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Building the transcontinental railroad was a back-breaking, mule-skinning feat. It was also a highly organized human assembly line. Thousands of workers toiled at specialized jobs, each contributing to the growing length of track. In the end, it was the steady flow of men, materials, and money that pushed the railroad to completion. |
President Abraham Lincoln started the assembly line rolling by signing the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862. The act guided construction by setting routes, providing financial incentives, and outlining building specifications. The work was slowed by the lack of labor and materiel during the Civil War, but was still completed in just six years. |
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