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First Railroad
The First Railroad was made in 1830, the starbridge lion, first steam locomotive in the US is tested along tracks built by Delaware and Hudson Company. -
"Railroad Fever"
"Railroad Fever" seizes the country. Numerous projects appear on the East Coast and everybody wanted to be a part of it. -
First West Coast Railroad
On the West Coast, pushed by the Gold Rush, the first railroad line appears only in 1856 with the Sacramento Valley Railroad. This project was made possible to thanks to Theodor Judah an Engineer who also came up for the first plans for a railroad that spanned the country. -
Pacific Railway Act
This Grants the Union Pacific and Central Pacific companies 6,000 acres to build a transcontinental railroad. This was signed into law by President Lincoln in May of 1862. -
Work Begins for Central Pacific and Union Pacific
The Cental Pacific railroad company begins laying the Transcontinental railroad while the Union Pacific starts in Omaha, Nebraska but is late starting due to a bribary scandal. The two companies plan to meet halfway and build a railroad that spans the country. -
10 Mile Day
Competition between the two companies gets fierce. Central Pacific workers lay a record 10 miles of track in one day. -
It is finished
The two Railroads met at Promontory Point, Utah on May 10, 1869 and drove a last, golden spike into the completed railway. -
First Electic Streetcar
New York City installs an electric streetcar system designed by Stephen Dudley Feild. The system is dangerous and innefective, but is a sign of major change to come in urban transportation. -
Railroad Boom Begins
US railroad bulding increases dramatically during the 1800s. With 70,000 miles of track laid in 10 years, linking the nation in a vast rail system for transportation of people and goods. -
Interstate Commerce Commision
In 1887, Congress responded to public outcry by creating the Interstate Commerce Commision, to watch over the rail industry.