trancontinetal+railroadmh

Transcontinental Railroad: The railroad boom began in 1862 when Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act. This was to provide the construction of the transcontinental railroad by two corporations. There was land offered for the companies along the way. The Union Pacific started in Omaha, Nebraska and moved westward toward Utah. And the Central Pacific began eastward from Sacramento, California. They both met in Utah, where a ceremonial gold spike was driven, joining the two lines.