| Started during the war that divided the
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| | Omaha, Nebraska by the Union Pacific
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| United States, the construction of the
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| | Railroad; sparking a competition between
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| First Transcontinental Railroad was
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| | the two companies to see who could finish
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| completed after the Civil War and
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| | first.
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| heralded an era of new unity and hope for
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| | Both companies had to overcome many
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| the United States. But, before the
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| | problems and challenges, including
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| railroad was even started there were many
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| | material and labour shortages, before
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| hurdles to overcome, and the fact that it
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| | their momentous task was complete.
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| was ever built is a tribute to human
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| | However, despite all the logistical
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| resilience and endeavour.
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| | problems and frequent attacks and
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| The discovery of gold in California in
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| | disruption from Native Americans, the
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| 1849 suddenly propelled the state from
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| | railroad was completed after six years
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| one that attracted little interest as it
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| | and is still one of the most momentous
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| was considered a barren wasteland into
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| | engineering projects ever carried out in
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| one that people raced to inhabit and
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| | the continental USA.
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| exploit. Suddenly, plans for a
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| | At 12:20 p.m. on Monday 10th May, 1869 at
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| Transcontinental Railroad that only
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| | Promontory Point, Utah, the insertion of
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| several years earlier were ridiculed as
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| | the final spike marked the completion of
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| unworkable and over-ambitious were
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| | the Transcontinental Railroad. The
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| revived resulting in an 1853 Act of
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| | official ceremony was witnessed by about
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| Congress. However, conflicting interests
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| | 600 workers and dignitaries, a bottle of
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| between North and South prevented an
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| | champagne smashed over a special laurel
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| agreement being reached on the route.
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| | tie to huge applause and a telegraph was
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| Ironically, it was not until the outbreak
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| | sent to the nation containing one word;
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| of the Civil War that the
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| | 'Done'.
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| Transcontinental Railroad became a
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| | Once complete, the railroad instantly
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| reality. With Southern opposition removed
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| | propelled its western coast terminus at
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| from positions in federal government as a
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| | Sacramento to prominence. The future
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| result of secession, the Senate and House
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| | Californian capital had acted as the
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| of Representatives passed the Pacific
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| | distribution point for the building
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| Railroad Acts in 1862 and 1864, which
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| | materials while the railroad was under
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| eventually paved the way for the
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| | construction and once completed saw a
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| construction of the railroad. Under this
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| | massive influx of prospectors and
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| legislation the railroads were granted
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| | settlers from the East. As a result the
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| use of building materials and land across
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| | city underwent a building boom which led
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| 20 million acres and received government
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| | to the construction of many homes, civic
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| support for loans amounting to $60
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| | buildings, shops and hotels in
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| million.
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| | Sacramento, which were vital to
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| Groundbreaking took place in January 1863
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| | temporarily house the rush of settlers
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| in Sacramento, California by the Central
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| | before they decided upon their final
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| Pacific Railroad and in December of the
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| | location within California.
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| same year at Missouri River bluffs near
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