National History Day Project

... We are working on a National History Day project, and our topic is the First Transcontinental Railroad. We were wondering if we could ask ... a few questions on this topic. We greatly appreciate your help.

Questions:

1) Exactly how many miles did the railroad span from Sacramento to Omaha? And, where exactly did the Union Pacific Rail Co. begin their side?

2) Were there any other ethnic groups who worked on the railroad besides Chinese, Irish, and whites?

3) What were some main obstacles that the rail companies faced as they laid track? What were the weather conditions like?

4) What were some main towns that the railroad passed through?

5) Were there any strikes or protests carried out by the rail workers during the construction?

Thank you so much for your time and assistance!