The transcontinental railroad, commonly known as the “iron horse,” was a network of railroads that connected the United States’ East and West Coasts in the late 1800s.
The construction of the transcontinental railroad was a watershed moment in American history, reducing travel time and transportation costs across the country and making it easier for people and things to go from one coast to the other.
The Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads met at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869, to finish the first transcontinental railroad.
The transcontinental railroad was a major enterprise that required the efforts of thousands of laborers, many of whom were immigrants, as well as the commitment of millions of dollars in cash.
The transcontinental railroad was critical to the development of the American West, allowing for westward expansion as well as the emergence of new communities and industries.
Transcontinental Railroad Facts
1. It was built to connect the United States’ East and West Coasts.
The transcontinental railroad was built to connect the United States’ East and West Coasts, making travel and transportation easier and faster.
Prior to the completion of the transcontinental railroad, traveling from one coast to the other may take months, and products had to be conveyed by wagon or ship.
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The transcontinental railroad cut travel time between the two coasts to a few days and allowed goods to be transported considerably more rapidly and cheaply.
This had a significant impact on the development of the American West, allowing for westward expansion, the establishment of new cities and industries, and the transportation of people and products across the country.
2. Shared construction between the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad
Both the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad began construction of the railroad on their respective coasts. The Union Pacific Railroad began construction on the East Coast, and the Central Pacific Railroad began construction on the West Coast.
A golden spike was driven into the ground at Promontory, Utah, in 1869 to represent the successful completion of the transcontinental railroad. This achievement came after years of laborious work and the surmounting of several obstacles.
3. Approximately 1,800 miles of track
During the transcontinental railroad’s construction, workers laid approximately 1,800 miles of track across the western United States, connecting the country’s East and West Coasts.
The construction of the transcontinental railroad was a major operation that required thousands of people and millions of cash.
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The laborers encountered numerous hurdles, including difficult terrain, harsh weather, and a scarcity of supplies in the western United States.
Despite these obstacles, they were able to build one mile of track per day, allowing them to connect the two coasts by rail in just six years.
The transcontinental railroad is nevertheless a tribute to the workers’ inventiveness and determination.
4. The transcontinental railroad cost roughly $100 million.
The transcontinental railroad cost roughly $100 million to complete, which was a large amount of money in the late 1800s.
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The transcontinental railroad was built with a mix of government subsidies and private investment, with the government granting land grants and loans to railroad corporations.
Due to the numerous hurdles and obstacles faced during construction, such as rugged terrain, harsh weather conditions, and a lack of resources in the western United States, the cost of completing the transcontinental railroad was substantially more than previously expected.
Despite these difficulties, the transcontinental railroad was finished on time, and its completion had a significant impact on the development of the American West.
5. Workers came from a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicity.
The workers who built the transcontinental railroad came from a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicity. The workforce were mostly immigrants, including Irish, Chinese, and Central and Eastern Europeans.
The increased demand for labor and the relatively high compensation offered by the railroad firms drew Irish workers to the job. As part of a huge immigrant wave in the mid-nineteenth century, the Chinese laborers were sent to the United States to build on the transcontinental railroad.
Both Union and Confederate soldiers served in the Civil Conflict and were looking for work after the war ended.
The employees who built the transcontinental railroad encountered numerous hurdles, including severe working conditions, long hours, and hazardous working circumstances.
Despite these obstacles, they persisted and laid an average of one mile of track each day, allowing them to connect the two coasts by rail in just six years.
6. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act
In July 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act, often known as the Railroad Act, to improve transportation constraints and foster prosperity in the western United States.
The Pacific Railway Act gave government subsidies and loans to railroad firms building the transcontinental railroad, as well as vast tracts of land as an incentive to build the train.
The act was a watershed moment in the history of the American West, paving the way for the construction of the transcontinental railroad and creating new prospects for commerce, settlement, and expansion.
President Abraham Lincoln saw the transcontinental railroad as a means of uniting the country and assisting it in growing and prospering, and his signature on the Pacific Railway Act was a significant milestone in the development of the American West.
7. They had many obstacles to overcome.
Conquering the rough terrain of the western United States was undoubtedly one of the most difficult obstacles to be faced during the construction of the transcontinental railroad.
As they built the track across the country, the workers who constructed the transcontinental railroad had to go through a variety of terrains that included mountains, valleys, deserts, and other difficult environments.
The Sierra Nevada mountain range was one of the most difficult hurdles they had to overcome. In order to connect the East and West coastlines of the country, the laborers had to construct tunnels and bridges in order to cross the range.
8. A gold ceremonial spike was used to symbolize the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
The “Golden Spike” was a gold ceremonial spike used to symbolize the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
On May 10, 1869, the “Golden Spike” was hammered into the ground at Promontory Summit, Utah, to symbolize the rail link of the United States’ East and West coasts.
Dignitaries from both the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads, as well as representatives of the press and other guests, attended the occasion.
The “Golden Spike” became a symbol of the completion of a large engineering and building project, and it is still a significant part of American history and culture today.
The “Golden Spike” is now on exhibit in the Golden Spike National Historical Park in Utah, where visitors can see it.
9. It had a major impact on some Native Tribes.
The laborers who built the transcontinental railroad were met with opposition from various Native American tribes, including the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, who were enraged that the train was cutting through their territory.
The transcontinental railroad interrupted customary movement patterns and decreased access to resources, while the spread of diseases carried by railroad workers harmed Native American tribes even more.
Native Americans retaliated by invading railroad camps and destroying lines and equipment, which frequently resulted in violent clashes with railroad personnel.
The United States military was frequently called in to protect railroad workers, resulting in additional conflict and the displacement of numerous indigenous people.
10. The Promontory Summit was chosen as a meeting point.
By early 1869, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads were almost ready to unite, and officials chose Promontory Summit in northern Utah as the meeting point.
The Promontory Summit was chosen as a level and readily accessible area appropriate for the construction of a rail yard and other infrastructure.
The two railroads ultimately met on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, where they drove the ceremonial “Golden Spike” into the earth to mark the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
Dignitaries from both the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads, as well as representatives of the press and other guests, attended the occasion.