transcontinental railroad

Cultural  

1. A train route across the United States, finished in 1869. It was the project of two railroad companies: the Union Pacific built from the east, and the Central Pacific built from the west. The two lines met in Utah. The Central Pacific laborers were predominantly Chinese, and the Union Pacific laborers predominantly Irish. Both groups often worked under harsh conditions.

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Example Sentences

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transcontinental railroad

In a major update for U.S. transportation, two of these companies filed an application with federal regulators last month seeking approval to create America’s first transcontinental railroad.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 5, 2026

This year’s big tie-ups include a more than $70 billion transcontinental railroad merger.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025

The Public Utilities Commission was created as the Railroad Commission in the late 1870s, after the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2025

She was raised in Flushing, Queens, by a single mother and grew up hearing tales about her maternal great-grandfather, Wong Yuan Son, who worked on the nation’s first transcontinental railroad in the West.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 27, 2023

They had gibed Sir John for committing the country to one transcontinental railroad.

From The Canadian Commonwealth by Laut, Agnes C. (Agnes Christina)