nevada Mountain Range where they used predominantly Chinese (Coollie) Labor to break through the mountains with tunnels.

[@bedfordpower]

I have zero interest in trains and stuff, but this puts me instantly to sleep every night

[@marksmith7054]

Very Interesting and informative Video.

[@darrellborland119]

I am not crazy about PBS, however, thanks for this video...a great reference point for explorations of this national treasure.

[@darrellborland119]

@Barry Dillard Exactly! Thanks.

[@drydesert8036]

I'm no longer a big fan nor funder of PBS because of no longer being separated from political biases. And joining in with what I consider the tearing down of conservatorship of our great American lives and true family values...Some Americans may not understand my thinking but it means so much to me knowing there is much lost by non profits being involved in politics... PBS made a stand in are past election of our President...They must accept responsibility for no further funding by me and others, until a whole new board of directors See's fit to denounce further involvement in politics... Until that is announced we will not provide monies...Andrew Carnegie felt the same way about the controlling of biases of either parties in public broadcasting...

[@darrellborland119]

@@drydesert8036 Thanks...you say it well. The L.eft totally lost it's moral compass...😇

[@bradbutcher3984]

Working on the flaming gorge this summer the winds were fierce and out of the west.

[@jatzbethstappen9814]

I really love these "alternate history" vids. Makes you wonder how things might have turned out.

[@amo3gisinviolate904]

they found every single track.

[@jamesrichardson559]

Ten spikes to a rail? 10:50

[@EricHamm]

You do realize a rail a length of iron that is placed on wood. There is 5 beams to a rail. Not a hard concept.

[@JeepCherokeeful]

Still no “business ethics “

[@ednorton47]

There are no government ethics either.

[@clinthowe7629]

George Parrot, Big Nose George! 😂😂😂

[@cowboykody6775]

And now the tracks are south of Salt Lake

[@gkess7106]

Very sanitized, but entertaining.

[@jamesmoore5630]

It was a winner take all railroad. The road that got to Promantory point first got the money.

[@geraldmyers3660]

Diversity I don't think so. But yes it changed. Yet still evident

[@geraldmyers3660]

Called E=MC2 hell yeah

[@lifeisharditsharderifyoure6822]

21:29

[@bobbrooks80]

The guy talking about the star drill at 22.50 has no idea of how it is built or how it is used. Hate it when people talk about chit they know nothing about.

[@gusthewiseone3247]

bob brooks Ok so how did they drill the holes, oh wise one.

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

tom nordstrom I've always wanted to know how a star drill works Bob, do tell.

[@starmanskye]

Bob, Tom, Freddy; A star drill for making holes in rock is so-named because its shape on-end resembles a star with 3, 4, 5 or 6 lobes or 'rays' ~ also known as a bore-bit, stone or rock-drill, a steel rock drill is essentially a multi-bladed chisel with a star-shaped point used for making holes in stones or masonry; it's operated by hitting the end with a heavy hammer while the drill-holder rotates it between blows ~ each ray chisel cuts into the fresh area of the bore-face, rock-fragments being broken and displaced into the area between the rays where it trickles-out on a horizontal bore or scooped/pulled-out on vertical bores. Eventually modified to use mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic impulse technology and used in road-building, mining and oil-industry until universally replaced/supplanted with modern industrial rotary drills like those invented by the Hughes Company (of Howard Hughes family fame) ....

[@edgmp]

I've used star drills and I used them just like the guy ( clumsily ) explains.

[@StevenTorrey]

@@starmanskye That is sort of what the narrator described...

[@nodescriptionavailable3842]

RIP Stobe

[@benchippy8039]

Opening up the documentary with the lie that Lincoln wanted to end slavery is a shame. He said he didn’t care either way, all he was worried about was maintaining power over the union

[@keithlawlor9993]

There was nothing about abolishing slavery when the war was started. That was inserted later.

[@EricHamm]

You have no idea about the Civil war then to say such an ignorant statement. The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy. The central cause of the war was the status of slavery, especially the expansion of slavery into territories acquired as a result of the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War. Look it up sometime.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

@@EricHamm 🤡

[@tomstulc9143]

Ton of inaccurate information concerning the buffalo and the UP.

[@cowboykody6775]

The little towns disappeared when the rail system went to diesel

[@J_J_P_]

Similar to Route 66 years later

[@StevenKHarrison]

There is no justification for Wyoming being a state.. It has more cattle than people and those cattle have two Senators. Ridiculous.

[@ednorton47]

It is a drain on the federal treasury.

[@stevelauda5435]

Licoln had no dream to free slaves, stop makeing him look like a saint.

[@alanaadams7440]

Durrant was a crook

[@SkiiDreamr420]

Eh??? Lincolns "dream" to end slavery? No. While Lincoln did not agree with slavery, he didn't have a dream to end slavery. That's just historically inaccurate. The emancipation proclamation has more to do with limiting the ability of the south to wage war than with Lincoln having any dream of ending slavery.

[@bryan17293]

Monopolies killed the railroad.

[@paullangford8179]

Subsidies for roads and airlines killed the railroads.

[@J_J_P_]

The railroad was a monopoly

[@barbaraaspengen9810]

It's not good to cut corners could have saved lots of lives.

[@VanCleveWalkingStick]

If it's such a bad documentary, why did you waste a hour watching it?

[@pvtimberfaller]

Didn't

[@stephaniedoan7114]

Wassup

[@rayman1611]

At 9:37 there was an audio glitch. Someone is hiding something. PBS?

[@WyomingPBS]

The missing words are in the captions. "track layers" Just an audio glitch.

[@StephenMortimer]

Not one mention that the HORSE was not native to the redskins !!

[@markdebruyn1212]

True, horses died out at the end of the pleistocene in the America's and only came back when the europeans brought the horses with them when they colonized America

[@bobsaturday4273]

this starts out with lack of honesty and truth to the people , the civil war was brought on by northern banks forcing the south to succeed from the union due to a vicious financial attack .

[@EricHamm]

"vicious financial attack" is not the reason for the civil war. It was to abolish slavery. To say otherwise is just ignorance. You don't force anyone to succeed, that is done by the people wanting to succeed. It is the literal definition of succeed. What is wrong with you? The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy. The central cause of the war was the status of slavery, especially the expansion of slavery into territories acquired as a result of the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

@@EricHamm 😂

[@robertstack2144]

But the Bible condones slavery.

[@uriahbarr7773]

All while committing genocide

[@LtBRS]

From the get-go this is BS.

[@davenkathy101]

All rewrite of history, fools !

[@rayman1611]

Like there is business ethic now!

[@ebybeehoney]

Did the narration just blame the Civil War on Lincoln? Right at the beginning? As if he was the only one who "dreamed" of no slavery of people of African descent? ...I thought only witches grimoires were made from human skin - that's pretty gross