Early Omaha: Gateway to the West
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What a great view looking Southwest toward Omaha from the island in the Missouri River. The railroad bridge construction is underway with lots of cribbing visible. A close look at the bottom land shows what could be a very short railroad trestle underneath the bridge to haul supplies for its construction. A steamboat is snubbed up against the bank in the far left center. Very much like the same location as in #3. The Brewer and Bemis Brewing Company shown in #3 is now visible about dead center behind the bridge. Park Wild is very well shown here also. The H. C. Nutt [180’ x 33’ x 5’] railroad car transfer ferry built in 1870 and owned by the Missouri River Transfer Company could handle 5 cars on a single track. It is being served by a Union Pacific 4-6-0 steam locomotive. 4-6-0 is the wheel configuration of the locomotive: 4 small wheels under the pilot (cow-catcher for those who have heard it called that), 6 driving wheels under the boiler, and 0 wheels under the cab. All steam engines are classified in this manner.

“Train Town”, an area of Omaha owned by George Francis Train, who bought a tract of land on the southern edge of Omaha but north of Park Wild, is visible. Train brought in what were essentially “pre-fab” cottages to help ease the housing shortage. You might also see it listed as being owned by the Credit Foncier of America, a company organized by Train to help with town building along the Union Pacific.