On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Point, Utah, the dream of a railroad to span the American continent and link its coasts became a triumphant reality. Now the way was open for the vast expansion and social changes that would make America great.

The idea for a transcontinental railroad was the brainchild of Theodore Judah who died penniless and unknown without having seen his dream come true. In the mid-1800's there were only 100 miles of track and 10 locomotives in the entire United States. "Build a railroad to shrink the continent and it will change the whole world," said the visionaries. But it wasn't until 1862 that Congress authorized the Union Pacific to extend west from the Missouri River, and the Central Pacific to lay its track east from Sacramento. Then the race was on!

Both were harassed by Indian attacks, brutal weather, floods, labor shortages. With pressure mounting, Charles Crocker of the C.P. took a daring step. He replaced his dwindling work gangs with Chinese coolies - "Crocker's Pets" - patient, placid workers who accepted low wages and could exist on rice and fish. With them and the U.P.'s work force of Irish "paddies",  Swedes, Danes, Finns, ex-Union soldiers, Negroes, the back-breaking work was accomplished. On both sides political chicanery and financial skullduggery slowed down progress. But nothing could halt the fiercely competing railroads. All America followed the struggle, day by day.

Over six years passed before the rails met. On that momentous day, the symbolic golden spike was driven into the last rail. East and West were joined at last!

The building of the transcontinental railroad was one of the great engineering feats of history, and a fascinating chapter in the growth of our country.

From the dust jacket