The first railroad to cross North America was the Pacific Railroad—a combination of the Union and Central Pacific lines that linked Chicago and California. The fledgling United States of America was unified for the first time, opening up the country to further settlement and exploitation. The success of the first route spawned a profusion of alternatives—as well as three lines across Canada—which have together helped the US rail network to become the most extensive in the world.
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CENTRAL PACIFIC
The crew of a freight train pose for the camera at Mill City, Nevada, on the Central Pacific Railroad in 1883. The train features the classic American “cowcatcher” for clearing the track ahead.
