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Empire Express

Building the First Transcontinental Railroad

By: David Haward Bain

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Paperback | 1 September 2000 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
848 Pages

Age
18+

Dimensions(cm)
23.6 x 15.5 x 4.6

Paperback

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$49.75

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After the Civil War, the building of the transcontinental railroad was the nineteenth century''s most transformative event. Beginning in 1842 with a visionary''s dream to span the continent with twin bands of iron, Empire Express captures three dramatic decades in which the United States effectively doubled in size, fought three wars, and began to discover a new national identity. From self--made entrepreneurs such as the Union Pacific''s Thomas Durant and era--defining figures such as President Lincoln to the thousands of laborers whose backbreaking work made the railroad possible, this extraordinary narrative summons an astonishing array of voices to give new dimension not only to this epic endeavor but also to the culture, political struggles, and social conflicts of an unforgettable period in American history.

Industry Reviews

"Rich with scandal, tragedy, and visionary characters".-- SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction History Regional & National History History of the Americas Transportation Trains & Railways in General Engineering & Technology Transport Technology & Trades Biographies & True Stories Biographies Historical, Political and Military Biographies

1845-57: A Procession of Dreamers
"For All the Human Family"	p. 3
"Who Can Oppose Such a Work?"	p. 16
"I Must Walk Toward Oregon"	p. 26
"The Great Object for Which We Were Created"	p. 37
"An Uninhabited and Dreary Waste"	p. 47
1860-61: Union, Disunion, Incorporation
"Raise the Money and I Will Build Your Road"	p. 57
"There Comes Crazy Judah"	p. 67
"The Marks Left by the Donner Party"	p. 78
"The Most Difficult Country Ever Conceived"	p. 85
"We Have Drawn the Elephant"	p. 104
1863: Last of the Dreamers
"Speculation Is as Fatal to It as Secession"	p. 122
"I Have Had a Big Row and Fight"	p. 131
1864:Struggle for Momentum
"First Dictator of the Railroad World"	p. 151
"Dancing with a Whirlwind"	p. 165
"Trustees of the Bounty of Congress"	p. 181
1865: The Losses Mount
"The Great Cloud Darkening the Land"	p. 205
"If We Can Save Our Scalps"	p. 219
"I Hardly Expect to Live to See It Completed"	p. 234
1866: Eyeing the Main Chance
"Vexation, Trouble, and Continual Hindrance"	p. 252
"The Napoleon of Railways"	p. 261
"We Swarmed the Mountains with Men"	p. 281
"Until They Are Severely Punished"	p. 301
1867: Hell on Wheels
"Nitroglycerine Tells"	p. 315
"Our Future Power and Influence"	p. 330
"They All Died in Their Boots"	p. 360
"There Are Only Five of Us"	p. 391
1868: Going for Broke
"More Hungry Men in Congress"	p. 435
"Bring On Your Eight Thousand Men"	p. 469
"We Are in a Terrible Sweat"	p. 506
"A Man for Breakfast Every Morning"	p. 550
1869: Battleground and Meeting Ground
"A Resistless Power"	p. 594
"We Have Got Done Praying"	p. 645
1872-73: Scandals, Scapegoats, and Dodgers
Epilogue: "Trial of the Innocents"	p. 675
Notes	p. 713
Bibliography	p. 759
Index	p. 779
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

Empire Express

Building the First Transcontinental Railroad

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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