Transcontinental Railroads: Connecting Coast to Coast

By @dM1nBlog
The transcontinental railroad holds great significance in history, as it was a means by which previously unpopulated regions were explored and settled. A transcontinental railroad, as its name suggests, is a train capable of crossing an entire continent, reaching different oceans and continental borders. The infrastructure for a transcontinental railroad is often complex, involving a vast network of tracks, and it may be owned by multiple companies due to the immense distances it covers.

Why is the transcontinental railroad so important for the evolution of civilizations? Simply put, thanks to this mode of transport, humans were able to reach uninhabited regions and settle there. Its economic impact has also been remarkable, as trade routes began to emerge with the invention of the steam locomotive.

Read on to learn more about the history of the transcontinental railroad.

The World’s First Transcontinental Railroad

Although today the United States is often surpassed by European countries or Asian giants in terms of technological innovation, the U.S. has been a pioneer in countless inventions, including the world’s first transcontinental railroad. This ambitious project began in 1863 and was completed in 1869. The transcontinental railroad is credited to Abraham Lincoln for the support the then-president of the United States gave to the project; however, it materialized four years after his death. The companies leading the construction were the Western Pacific Railway Company, the Central Pacific Railway Company of California, and the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

The purpose of the first transcontinental railroad was simple: to unite the east and west coasts of the country. Before this advancement, making that journey meant traveling for months by wagon or sailing south to Panama, crossing the isthmus, and then boarding another ship to finally reach the opposite coast. The idea of traveling from New York to San Francisco in just a week seemed unthinkable.

With this first transcontinental railroad, there was also the expectation of a positive economic impact. It aimed to reach unexplored rural areas, improving the movement of goods and passengers. This would boost commercial and industrial activities in new regions.

Regarding the construction process, these are the most relevant facts:

  • Some Native American tribes were displaced from their lands to make way for the new train.
  • The construction process was dangerous and affected the health of the workers involved, as well as threatening local wildlife.
  • It had a major environmental impact on the western forests due to the large amount of wood obtained from tree felling.
  • Due to migration and cultural mixing, racial tensions increased in California.

With the exception of the last point, all these disadvantages could be avoided today by employing smart, sustainable, and innovative railway projects.

What Followed After the First Transcontinental Railroad

The first transcontinental railroad brought many other developments with it. Did you know that telegraph systems took advantage of the same railway networks to operate? The cities along the railroad lines also flourished remarkably due to increased trade. Communication networks followed the same path as the telegraph, eventually paving the way for today’s tech companies.

Later, on the other side of the world, another transcontinental railroad was established in Russia: the Trans-Siberian Railway, which stretched from Moscow through the Siberian desert to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast.

Both the American and Russian projects illustrate a common theme: humans will always be interested in exploring and settling in new, uncharted regions to create prosperity in new places.

The transcontinental railroad arrived during an industrial revolution full of opportunities, with benefits that have lasted to this day.

Perhaps the most significant disruption of this generation has been the internet and digitalization, but we must not forget that the train still has a major impact on the global economy and remains the most viable option for passenger transportation. What more could we ask for?

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