Company

Bay State Iron Company.   As odd as it may seem, this Boston company provided the first rails used in the construction of the Transcontinental railroad. Even stranger, it was laid by the Central Pacific Railroad. The initial order was shipped around the horn and arrived in 1863. It was laid from Sacramento, Cal. and Colfax, Cal.

Bay State got this order and more important, was willing to extend credit for it, thanks to the involvement of mutual friends, Oliver and Oaks Ames, who referred famous Central Pacific executive C.P. Huntington to them.

For additional information, check out these Central Pacific and Union Pacific pages.

Certificate(s)

Stock. Issued in 1885. #45.

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