Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad

Experience the race of rails to link the country - and meet the men behind this incredible feat - in a riveting story about the building of the transcontinental railroad, brought to life with archival photos.In the 1850s, gold fever swept the West, but people had to walk, sail, or ride horses for months on end to seek their fortune. The question of faster, safer transportation was posed by national leaders. But with 1,800 miles of seemingly impenetrable mountains, searing deserts, and endless plains between the Missouri River and San Francisco, could a transcontinental railroad be built? It seemed impossible. Eventually, two railroad companies, the Central Pacific, which laid the tracks eastward, and the Union Pacific, which moved west, began the job.