American History Tellers

American History Tellers

Transcontinental Railroad | Dancing with a Whirlwind | 2

Season 75November 20, 202440 min

0:0040:27

About this episode

In the summer of 1863, an unscrupulous businessman named Thomas Durant gained control of the Union Pacific Railroad, the company chartered by Congress to build the transcontinental railroad westward from the Missouri River. Durant quickly used his new position to siphon money into his own pockets.2,000 miles to the west in California, on the other end of the rail line, the Central Pacific would turn to armies of immigrant workers to grade and lay track through unforgiving and dangerous terrain.O

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About the show

American History Tellers

The Cold War, Prohibition, the Gold Rush, the Space Race — how well do you really know the stories that made America? Hosted by Lindsay Graham, from Wondery.

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