Resources and History about the Railroad

Spike 150 Reading List

The Utah State Library works to develop, advance, and promote library services and equal access to information and library resources to all Utah residents. As part of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, the Utah State Library Division developed a library reading list and toolkit with books, banners, bookmarks, and pencils. Find these resources at a participating library below.

Children’s Book List

Barton, Byron. Trains. 1986. ISBN: 978-0690045345
Behnke, Alison. Timeline History of the Transcontinental Railroad (Timeline Trackers: Westward Expansion). 2015. ISBN: 978-1467785815
Caravantes, Peggy. Building of the Transcontinental Railroad (Engineering That Made America). 2017. ISBN: 978-1503816350
Floca, Brian. Locomotive. 2013. ISBN: 978-1416994152
Fraser, Mary Ann. Ten Mile Day: And the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad. 1996. ISBN: 978-0805047035
Gibson, Karen. Oregon Trail: The Journey Across the Country from Lewis and Clark to the Transcontinental Railroad. 2017. ISBN: 978-1619305724
Lewis, Norma. Connecting the Coasts: The Race to Build the Transcontinental Railroad (Adventures on the American Frontier). 2014. ISBN: 978-1491401866
Nardo, Don. Golden Spike: How a Photograph Celebrated the Transcontinental Railroad (Captured History). 2015. ISBN: 978-0756549916
O’Brien, Patrick. Steam, Smoke and Steel: Back in Time with Trains. 2000. ISBN: 978-0881069723
Rinker, Sherri. Steam Train, Dream Train. 2013. ISBN: 78-1452109206
Sandler, Martin W. Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad. 2015. ISBN: 978-0763665272
Sheinkin, Steve. Which Way to the Wild West? Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn’t Tell You about Westward Expansion. 2015. ISBN: 978-0606375894
Shields, Amy. Trains. 2011. ISBN: 978-1426307782
The Big Book of Trains. 2016. DK. ISBN: 978-1465453617
Yin, and Chris Soentpiet. Coolies. 2003. ISBN: 78-1442018341

Adult Book List

After Promontory: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Transcontinental Railroading. Center for Railroad Photography. 2019. ISBN: 978-0253039606
Ambrose, Stephen. Nothing Like It In the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad. 2001. ISBN: 978-0743203173
Bain, David H. Old Iron Road. 2004. ISBN: 978-0670033089
Borneman, Walter R. Iron Horses: The Race to Bring The Railroads West. 2014. ISBN: 978-0316371773
Davis, Daniel. Across the Continent: The Union Pacific Photographs of Andrew Joseph Russell. 2018. ISBN: 978-1607816379
Fisher Fishkin, Shelley, et al. Zhi Lin: In Search of the Lost History of Chinese Migrants and the Transcontinental Railroads. 2017. ISBN: 978-0924335433
Murphy, Robert L. Eagle Talons: The Iron Horse Chronicles Book One. 2014. ISBN: 978-1432828769
Murphy, Robert L. Bear Claws: The Iron Horse Chronicles Book Two. 2015. ISBN: 978-1432830489
Murphy, Robert L. Golden Spike: The Iron Horse Chronicles Book Three. 2017. ISBN: 978-1432834395
White, Richard. Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America. 2011. ISBN: 978-0393342376

DVDs

Modern Marvels: Trains That Tamed the West. A&E. 2005.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

"Asian Americans" Documentary

Coinciding with May being Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, PBS launched a documentary titled “Asian Americans.” Told through individual lives and personal histories, the five-hour, three-episode series walks through Asian American history and how this group shapes America. The series, which premiered May 11, unpacks crucial events and remarkable people that defined Asian Americans and examines their critical roles in molding American history and identity from the first Asian immigrants in the 1850s through present times.

"Promontory Summit" - Black Irish Band

"Promontory Summit" - a new original song from the Black Irish Band. On their new 27th CD of the same name. The band will be performing at the 150th year celebration of the Golden Spike at Promontory Summit, Utah- May 10th, 2019

Promontory

This television documentary tells the detailed story of what it took to complete the world's largest transcontinental railroad, the people who made it all possible, and how it redefined both the nation and the state of Utah.

American Experience - Transcontinental Railroad

The Transcontinental Railroad explores the events, ideas, and people that contributed to the railroad –– one of the greatest engineering feats of the nineteenth century –– before, during, and after construction.

Union Pacific Steam Club

Join the Union Pacific Steam Club to get the latest news and scheduling information about Union Pacific’s legendary steam train program! You'll get notifications of all No. 844 and No. 4014 train schedules, tour stops and other excursion-related activities.

Union Pacific Race to Promontory

Read and interact with the history of the Transcontinental Railroad and the United States.

Transcontinental Railroad Story Map

Created by the Utah Division of State History Antiquities program, this story map offers historical context on how the construction of the railroad was such a watershed event for Utah and the American West. Produced in partnership with Spike 150.

Utah Historic Quarterly

Read more about the history of the Transcontinental Railroad and when it was completed.

Golden Spike National Historic Site

More information about the Golden Spike and upcoming events at the park.

Library of Congress

Explore the history of the Transcontinental Railroad with pictures and other resources from the Library of Congress.

H.R. 5751 and 2. 2831 Golden Spike 150th Anniversary Act

Read more about the Golden Spike 150th Anniversary Act and what it means for the future of the railroad.

Daughters of the Utah Pioneers

Learn more about Utah, the home of the Golden Spike, and its founders.

California Railway Museum

Want to know more about the history of railroads in California and the entire West?

California State Library

Want to learn more about railroads but don't know where to start? This research guide provides helpful information and resources.

Huntington Library

Read more about the creation of the Transcontinental Railroad and what it meant for the future of America.

Colorado Railroad Museum

For more information about the history of railroads in the West, visit the Colorado Railroad Museum website.

Economic Development Corporation of Utah

Interested in how Utah is preparing for the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad?

We invite you to learn more about the 150th anniversary celebration, the history of the completion of the transcontinental railroad and the importance of this pivotal event to Utah and our country.

Spike 150 Videos

Curriculum