Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation

The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad

De: Martin W. Sandler

Narrado por: Grover Gardner

Experience the race of rails to link the country - and meet the men behind this incredible feat - in a riveting story about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.

In the 1850s gold fever swept the West, but people had to walk, sail, or ride horses for months on end to seek their fortunes. The question of faster, safer transportation was posed by national leaders. But with 1,800 miles of seemingly impenetrable mountains, searing deserts, and endless plains between the Missouri River and San Francisco, could a transcontinental railroad be built? It seemed impossible.

Eventually two railroad companies, the Central Pacific, which laid the tracks eastward, and the Union Pacific, which moved west, began the job. In one great race between iron men with iron wills, tens of thousands of workers blasted the longest tunnels that had ever been constructed, built the highest bridges that had ever been created, and finally linked the nation by two bands of steel, changing America forever.

©2015 Martin W. Sandler, original book published by Candlewick Press (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

A fascinating look at a Major historical event.

Learned some really interesting details about building the transcontinental railroad. The book is well written and seems thoroughly researched. The narration was top notch. Grover Gardner is one of the best I've heard and doesn't ever lose energy or come across as dry. Nicely done.

awesome audio book .

a very enjoyable book. takes you back in time to the challenging times of railroad construction and the travails undergone by the workers in order to get the job done.

This has been told before... this one, BRILLIANT!

Even though you've heard or read this information before, this book composes the story in an easy to follow, enjoyable fashion. Well worth your time & money!
Now if Mr. Martin W. Sandler & Mr. Grover Gardner would team up on other efforts... I'd be all over those too!!!!!

Enough history without too much detail

While I admit to being a railroad enthusiast I get easily bored by having too many facts and figures in a historical account. This was a perfect blend of my estimation and well read

This is a wonderful story.

The most detailed account you could imagine of the building of the transcontinental railroad. Particularly fascinating were the challenges face by the Central Pacific in building across Donner Pass from Roseville to Reno. I loved this story. Highly recommend it.