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The First Transcontinental Railroad consisted of two pieces, the Union Pacific line running west from Omaha, Nebraska for 1,087 miles and the Central Pacific line running east from Sacramento, California for 690 miles. The two lines met in Promontory, Utah, and when the last spike was driven there on May 10, 1869, the total length of the railroad was 1,777 miles.

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Why was the transcontinental railroad important?

There are a few reasons why the transcontinental railroad was built. One reason was to transport goods and people across the country more efficiently. Before the transcontinental railroad was built, people and goods had to be transported by wagon, which was a slow and difficult process. The transcontinental railroad made it possible to transport goods and people much more quickly and easily. Another reason why the transcontinental railroad was built was to improve communication between the east and west coasts of the United States. Before the transcontinental railroad was built, communication between the east and west coasts was slow and difficult. The transcontinental railroad made it possible for people to communicate more quickly and easily. The transcontinental railroad was also built to help the United States government keep the peace between the Native Americans and the settlers. The transcontinental railroad made it possible for the government to send troops and supplies quickly and easily to the west coast, which helped to keep the peace.


How did the transcontinental railroad change the lives of people?

If you wanted to travel west with your family you needed to pack a conestoga wagon with at least 6 months of supplies. The wagon was pulled by oxen (preferably with one yoke of cows to also provide milk) and your entire family walked beside the wagon for about 6 months. If you wanted to travel west by yourself you either traveled by stagecoach or by horse for a little over a month. With the transcontinental railroad the same trip took about a week and was much more comfortable and less hazardous.


How many people built the transcontinental railroad?

Was built by hand by the Irish, Chinese, Settlers, and many others.Two companies were granted contracts to build the railroad: the Union Pacific started at Omaha and went west, while the Central Pacific started in California and went east. As incentive, the companies were granted land on either side of the right-of-way, which they could then sell. The more track they built, the more land they could claim, so it was essentially a race. The two lines met in northern Utah in 1869.


How long is a train ride from Dublin Ireland to Northern Ireland?

About 2 hours will get you there, though the train to Belfast is about 2 hours in total, as it is further north.


Things to do in Louisiana?

ride a train?