Omaha, NE—The Union Pacific Railroad celebrated its
150th anniversary on Sunday, July 1.
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act on
July 1, 1862, which named and directed two companies, the Union Pacific and the
Central Pacific, to construct a transcontinental railroad.
The railroad aimed
to connect the western plains of the United States to the West Coast,
and became the only transcontinental railroad to link 23 states.
The railroad's leadership says this of the present-day
progress of the Union Pacific:
"From 2000 through 2011, Union Pacific spent more than $31
billion on its network and operations, making needed investments in America's
infrastructure and enhancing its ability to provide safe, reliable,
fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible freight transportation.
Union Pacific operates competitive routes from all major
West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's
rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways."
For more information on the historic railroad, visit its
website here.
Copyright 2012 by
Young Broadcasting of Richmond
