Summary of the transcontinental railroad

          The first nail was struck in the dirt in 1863. Over the next 5 years the 1,907 mile railroad would be built across 'MURICA.  The railroad would start in a town in Iowa and end in the San Francisco bay area.  This huge railroad was built by 3 companies, because one company could not afford to do the entire railroad. The majority of the work was done by the Irish immigrants. There where not just workers who laid down the track but many more people behind it all.  A huge bonus with building the Transcontinental railroad was the almost instant communication.  After five long years of long days and grueling heat the last nail was struck into the dirt and the railroad was finished. It was finished on May 10, 1869.