Transcontinental Railroad Overview

Transcontinental Railroad Overview

• The Transcontinental Railroad connected the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States, completed in 1869 after six years of construction.
• It significantly reduced cross-country travel time, taking only 10 days from San Francisco to New York.

Key Locations

• Promontory, Utah served as the junction point where Union Pacific and Central Pacific tracks met.
• Promontory Summit, Utah is the town where the completion ceremony took place, uniting the two railroads.

Railroad Companies

• Union Pacific Railroad initiated construction from Omaha, Nebraska, moving westward.
• Central Pacific Railroad commenced from Sacramento, California, building eastward.

Workforce

• A significant portion of the labor force on the Transcontinental Railroad consisted of Chinese immigrants, addressing a labor shortage faced by the Central Pacific.

Impact on Native Americans

• The railroad's construction led to the displacement of Native Americans from their lands and a decline in buffalo populations due to overhunting by railroad workers, affecting their way of life.

Government Support

• The U.S. government incentivized railroad companies by providing land and financial support for every mile of track laid, promoting expansion and development.

Construction Hazards

• Workers faced numerous dangers during construction, including potential explosions, avalanches, and physical exhaustion due to the challenging work conditions.

Economic and Social Benefits

• The Transcontinental Railroad fostered growth in communication and business, facilitated travel, and contributed to the establishment of new towns across the nation.