AAZ-1806

Workers laying rails in foreground followed by Chinese laborers in background that spaced and spiked them into the ties

1868

SFP 131

San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

SFP 131. Folder: CA. Transportation. Railroads. Transcontinental.

Still image

1 photographic print: b&w ; 8 x 10 in.

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Newscopy: Track work going forward in Nevada during 1868 as Central Pacific forces were building the western link of the first transcontinental railroad, now a part of the Southern Pacific system. A telegraph line was also under construction. Rail layers shown in the foreground were followed by gangs of Chinese laborers who spaced and spiked the rail to the ties. The rail was half as long and less than half as heavy as that in general use today. An all-time track laving record was set by the Central Pacific men one day in April, 1869. The job was carefully organized. Ties were spaced along the graded roadbed for some distance ahead and rail hauled to strategic spots. Work started at sunrise, and when darkness called a halt it was found that the picked gang of eight Irish rail layers, backed by a small army of trackmen, has completed more than ten miles of track that day. May 10, 1944, will be the 75th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.

English

San Francisco Historical Photographs > California Photograph Collection