Russell, Andrew J. Westward to Promontory. Photographs by A.J. Russell.

Building the Union Pacific Across the Plains and Mountains. A Pictorial Documentary. Photos by A.J. Russell. Promontory Press, 1969. ISBN 0883940116. (ISBN numbers were adopted in 1969.) Text by Barry B. Combs. Illustrated with reproductions of A.J. Russell photographs made with 10 x 13 collodion wet plate negatives. Essential book on the history of railroads and Russell’s western landscape photography. Before he did these photos, A.J. Russell was active as a photographer during the Civil War. He is considered one of the major figures in Western United States landscape photography in the nineteenth century. Important book for both the history of railroads and the history of photography.  Fine with very good chipped and edge worn dust jacket. There are three small pieces of the dust jacket missing on the top and bottom edges, the largest on the back about one inch in diameter.  Summary:

Westward to Promontory: Building the Union Pacific Across the Plains and Mountains is a historic pictorial documentary that chronicles the monumental construction of the eastern half of the First Transcontinental Railroad.

The Core Photographic Collection

The book's centerpiece is the remarkable work of Andrew J. Russell, the official photographer for the Union Pacific Railroad. Russell captured the grueling, epic engineering feat using massive 10x13-inch glass plate negatives.

The visual narrative documents the rapid progression of the tracks through treacherous terrains, from the flat expanses of the Great Plains to the rugged cliffs of the Rocky Mountains. The imagery culminates in the iconic Golden Spike ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah, where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific rails finally met.

Key Themes and Visual Content

• Engineering and Human Labor: The photographs provide a raw, detailed look at the thousands of surveyors, engineers, and laborers—predominantly Irish immigrants and Civil War veterans—who laid the tracks.

• The Transformed Landscape: The plates vividly illustrate the taming of the American wilderness, featuring dramatic landscapes intersected by newly built trestles, bridges, tunnels, and early steam locomotives.

• Historical Documentation: Beyond the technical achievements, Russell's work captures the temporary, lawless "Hell on Wheels" tent towns that sprung up along the construction route.

Format and Commentary

• Pictorial Scope: The book functions as both a high-quality art monograph and a primary historical record, utilizing the large format of the publication to reproduce Russell's wide-angle glass plate shots with exceptional clarity.

• Narrative Integration: The photographs are accompanied by historical text and detailed captions written by historian Barry B. Combs, which provide crucial geopolitical context, engineering statistics, and anecdotes about the daily lives of the workers.