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T O P I C     R E V I E W
MaxItaly
Member # 3151
 - posted
Dear Director

I'm researching news of a travel from New York to Seattle in the 1906.

My grandfather arrived in New York the 10th February 1906 and two day later, he start a travel by train from New York to Seattle, and after by ship to Alaska (Fairbanks).

I would like to know, if is possible, the probable time table, the stages and the lines that my grand father could be used to reach Seattle.

I don’t know if is easy or difficult reply to my question, I haven’t idea.

If my request is simple for you, please let me know.

I’m writing a book about his life and his long and exciting travel to reach the last frontier (the Alaska)

Thank you very much for your collaboration

Massimo Turchi

 

George Harris
Member # 2077
 - posted
New York to Seattle, leaving February 12, 1906:

That was at the time that the US railroad system was approaching maximum complexity.

I will assume through Chicago. That would be about 95% most likely. Going through St. Louis would be most of the remaining 5%. I would presume he was trying to travel as cheaply as possible, so if he could find a cheap ticket by a roundabout routing, it could be through a few other places as well.

Did he make it as one trip? Did he do it as a passenger or by hopping freight trains?

If he came as a more or less typical immigrant of the times, he may have made the trip is several small pieces, stopping to work a while to make money to go further. Any information you could provide about points he went through would be helpful.

New york to Chicagl:
At that time, probably 50% of rail travel went by way of New york Central, Chicago, Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago. Someof the NYC trains went across southern Canada, in which case he would have gone through Niagra Falls and Detroit.
Most of the rest of the rail travel probably went by way of teh Pennsylvania Railroad, in which case he would have gone through Philadelphia and Pittsburg.
A smaller portion went by the Erie Railroad, which sort of split the difference between the routes of the NYC and Pennsy. He could have possible also went by way of the Baltimore and Ohia which would have sent hime through Baltimore, and possible Washington DC, and then west through Pittsburg. He could have also taken either the Lackawanna or Lehigh Valley to Buffalo and then taken either the Nickel Plate or NYC west to Chicago.

After Chicago, it would be simpler. The Milwaukee Railroad's Pacific Extension had not yet been built, so a one railroad company ride west from Chicago was not possible. Most likely his next point after Chicago would be St. Paul, Minnesota. There were three relatively equal possibilities for that connection. Since both Great Northern and Northern Pacific had a relationship to Chicago Burlingto and Quincy, later, if not at that time. CB&Q would be the most likely, in which case he would not go through Milwaukee. If he went through Milwaukee, tne line would be most likely either Milwaukee Railroad (CM&St.P) or NorthWestern (C&NW). There may have been one more company later absorbed by C&NW, but I do not know the history of that area that well. Less Likely, but possible would be to take the Rock Island (CRIP). From St. Paul, there were only two possibilities to Seattle, the Great Norther, which is the current Amtrak Empire Builder ourte, or the Northern Pacific, which went through southern Montana. If the target was Fairbanks, did he go overland from Anchorage?
 

MaxItaly
Member # 3151
 - posted

Thanks George,
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
I'm trying to reply to your questions:
1) My grandfather, sorry but was my grand-grandfather, make his third trip from Italy to Alaska;
2) He was not the richest man but he have gained enough money to buy some fields and farm house in his native land and buy a comfortable travel by train. I suppose that he choice the fastest train combination from NY to Seattle. I know that his like impossible know the exact travel, but for me is important know how many day and the possible stages and the influence of the changing time (Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific Time).
Could he be passed to Council Bluffs (Nebraska), Huntington (OR) and Protland?
3) Yes, his target was Fairbanks but the better way was the ship from Seattle to S.Michael and then the steamboat from S.Micheal to Fairbanks along the Yukon, Tanana and Chena River. Six weeks from Seattle to Fairbanks! A long trip but comfortable.
Thanks again
Massimo Turchi

 



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