
Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation
The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad
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Narrated by:
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Grover Gardner
About this listen
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 reservedListeners also enjoyed...
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awesome audio book .
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A fascinating look at a Major historical event.
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Now if Mr. Martin W. Sandler & Mr. Grover Gardner would team up on other efforts... I'd be all over those too!!!!!
This has been told before... this one, BRILLIANT!
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Enough history without too much detail
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This is a wonderful story.
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the wedding of the Rails May 10th 1869
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In 1869 "Base Ball" rode the railroad
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If you enjoy history
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If you could sum up Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation in three words, what would they be?
not boring AT ALL!What did you like best about this story?
Everyone had their piece in the story, and learning how each played a role and the circumstances that allowed the pieces to come together.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
noAny additional comments?
I listened to this with my elementary school children to learn how circumstance and geography is played such a strong role in our country. Also touched on race, the civil war, and different cultures.Walked us through with fun and insight
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The story is of course more accurate
Could have lasted longer
I really like Grover Gardner as narrator could not stop listening
Excellent
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