By 1855, many thousands of Mormon Pioneers had already braved the difficult trek west to join the main body of the Mormon Church in Utah. Many thousands of others also wanted to, but could not afford the expensive wagons and oxen. To assist these, the Mormon Church, using money from the Perpetual Emigration Fund, established handcart companies, each of which would be accompanied by a small group of wagons with oxen to carry heavier items. These saints traveled from Liverpool by boat to New York then took the train to its most western point, Iowa City. From Iowa City, the saints walked and pulled handcarts 1,300 miles.