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logo  Gen. U.S. Grant and party at Fort Sanders, 1868. Union
Pacific  Progress of the Union Pacific  From Omaha up the Platte
Valley to the Wyoming Black Hills, the Union Pacific had easy
going. The level valley of the Platte River presented few
engineering problems. While the Central Pacific struggled in the
Sierra, the Union Pacific's grade and track advanced steadily
and smoothly.  The Union Pacific followed the old Oregon Trail
up Nebraska's Platte Valley. It did not, however, cross the
Continental Divide at famous South Pass. In 1865, still in
uniform and campaigning against hostile Indians, General Dodge
had accidentally discovered what he thought might be a
practicable pass across the Wyoming Black Hills. Examination of
this pass by U.P. surveyors confirmed Dodge's suspicions.
Through Wyoming, therefore, the Union Pacific kept south of the
Platte and the Sweetwater, thus considerably shortening the
route.  But the Union Pacific faced an o