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

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

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

The 19th-century transcontinental railroad; the Manhattan Project, which developed the nuclear weapons that ended World War II; and the 1960s Apollo space program are examples.

From Washington Post • Mar. 6, 2023

The crying need of the country was a feeder to some transcontinental railroad.

From The Valley of the Giants by Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard)