Ateighto\'clockastewardenteredthecarandannouncedthatthetimeforgoingtobedhadarrived；andinafewminutesthecarwastransformedintoadormitory。Thebacksoftheseatswerethrownback，bedsteadscarefullypackedwererolledoutbyaningenioussystem，berthsweresuddenlyimprovised，andeachtravellerhadsoonathisdispositionacomfortablebed，protectedfromcuriouseyesbythickcurtains。Thesheetswerecleanandthepillowssoft。Itonlyremainedtogotobedandsleep-whicheverybodydid-whilethetrainspedonacrosstheStateofCalifornia。
ThecountrybetweenSanFranciscoandSacramentoisnotveryhilly。
TheCentralPacific，takingSacramentoforitsstarting-point，extendseastwardstomeettheroadfromOmaha。ThelinefromSanFranciscotoSacramentorunsinanorth-easterlydirection，alongtheAmericanRiver，whichemptiesintoSanPabloBay。Theonehundredandtwentymilesbetweenthesecitieswereaccomplishedinsixhours，andtowardsmidnight，whilefastasleep，thetravellerspassedthroughSacramento；sothattheysawnothingofthatimportantplace，theseatoftheStategovernment，withitsfinequays，itsbroadstreets，itsnoblehotels，squaresandchurches。
Thetrain，onleavingSacramento，andpassingthejunction，Roclin，Auburn，andColfax，enteredtherangeoftheSierraNevada。Ciscowasreachedatseveninthemorning；andanhourlaterthedormitorywastransformedintoanordinarycar，andthetravellerscouldobservethepicturesquebeautiesofthemountainregionthroughwhichtheyweresteaming。Therailwaytrackwoundinandoutamongthepasses，nowapproachingthemountainsides，nowsuspendedoverprecipices，avoidingabruptanglesbyboldcurves，plungingintonarrowdefiles，whichseemedtohavenooutlet。Thelocomotive，itsgreatfunnelemittingaweirdlight，withitssharpbell，anditscow-catcherextendedlikeaspur，mingleditsshrieksandbellowingswiththenoiseoftorrentsandcascades，andtwineditssmokeamongthebranchesofthegiganticpines。
Therewerefewornobridgesortunnelsontheroute。Therailwayturnedaroundthesidesofthemountains，anddidnotattempttoviolatenaturebytakingtheshortestcutfromonepointtoanother。