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A few years before
World War I, the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
started a project to describe the geology that passengers saw
as they rode
along the major rail routes of the great American West. Unlike
the
tree-covered East, the geology of the western United States was
exposed and
open like a book for everyone to see.
The Survey published its first four bulletins in 1915, but
the fifth was
delayed until after the war. These books were guidebooks to four
dramatic
crossings of the Rocky Mountains and the scenic line along the
entire west
coast. The sixth and final bulletin followed eleven years later
and covered
the route across the southern United States.
These historic bulletins are difficult to find in any condition
and are very
expensive collectibles when found with intact covers. (The USGS
never put
good covers on its bulletins.)
For some odd reason, the government scanned all six bulletins
and made them
publicly available online at the National Park Service site.
The USGS wrote these bulletins to entertain passengers riding
the mainlines
and branches of western railroads. The documents were intended
for complete
novices and they were curiously well-written. As a geologist
myself, I can
testify that authors were really quite thorough.
Rail buffs will find these books extremely interesting because
they will
never again have the chance to see this territory from the windows
of
trains. In fact, they will be hard-pressed to see much of this
scenery from
autos. Be warned, however, that these bulletins are primarily
guidebooks to
geology along rail routes. They are not guidebooks to railroads
or
railroading.
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Guidebook of the Western
United States
Part A
The Northern Pacific Route, with a side trip to Yellowstone Park
Geological Survey Bulletin 611 (1915)
Guide to the entire NP route from St Paul to Seattle. The side
trip includes a description of the trip between Livingston MT
and Gardiner MT, the northern entrance of Yellowstone Park.
(Click on image to see the online copy.) |
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Guidebook of the Western United States
Part B
The Overland Route, with a side trip to Yellowstone Park
Geological Survey Bulletin 612 (1915)
Guide to the entire Union Pacific mainline
route between Omaha and San Francisco. The side trip is a guide
to the line between Ogden UT and West Yellowstone MT.
(Click on image to see the online copy.) |
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Guidebook of the Western
United States
Part C
The Santa Fe Route, with a side trip to the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado
Geological Survey Bulletin 613 (1915)
Guide to the entire mainline route from Kansas
City to Los Angeles, including a guide to the spur from Williams
AZ to the Grand Canyon.
(Click on image to see the online copy.) |
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Guidebook of the
Western United States
Part D
The Shasta Route and Coast Line
Geological Survey Bulletin 614 (1915)
The first part of the book is a guide to the
Shasta Route from Seattle to San Francisco via the Southern Pacific,
Northern Pacific, Oregon-Washington Railroad and Chicago Milwaukee & St Paul
Railway. The second part is a guide of the Coast Route from Los
Angeles to San Francisco via the Southern Pacific.
(Click on image to see the online copy.) |
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Guidebook of the
Western United States
Part E
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Route
Geological Survey Bulletin 707 (1922)
Includes guide to the main line route from
Denver to Colorado Springs to Salt Lake City. Numerous side trip
descriptions include Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek, Cheyenne Canyon,
Manitou Springs, Georgetown, Rollins Pass, Saltair Resort, Bingham
Canyon and Park City.
(Click on image to see the online copy.) |
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Guidebook of the
Western United States
Part F
Southern Pacific Lines, New Orleans to Los Angeles
Geological Survey Bulletin 845 (1933)
A guide for the entire New Orleans to Los
Angeles Route, with a description of the side trip to Carlsbad
Caverns and a branch to San Diego. Also includes a couple detours
and branches.
(Click on image to see the online copy.) |
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