We explore the rich history of railroads in the USA with a 3,000-mile journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific, covering four time zones and twelve states. Since the 1830s, railroads have shaped the country, enabling trade and mass migration. We explore the significance of the Transcontinental Railroad, a monumental engineering feat that united America.
The adventure begins at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, where we explore some of the oldest steam locomotives. Next, we visit New York's Grand Central Terminal, then head to Chicago, the freight capital, learning about railroads' role in the Civil War and boarding Amtrak’s California Zephyr to California. A stop in Omaha highlights the Union Pacific’s beginnings, followed by a visit to Denver, where we explore a mining railroad's impact on Native American communities.
The journey continues through the stunning Rockies to Utah, where we visit the site marking the Transcontinental Railroad’s completion in 1869. In Truckee, we examine the challenges faced by Chinese laborers who constructed the line, and our journey concludes in Sacramento, where we catch a boat to San Francisco.
The Transcontinental Railroad remains one of America’s greatest achievements and a remarkable rail journey.