As we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Transdev reflects on the Chinese immigrant laborers who played a vital role in shaping America’s transit system. Their efforts to build the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s shaped the nation we know today.
During the United States’ labor shortage due to the Civil War, more than 15,000 Chinese workers built around 700 miles of railroad track primarily under the Central Pacific Railroad, connecting the East and West Coasts of the U.S. These laborers worked under harsh conditions for long hours and low wages.
While the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, the Chinese laborers received little recognition for their work.
Despite the challenges they faced, these laborers displayed strength. This project changed transportation, commerce, and communication across the U.S. Their legacy remains an important part of American history.
