Copy of photograph of Union Pacific Railroad paymaster's car at Blue Creek Station in Utah Territory, 1869. Photograph by Andrew J. Russell.

From 250 in 1865 the construction forces grew to 10,000 by completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. About one in four were track layers. The others were graders, teamsters, herdsmen, cooks, bakers, blacksmiths bridge builders carpenters masons and clerks. On the average they made $3 a day. Many were Irish and most were veterans of the Civil War. Payday arrived and the money was passed out by the two clerks standing in the doorway.