American Dream--Transcontinental Railway

Earlier i discussed the Local transport network in Stockholm, This blog is in continuation of that.

I believe transport network of any country is an indicator of the development and growth of that country, Countries which lack in transport infrastructure struggle to manage there resources. Railway holds a vital place in transport system and Pakistan need a hell a lot of improvement in there Railway network, I wish one day Pakistan will be connected to Europe, China and Russia through Railway.

Two historical events that changed the course of history, that definitely changed the life of a common man and country, that changed the dynamics of economy, trade, market and sociology are linked to railway, this blog is about the first one, second will be discussed later, these two events are source of inspiration for me, i want Pakistan to focus on it transport set up.

American Dream-Transcontinental Railway   

Complete Route L-R (California-Nevada-Utah-Wyoming-Nebraska-Iowa.

Americans should be thankful to Chinese and Irish, The dream of Abraham Lincoln was fulfilled by Chinese workers, the dream was to connect the east and west of USA with the rail road 'TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILTRACK' history tells us that American labour ran away when they were asked to start the work on one of the most difficult terrain of that time, the western part of the track in California.

Tunnel Start-Sierra Nevada

It all started in a town called Sacramento (capital of california), Train route started from Sacramento and it had to cross the mountain ranges of Sierra Nevada to reach the great American desert. Beyond the summit of Sierra Nevada they had a clear run of hundred of miles worth millions of dollars for those involved in the construction.They worked for around six years to dig a tunnel through Nevada mountain and to reach the other side of summit, and they did that, just imagine the happiness when they would have seen the light on the other side of tunnel, i can imagine the joy you get on the completion of any task which is laborious. Chinese labour worked hard on this western patch and they did a marvellous job, New york tribune (1865) says

'they are a great army laying siege to nature in the strongest citadel, the rugged mountains look like stupendous ant hill, they swarm with chinese workers tunneling, wheeling, carting,drilling and blasting the rocks and earth'

Chines Labour-look at there Hats,they arr Chinese not Irish :)

Eastern patch-Nebraska-Irish Labour

Work on eastern patch was also in progress most of the labour was Irish, they had relatively easy terrain but they faced continuous resistance from the Indians and other insurgents, but they killed almost every native who came in there way while moving towards west, for sure the track in central america was built on the bodies of  native American but sometimes you have to take stern decision and when it is national issue than one should go for it.

 It is said that chief engineer responsible for this patch Grenville Dodge manipulated the route to favour his land holdings, but what they achieved at the end worth a lot more than that little corruption.

Congress decided a common point known as Promontory Point in UTAH, and now the race began between the western and eastern team that who will reach the point first, interestingly it was the western team with chinese labours who got there first.

 i think after two or three days eastern team reached there and honestly speaking no one can measure the joy on the faces of those who worked for so many years and who lost many of there friends.

We did it Men at there best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They changed the world, they changed America they connected the east and the west, they connected pacific with Atlantic, what else you ask for....................Great Job.