Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway is the largest and longest railway in Canada. An in-depth profile of the company and its history are included on this website, as well as the CNR today. Also looks at the different kinds of trains, cars, and...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: Central Pacific and Union Pacific
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes the competition between Union Pacific and Central Pacific to complete the transcontinental railroad. Workmanship was often shoddy and...
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cprr Photographic History Museum: The Postal History of the Pacific Railroad
This site deals mostly with the history of mail sent across the country in the late 19th century.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: The Iron Road
A good summary of the history of the building of first transcontinental railroad and images of the transcontinental railroad. From the introduction to the PBS video, The Iron Road.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: The Surveys
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes the surveys that were done to determine where to route the transcontinental railroad, and where it was finally built. These surveys provide...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: North and South
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes how the debate over where to place the transcontinental railroad line - in the North or in the South - began to take shape. It began with...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Golden Spike National Historic Site
Homepage of the Golden Spike National Historic Site. Provides general information about the completion of the transcontinental railroad and contains links to other information.
Country Studies US
Countyr Studies: United States History: The Last Frontier
This site describes the settlement of the West happened quickly with the passage of the Homestead Act of 1862 and the push for the Transcontinental Railroad. With the explosion of the mining and ranching industries, the West was all but...
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cprr History Museum: The First Rail Laid
This site from the Central Pacific Railroad contains an article from the Sacramento Daily Union on the first rail laid on the western end of the transcontinental railroad on October 27, 1863.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Magnificent Celebrations in Calfornia
Describes the completion of the transcontinental railroad and the subsequent celebrations.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hazardous Business: Line and Lands of the Texas & Pacific Railway, 1873
Here's a map showing the Texas & Pacific Railway. Click on link to get larger version which shows the route across Texas as well as an inset which shows how the railway connected to other railroads in the U.S.
Other
Psmre: The Northern Pacific Railway
This site from the Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers provides information about the history of the Northern Pacific Railway. The route follows the path Lewis and Clark took in 1804. Mentions cost, manpower, and other railroad companies.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cprr Photographic History Museum: High Cost and Challenge of Building the Cprr
Contains the text of a Lewis M. Clement's 1887 statement to the U.S. Pacific Railway Commission, which gives a clear and succinct accounting of the costs incurred and the problems encountered in building the Central Pacific Railroad.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cpr Photographic History Museum: Nitroglycerine
Discusses the use of nitroglycerine in the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: The Meeting at Promontory Point
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes the events that occurred as the Union Pacific and Central Pacific both reached the endpoint of the railroad at Promontory Point, California....
Stanford University
Stanford University: Spatial History: Distribution of Union Pacific Stockholders
This map reveals the way ownership of the Union Pacific concentrated in New England and New York. It also shows how the West got a federally financed railroad, and the east got the insider networks which controlled it.
Other
Minnesota Historical Society: James J. Hill House: James J. Hill
A biography of railroad magnate, James J. Hill. Learn about the life and legacy of this railroad executive who was a pivotal force in the transformation of the Northwest, earning the name "The Empire Builder."
Other
Union Pacific: Historical Overview
Provides a historical overview of the Union Pacific Railroad under the following sections: building a road, financing, construction, and post-construction.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cpr Photographic History Museum Alfred Hart and the Illustrated Traveler's Map
This article written by Peter E. Palmquist describes the photographs taken by Albert A. Hart as he documented the building of the Central Pacific Railroad and then helped publicize it.
Other
Southern Nevada: The Boomtown Years: Mining
An explanation of the role speculation in both mining and railroads played in the financial panic of 1893. An interesting article from the University of Nevada.
PBS
Pbs the West: Walking Pieces of Gold
A look at the role railroads played in the near-extermination of the American bison.
Curated OER
Re Union and the Railroad
A speech and an engraving that illustrate how the railroad helped to unite the country after the Civil War.
Curated OER
Mountain Scene on the Pacific Railroad
From Chapter 105 of R. M. Devens' 1878 book, "Our First Century" is this description of the building of the transcontinental railroad and the ceremony of driving the final spike.
Curated OER
Completion of the Pacific Railroad
From Chapter 105 of R. M. Devens' 1878 book, "Our First Century" is this description of the building of the transcontinental railroad and the ceremony of driving the final spike.