The First Transcontinental Railroad Trivia Questions

Construction began in 1863 and the railroad was finished in 1869—six years. The pace was incredibly fast, but not quite four years.

Tribes were largely forced off their land through treaties broken by the government and violent conflict. Compensation was minimal or nonexistent.

Lincoln signed the act into law in 1862, while the Civil War was raging. He saw the railroad as vital to uniting the country and securing the West.

Chinese immigrants made up the vast majority of the Central Pacific workforce, with over 12,000 laborers. Irish workers were prominent on the Union Pacific, but it was a joint effort.

In 1870, a special train carrying dignitaries made the trip from Boston to San Francisco in about 83 hours—roughly three and a half days. This amazed a public used to months of travel.

The famous golden spike was tapped into a pre-drilled hole and then immediately removed for safekeeping. A regular iron spike was driven later to complete the line.

Nitroglycerin was far more powerful than black powder and was used extensively to carve through granite. It was extremely dangerous, causing many accidental deaths.

The meeting point was not predetermined. The companies raced past each other, laying parallel track for miles, until the government forced a compromise at Promontory.