Railroads and westward expansion have captured the imagination of many Americans, and for good reason: when an "iron road" linking the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America was completed in 1869, it enabled Americans to explore places once considered unreachable. The new railroad technologies contributed greatly to the development of the western United States, making settlement of these lands by American and European immigrants possible on an unprecedented scale. Check out these websites for more information. Jump to Another Topic RESOURCES BLM NATIONAL AND STATE WEB PAGES BLM "Steel Rails and Iron Horses" Science & Children article that discusses the history, science, and technology of American railroads; includes classroom activities http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/steel_rails_and_iron_horses/index.html BLM-California Bizz Johnson Trail Description of a trail that follows an old line of the Southern Pacific Railroad http://pub4.caso.ca.blm.gov:80/eaglelake/bizztrail.html BLM-California BLM Partners Open Sacramento Rail Trail Information on a trail that follows the 1888 Shasta route of the Southern Pacific Railroad http://pub4.caso.ca.blm.gov:80/news/2000/07/nr/sacriver_rail_trail_opens.html BLM-Idaho, "The Little Engine That Could: The Shay" and "The Shay's Last Days" Accounts of the Shay, a small, powerful geared train engine used in steep terrain for hauling ore and lumber in Idaho http://www.id.blm.gov/archaeology/news/data/shay.htm and http://www.id.blm.gov/archaeology/news/data/shaylast.htm BLM-Oregon "The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Checkerboard" Explanation of the railroad-related checkerboard land ownership pattern within the Monument http://www.or.blm.gov:80/CSNM/matrix.htm BLM-Utah Central Pacific Transcontinental Railroad Grade Trail Description of the 90-mile trail following the historic route of the first transcontinental railroad http://www.ut.blm.gov/Olympics/Recsite/central.html BLM-Utah Transcontinental Railroad National Back Country Byway Description of the "Promontory Branch" byway which winds through remnants of railroad camps, towns, and trestles. http://www.ut.blm.gov/saltlake_fo/Recreation/Back_Country/transcontinental_rail_road_1869_.htm BLM-Wyoming "Continental Divide National Scenic Trail: The Checkerboard" Explanation of the railroad-related checkerboard land ownership pattern around the Trail http://www.wy.blm.gov/recreation/cdnst/ckrbrd.htm

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