The

Transcontinenta

l

Railroad

(1863-1869)

Problem:• Transportation is key to the survival

of communities out west

• Create a R.R. network that stretches from the east to west coast

Solution:

1550 German Wagonways

1825 First Steam Locomotive 70mph

Modern “Bullet Trains” 150mph

Routes:• Problem: Northern and Southerners argued over

whether the R.R. route should run through the North (Central route) or South

• Solution: During the Civil War, the Union gov’t chose a northerly route

How?• Gov’t granted subsidies ($ and land grants) to aid

R.R. construction– Total of 130 million acres of land

……why?• State and Local communities also offered cash

subsidies to make sure the R.R. came to their community

1862: Pacific R.R. Act

–1,700 miles across hot plains, and Rugged Mountains

Challenge Accepted:

1. Union Pacific2. Central Pacific

Challenge:

Union Pacific Company• Laid track westward from Omaha, Nebraska – Mostly plains– Conflicts with Indians

Covered 1,038 miles

• Labor: Irish, African Americans, Mormons, and (later) Union soldiers

What’s wrong with this picture…

Central Pacific Company• Laid track eastward from Sacramento California

– Sierra Nevada Mts (15 tunnels)– Snowstorms

• Covered 724 miles Ka-boom!

• Labor: 10,000 Chinese – “Gangs” of about 12-20 each

"As a class they are quiet, peaceable, patient, industrious and economical. Ready and apt to learn all the different kinds of work required in railroad building, they soon became as efficient as the white laborers...” –Stanford

Daily life working on the tracks• Engineers, blacksmiths, carpenters, engineers,

surveyors, and cooks • Hard work, long hours, $1.00 salary Strikes • Dangerous– “An Irishman buried under every tie”– Snowstorms, Indians, explosions, mountain avalanches,

exposure to the elements…etc.

Standard R.R. gauge (distance b/t the rails) is 4ft x8 ½ inches

May 10, 1869:• Construction is completed at Promontory Point, UT• Leland Stanford Gov. of California, drives the final

golden spike into a tie to join the 2 railroads“DONE.”

Effects of the Railroad1. Ended the use of Overland Trails:– Faster, safer, and cheaper passage (8 weeks and

about $65)

2. Increase in population 3. Economic Effects:– Growth of towns/cities, businesses, and new

industries– Ranchers/Farmers

4. “Manifest Destiny”

5. Conflict with the Indians:– Decimation of buffalo population from 100

million to 200– Indian Wars

6. Introduction of Standard 4 Time Zones