What is the importance of the transcontinental railroad?
Just as it opened the markets of the west coast and Asia to the east, it brought products of eastern industry to the growing populace beyond the Mississippi. The railroad ensured a production boom, as industry mined the vast resources of the middle and western continent for use in production.
Why was the transcontinental railroad built?
The transcontinental railroad was built to open up the interior and allow settlement in these areas, to make rural and unexplored areas accessible, and to ease the transportation of both goods and passengers from one area to another.
Who decided where the transcontinental railroad would go?
Whipple, assistant astronomer of the Mexican Boundary Survey, and Lt. Joseph Christmas Ives surveyed the route along the 35th parallel westward to southern California. This line was favored by Jefferson Davis and was essentially the route traversed by Josiah Gregg in 1839 and later surveyed by Col.
Where was the independence and Monmouth railroad located?
Independence & Monmouth Railway – operated on 2.5 miles of its own track between these two cities, 1890 to 1918. Up to 32 miles of track were operated due to rights over the Southern Pacific to West Salem, Dallas and Airlie. The Oregon Electric operated from Portland west to Forest Grove and south to Eugene.
What was the history of the Oregon Trunk Railroad?
The Oregon Trunk and the Des Chutes built a connection from Bend north to the Columbia River. After they were done, the Great Northern built a line south from Bend. However, this history is really a part of the Oregon Trunk in many regards. The Central Pacific was involved in a line north to Klamath Falls from California.
When was the Southern Pacific Railroad in Oregon abandoned?
The line was abandoned soon after 1900. It is only mentioned briefly in the The Southern Pacific in Oregon. The Central Pacific owned the line between Natron and Oakridge for about 10 years.
When did the Oregon Short Line become the Oregon Railroad?
It was leased to the Oregon Short Line in 1907, and in 1910 became part of the OWR&N. Northwestern Railroad Co. started in 1906 as a short line building northwest from Huntington, OR. along the Snake River. It was sold in 1910 and 1911 ( two separate deeds ) to the OWR&N.