The Langton Brothers, of which there were three, appear on the census of 1852 as J.W.Langton (aged 22 years), J.W.Langton (aged 18 years), and A.T. Langton (aged 25 years). The Langton Brothers had offices in Goodyears Bar, Foster Bar, and Downieville. This company was known as the Pioneer Express and Passenger Train Company. There were no roads to many of these mining towns and everything had to come by pack train including people. You either walked or rode on a pack mule. Horses are not as smart as pack mules and more prone to breaking legs on the steep trails.

Crossing streams and rivers were equally dangerous. Pack Mules were used in this steep country. In later years, the Pioneer Stage Line also held contracts for the route between Virginia City and San Francisco. The Wells Fargo Express Company was established in Goodyears Bar in 1858 with Mr. John D. Sellen as the first agent. There was a Tole road between Downieville and Goodyears Bar and this road was completed on July 4th, 1859. This was known as the Sierra Turnpike.

Stage over Yuba Pass circa 1860

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