"199. Landing of the U.P.R.R. Excursts. at Omaha (2)," photograph by John Carbutt

John Carbutt (1832-1905), a  publisher and printer of stereo cards in Chicago, briefly preceded Andrew J. Russell in working for  UP; however, Carbutt’s work for UP was more limited in scope. He was hired to document a promotional event celebrating the company’s progress: the October 1866 Union Pacific Excursion to the 100th Meridian. UP had completed almost 250 miles of rail nearly a year ahead of schedule to reach that point. Carbutt’s primary responsibility was to create souvenir stereo cards for the railroad boosters, funders, politicians, and journalists from the major newspapers invited on a special train.