Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Railway That United America

NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD is the incredible story of the men who built the transcontinental railroad. It captures the efforts of a diverse group of individuals who played a pivotal role in this monumental achievement:

• The investors who risked their businesses and money.
• The enlightened politicians who recognized the importance of the railroad.
• The engineers and surveyors who put their lives on the line, with some paying the ultimate price.
• The laborers, including Irish and Chinese immigrants, defeated Confederate soldiers, and others, who endured backbreaking and dangerous work on the tracks.

The U.S. government fueled the urgency of this project by pitting two companies—the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroads—against each other in a race for funding, prioritizing speed over caution.

To make this ambitious vision a reality, locomotives, rails, and spikes were transported through extraordinary means:

• Shipped from the East through Panama or around South America to the West.
• Hauled across the country to the Plains.

In the hands of Stephen E. Ambrose, this epic enterprise—driven by immense brainpower, muscle, and sweat—comes vibrantly to life, offering readers a captivating glimpse into one of the most remarkable achievements in American history.