View XML QR Code

James L. Ehernberger western railroad collection, 1849-2024

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ehernberger, James L.
Title
James L. Ehernberger western railroad collection
Dates
1849-2024 (inclusive)
Quantity
649.42 cubic ft. (1138 boxes) + 30 MB
Collection Number
10674
Summary
This collection documents the history of railroads in the American west, and particularly for Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region. The bulk of the materials were generated by the Union Pacific Railroad Company.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions

Boxes 491-493 and R1-R4 contain files that are closed until eighty years after date of creation.

Languages
English
Return to Top

Historical Note

James L. Ehernberger was a dispatcher for the Union Pacific Railroad and a published historian of railroad history in the western United States. He collected railroad records and related historical material as well as negatives, photographs, maps, schedules, and materials documenting railroad history in the West. He had a special interest in the steam engine and its history in the West. He was active in the Union Pacific Historical Society and other railroad enthusiast clubs. His histories include: "Sherman Hill, Union Pacific" (1973), "Smoke Over the Divide: Union Pacific, Wyoming Division" (1965), and "Union Pacific Depot: An Elegant Legacy to Cheyenne" (2001).

Return to Top

Content Description

The James L. Ehernberger western railroad collection documents railroad and other transportation history primarily in Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region, with the most extensive record set covering the Union Pacific Railroad Company. The collection contains construction plans and blueprints cover many aspects of railroad construction including viaducts, bridges, plumbing and electrical plans, service and passenger facilities, access roads and overpasses, etc. Union Pacific documentation files include financial records, safety records, accident and damage reports, track and equipment, and a wide range of technical data. Multi-state train schedules through 2002 are available. Union Pacific property records, labor relations, employee relations, dispatcher records, lading accounts, daily records, and inspection reports are included. The collection also contains extensive maps (topographical, plat, rail charts, etc.) with detailed inventory, covering multiple western states with focus on Wyoming. In addition to the Union Pacific Railroad Company, the collection contains records from many other railroad companies, including Burlington Northern; Colorado and Southern; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. Railroad histories and newspaper articles about various western railroads are included as well as glass lantern slides, photographs, negatives, microfilm, records of the Union Pacific Old Timers Club, and railroad transportation files for numerous western states and cities. Some of the 19th century records and some 20th century legal documents for the Union Pacific are copies of the originals. Collection also includes Ehernberger's Wyoming postcard collection.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

Donor maintains copyright during his lifetime. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Restrictions on Use

Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections

The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.

Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Alternative Forms Available

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at https://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~124~124.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Company records were created by Union Pacific Railroad unless noted otherwise. For a detailed list of box inventories, please consult the following links.

Box 1 - 357

Box 357 (continued) - 503

Box 504 - 583

Box 584 - 649

Box 650 - 657

Box 658

Box 659 - 668

Box 669 - 673

Box R1 - R4

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by James L. Ehernberger at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

This material was received from James L. Ehernberger from 1999-2025.

Processing Note

The collection was Listed by Dylan Milliron (2000-2001), Sarah Seyfang (2001), Beth Kordus (2002), Mary Ann Meyer (2003-2004), Matt Francis (2009), Jamie Greene (2016-2025), Krist Jessup (2016 and 2018), and Alexandra Cardin (2022).

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Industrial relations.
  • Railroad companies.
  • Railroad stations--Wyoming.
  • Railroad--Accidents.
  • Railroads--Design and Construction.
  • Railroads--Dispatching.
  • Railroads--Employees.
  • Railroads--History.
  • Railroads--Timetables.
  • Railroads--Tracks.

Corporate Names

  • Burlington Northern Railroad Company.
  • Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad Company.
  • Colorado and Southern Railroad Company.
  • Union Pacific Railroad Company.

Geographical Names

  • Wyoming--History--1890-1918.
  • Wyoming--History--1919-1945.
  • Wyoming--History--1946-1999.
  • Wyoming--History--To 1889.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Blueprints.
  • Negatives (photographs).
  • Photographs.
  • Postcards.
  • Railroad maps.
  • Topographic maps.

Processed by Dylan Milliron, Sarah Seyfang, Matthew Francis, Mary Ann Meyer, Jamie Greene, and Krist Jessup
2009; 2012

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...