American Westward Migration, riding the Transcontinental RR

The Transcontinental Railroad was the ultimate luxury ~ for some First class passengers boarding the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1870s stepped into an elegant, extravagant world of dark, polished woods, velvet upholstery, and gilt-framed mirrors in palace Pullman cars, slept in private rooms, and enjoyed opulent "feasts of antelope, trout, berries and Champagne," describes History.com,… Continue reading American Westward Migration, riding the Transcontinental RR

American Westward Migration, building the Transcontinental RR

The Transcontinental Railroad, Change and challenge Central Pacific Transcontinental Railroad, Tunnel No. 27 The completion of the monumental task of building almost 1,800 miles of track in the late 1860s had a dramatic impact on the future of the United States. According to James P. Ronda, co-author of  The West the Railroads Made, “What the… Continue reading American Westward Migration, building the Transcontinental RR

American Westward Migration, beginnings

Before there were trains on tracks, there were carts and wagons on trails Life and Death on the Trail 30-100 prairie schooners in a caravan4' x 10' size of a prairie schooner wagon15-20 miles per hour a prairie schooner could travel2,170 miles of various routes on the Oregon Trail420,000 pioneers traveled part of the Oregon… Continue reading American Westward Migration, beginnings