The Pony Express is running!

[valley ranch]

The Pony Express starts in Saint Joseph, Missouri and runs to Sutters Fort Sacramento, California.
We travel several stations some years.
Tonight we were at Bridge Station about 25miles east of Fallon, Nevada. There isn't a station to speak of any more, we were out in the bush south of Hwy 50 the loneliest Highway in America, that's what it's called.
Of course we got a flat tire. Wifey helped and there was a fellow that came over with a light, that helped too.
Anyway about 10pm out of the dark came this lady, she had ridden across some rough country, then the next express rider took off into the night, I have to admit it's exciting to see, cross country he'll ride way south of highway 50, passing the mail pouch to another in 5 miles the run will be under south of Lake Lahontan crossing some raw landscape to Fort Churchill south of our place. Fort Church was an old calvary station, building are in bad shape today, it's a State Park. When the express riders reach the mountains they'll ride around our place, the old express trail went south on South Upper Truckee to the old Hawley Grade up the mountain and around 1300ft above our place.
Aside from the flat tire, it was good to be there, I think a couple of you would have enjoyed being there too.


Richard

 

[Smart Red]

When one considers how short-lived the Pony Express Program was, it is amazing how well it is remembered. The Pony Express operated for only 18 months -- connecting the West with the rest of the country -- before being replaced by the Iron Horse.

 

[Nyboy]

Wow Red I can't believe only operated for 18 months !!!! Never know what your going to learn here !!!

 

[bobm]

On the property next door to our ranch in Cal. ... the old stage coach and pony express barn now run down,is still used for a couple feeder cows and horses. When we graded our land with 3 9's I found an old rusted horse shoeburried about a foot down on the open rangeland coach road that crossed our ranch.

 

[Just-Moxie]

Growing up in Kansas City MO, we school kids got the benefit of all of the history lessons about the area.
Pony Express, Sante Fe Trail, Oregon Trail, Bleeding Kansas, Jesse James, Missouri River...etc

 

[AMKuska]

I wish I could have been with you! Flat tire and all.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

Growing up in Kansas City MO, we school kids got the benefit of all of the history lessons about the area.
Pony Express, Sante Fe Trail, Oregon Trail, Bleeding Kansas, Jesse James, Missouri River...etc

Please tell us about Bleeding Kansas. I don't think I've heard of it.

 

[so lucky]

Part of our family lore is that our first immigrant to USA rode for the Pony Express, but there is no verification for it.

 

[valley ranch]

lucky, It's family history, handed down, that's positive verification. The mail delivery by horse went on for many years. The long open runs were carried by coach and later train, but sections off to towns and villages were done by horse when a coach or train wasn't scheduled.
I few years back[ about 25] when there was a slide that closed Hwy 50 between Tahoe and Sacramento the pony express ran, until the road opened. bobm must remember that.

 

[valley ranch]

To the people who live along the Pony Express Trail, it just happened a while ago. Here is some information you can look through:

http://www.xphomestation.com/xpsta.html