Transcontinental Railroad

Transcontinental Railroad Proposal

Jun 10, 1845

Asa Whitney presents a proposal to Congress for the transportation system.

Judah reaches Donner Pass

Jul 23, 1860

Engineer Theodore Judah reaches Donner Pass and identifies the location as ideal for constructing a line through the Sierra Nevada.

Pacific Railroad Bill

Jul 1, 1862

Lincoln signs the bill, authorizing the Central Pacific to build a California line east from Sacramento and establishing the Union Pacific Railroad Company with an order to build west from the Missouri River.

Central Pacific begins

Oct 26, 1863

The Central Pacific Railroad Company spikes its first rails to ties.

Union Pacific groundbreaking

Dec 2, 1863

The Union Pacific celebrates its groundbreaking in Omaha Nebraska.

Pacific Railroad Bill revised

Jul 1, 1864

Congress recieves the Pacific Railroad Bill to double land grants and pass control of all natural resources located along the lines to the railroads an remove the exsisting limits on individual stock ownership.

Chinese immigrants arrive

Jan 26, 1865

Charles Crocker starts to hire Chinese immigrants for Central Pacific.

Hell on Wheels

Nov 17, 1866

Union Pacific construction stops for the winter at the town of North Platte, Nebraska, which shortly explodes into the first "hell on wheels" town (the violent/ mobile encampment of dance halls, saloons, and gambling dens).

Union and Central Pacific joined

May 18, 1869

A Golden Spike ceremony took place at Promontory Point, Utah. The tracks of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific lines were joined together

Credit Mobilier scandal

Feb 18, 1873

Congressional investigation into the Crédit Mobilier scandal and the finances of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific lines produces public disillusionment with the railroads and elected officials.