The Transcontinental Railroad was built in the United States in the 1860s to connect the eastern and western halves of the country. It was an immense engineering challenge to build tracks across the vast distances and difficult terrain. The Central Pacific Railroad worked eastward from Sacramento, California while the Union Pacific Railroad worked westward from Omaha, Nebraska. On May 10, 1869, the two lines were joined at Promontory Summit in Utah with the driving of the final "Golden Spike." The railroad revolutionized travel and trade across North America.

1. Transcontinental
Railroad

2. The Iron Horse
Invented in England in 1804.
By 1835 there was more than 1,000 miles of
track in the US!

3. The Need
• Gold Rush
• Army
• Trade
• Settlers
“like building a railroad to the moon”

4. Finding a
Route
Theodore Juddah went in
search for a possible path.
• Spent months camping in
the mountains.
• Find a way through Sierra
Nevada Mountains.
• Convince Congress.

5. America gets
on track!
• Unite the country
• Expand West
• 1862, signs the Pacific
Railroad Act

6. Full Steam Ahead!
• Central Pacific Railroad builds east from Sacramento
California
• The Union Pacific Railroad build west from Omaha,
Nebraska
• Meet in Utah

7. Every mile on flat land= $16,000
Every mile on plateaus= $32,000
Every mile on mountain= $48,00
Every mile= 6,400 acres

8. Rough
Patches
• 1863, Central Pacific
• Only 50 miles in 2 years!
• 1865, Union Pacific
• Cuts through plains

9. Help Wanted
20,000

10. Chinese
Immigrants
• Paid less
• Dangerous Jobs

11. 10 Mile Day
- The Great Race

12. The Golden Spike
Promontory Point, May 10,1869
Central Pacific = 689 miles of track
Union Pacific= 1,086 miles of track

13. The Results