When finalized, the new mail contract was the largest that had ever been awarded. The original bid request was responded to by nine companies, all submitting routes that were north of Albuquerque, New Mexico. However, once the bid was awarded, the southern Postmaster General mandated that the new line travel through Fort Smith, Arkansas, to El Paso, Texas, and through Fort Yuma, California before making its way to San Francisco. This new route, called the "Ox-bow Route," added 600 miles to the original bids. American Express complied and formed the Overland Mail Company to carry the mail, for which John W. Butterfield became president.

Service began in September, 1858, employing over 800 men, 139 stage stations, 1800 horses and mules, and 250 Concord Stagecoaches. It offered twice weekly mail service running from Tipton, Missouri to San Francisco, California, encompassing more than 2,800 miles in 25 days or less. The passenger fair was $200.

Unfortunately, it was a short-lived venture, as when the Civil War began, service was discontinued in 1861. Portions of the Butterfield Road were then used by both the Confederate and the Union armies, leaving portions of the west virtually cut off from outside communication. In the meantime, Wells-Fargo continued to prosper with its more northerly routes. However, the transcontinental railroad soon replaced the need for overland stagecoaches and the old Butterfield line was never resurrected.

Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express (C.O.C. & P.P.) (1860-1861) - The company was formed by the transportation firm of Majors, Russell and Waddell in May, 1860 when they acquired George Chorpenning's contract for mail service from Utah to California. Also performing freighting and passenger service, it utilized partner, William H. Russell's, equipment and portions of his former Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express route as well as aquiring other lines running to Salt Lake City. The company began running a tri-weekly line of coaches from St. Joseph, Missouri to Denver, Colorado, making the distance in 6 ½ days. Also owned by the firm of Majors, Russell and Waddell was the Pony Express, for which the COC&PP became the parent. Its facilities in the West Bottoms of Kansas City, Missouri were also used to outfit travelers on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. However, the company faired very poorly, especially from the heavy losses of the Pony Express, which became obsolete upon the completion of the Transcontinental Telegraph. Afterwards, the business ran out of cash and company employees referred to C.O.C.& P.P. Express as "Clean Out of Cash and Poor Pay."  On March 21, 1862, the holdings were sold at a public sale for $100,000 to Ben Holladay. After the company went out of business its facilities became the Kansas City Stockyards.

Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express Company (1859) - In 1858, William H. Russell of the famous transportation firm of Majors, Russell and Waddell, conceived the idea of a line of daily coaches on the Smoky Hill Trail between Leavenworth, Kansas on the Missouri River and Denver, Colorado. However, his partners thought the idea fool-hardy and refused to go in with him. Russell persevered however, and soon took on partners, John S. Jones and Luther Smoot to develop the 687 mile line to the Colorado gold fields. The company incorporated in February, 1859 and the first stage on the newly formed Leavenworth and Pikes Peak Express reached Denver on May 17, 1859.

Pike's Peak Express at Leavenworth, Kansas.