From an Official Guide of December 1887, and a 5x8 inch coverless railway directory from 1874 which I purchased at some point, here are a couple of views of the Union Pacific in its early years.
In both cases, the old bindings do not enjoy being forced down too hard on the glass surface of the scanner so you'll see evidence of the books' gutters.
The directory from 1874 must have spent some time under water (during the last 148 years), so its pages undulate collectively and some areas are slightly out of focus.
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The document from 1874 ...
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| from: Railways Then and Now; OS Nock; 1975; Paul Elek Ltd. |
In 1868, Laramie, Wyoming had a windmill, water tank, 20-stall roundhouse and a machine shop.
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The Official Guide from 1887
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| from: The History of the Western Railroads; Jane Eliot; 1985; Bison Books. |
Circa 1882, a Union Pacific engineer leans on the pilot of his engine at Columbus, Nebraska.
While link and pin couplers are still the order of the day, an early form of air brakes can be seen.