The transcontinental railroad was the first continuous railroad line built across the United States, connecting the existing eastern U.S. rail network to the Pacific coast. Construction began in 1863 and completed in 1869 with a ceremonial "Golden Spike" driven at Promontory Summit, Utah. This railroad drastically reduced cross-country travel time from months to about seven days and opened up vast regions to settlement and economic development.

Key Facts about the Transcontinental Railroad:

• It was about 1,911 miles long, connecting Omaha, Nebraska, on the east to Sacramento, California, on the west.
• The railroad was built by three companies: Central Pacific Railroad (from the west), Union Pacific Railroad (from the east), and Western Pacific Railroad (a smaller segment near the west coast).
• Construction started January 1863 by Central Pacific in Sacramento and in July 1865 by Union Pacific in Omaha.
• The last rail was laid on May 10, 1869, in the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory Summit.
• It employed thousands of immigrant laborers, including over 13,000 Chinese workers on the Central Pacific and thousands of Irish, German, and Italian workers on the Union Pacific.
• The railroad cut transportation costs dramatically and transformed western American agriculture, mining, and settlement.
• Ticket prices by 1870 were as low as $65 for third class for the coast-to-coast journey, which previously took 4 to 6 months by wagon.

Historical Impact:

• It allowed goods, people, and information to move quickly across the continent.
• It helped unify the country economically and politically after the Civil War.
• New towns and cities grew rapidly along the route.
• It greatly contributed to the westward expansion and development of the American West.

This railroad was a landmark achievement in American engineering and labor history, shaping the nation’s growth in the late 19th century.