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

Union Pacific announced in July a proposal to acquire Norfolk Southern in a merger that would create the country’s first transcontinental railroad.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025

“Harry Young” made his way to Woodland, which had developed a busy Chinatown populated by immigrants who had come to work on the transcontinental railroad.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2024

Nor did any of his classes recognize the contributions Asian Americans have made in shaping the nation beyond a scant mention of Chinese laborers who helped build the transcontinental railroad.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2024

This was Park Stanley, charged at that time with the construction of the first transcontinental railroad.

From The Mountain Divide by Armand Both