In the 19th century, railroad transportation was the largest industry in the United States, with economic importance comparable to today’s automobile and aviation sectors.

Before the Civil War, railroads were mainly concentrated east of the Mississippi River, and most lines were short. In the years after the war, four major railroad companies nearly controlled all rail routes in the East and began constructing new lines in the West.

In 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed. Two companies undertook construction: one building westward from the East, and the other building eastward from the West. After six years of arduous effort, the two crews finally met in Utah.

Workers hammered a golden spike into the track, marking the successful union of the two lines. This was a landmark moment in U.S. history, connecting the East and West coasts by rail and achieving practical national unity.

Railroad competition was intense. The most influential figure was Cornelius Vanderbilt. Before entering the railroad business, he had already amassed great wealth through shipping. He later established the New York Central Railroad, the largest railroad company in the East. Vanderbilt did not personally plan railroad construction but manipulated the industry by controlling railroad stocks.

Vanderbilt sought to dominate the entire railroad industry, but unlike Carnegie and Rockefeller, he did not fully succeed. Other wealthy railroad owners blocked his plans. Nonetheless, Vanderbilt wielded enormous power and influence.

During his lifetime, he donated to establish the famous Vanderbilt University in the South. He passed away in 1877 at the age of 83.