Rival Rails: The Race to Build America's Greatest Transcontinental Railroad

Walter Borneman talked about his book Rival Rails: The Race to Build America’s Greatest Transcontinental Railroad. Before the Civil War the … read more

Walter Borneman talked about his book Rival Rails: The Race to Build America’s Greatest Transcontinental Railroad. Before the Civil War the most logical route for the planned transcontinental railroad was across the southern plains and the Southwest. For reasons more political than economic, the more northerly route was selected, and the two strands were joined at Promontory Point, Utah, in 1868. Then the competition began for the rights to build a web of lines across the southern, less snowy, route and a shorter link between the growing cities of Los Angeles and Chicago. He showed slides during his presentation, and afterward responded to questions from members of the audience. close

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  • Walter R. Borneman President Berry (Walter V. and Idun Y.) Foundation
  • Kimberlee Ried Specialist National Archives and Records Admin., Central Plains Region->Public Programs

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Rival Rails: The Race to Build America's Greatest Transcontinental Railroad

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Program ID:
299159-1
Category:
Public Affairs Event
Format:
Speech
Location:
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
First Aired:
Jun 05, 2011 | 10:01am EDT | C-SPAN 3
Last Aired:
Dec 18, 2011 | 1:56pm EST | C-SPAN 3

Airing Details

  • Jun 05, 2011 | 10:01am EDT | C-SPAN 3
  • Jun 05, 2011 | 9:02pm EDT | C-SPAN 3
  • Jun 06, 2011 | 12:03am EDT | C-SPAN 3
  • Jun 11, 2011 | 5:02pm EDT | C-SPAN 3
  • Jun 12, 2011 | 4:02am EDT | C-SPAN 3
  • Dec 17, 2011 | 9:00pm EST | C-SPAN 3
  • Dec 18, 2011 | 12:57am EST | C-SPAN 3
  • Dec 18, 2011 | 1:56pm EST | C-SPAN 3
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Rival Rails: The Race to Build America's Greatest Transcontinental Railroad

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