The Central Pacific Railroad was a rail network built between California and Utah in the 19th century, which formed part of the first transcontinental railroad in North America.
Think of the Central Pacific Railroad as one half of a zipper. It started from California and moved eastward, while its counterpart, the Union Pacific Railroad (the other half of the zipper), started from Nebraska and moved westward. When they met at Promontory Summit, Utah, it was like zipping up a jacket - connecting two separate parts into one unified whole.
Transcontinental Railroad: This is the combined effort of both Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads to create a continuous rail line that spanned across North America for the first time.
Union Pacific Railroad: This is another major railroad company that worked from Nebraska towards Utah to meet with Central Pacific's tracks, completing the Transcontinental Railroad.
Railroad Act of 1862: This federal law provided government support for the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad which involved both Central and Union Pacific Railroads.
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