
About this episode
The episode explores the challenges and urgency of building the Santa Fe railroad across the Arkansas Valley in 1873.
Send us Fan Mail A railroad can feel inevitable when you see it on a map. Up close, it’s a gamble with a hard deadline, exhausted men, and miles of empty country that refuse to cooperate. We pick up the Santa Fe’s high-stakes race across the Arkansas Valley, where March 3, 1873 hangs over every hammer swing. Miss the Colorado border and the land grants that bankroll the dream can disappear, taking the company with them. Beat the clock and the “paper railroad” becomes a steel fact that rewires...
People in this episode
Hosts: Michael King, Brad Smalley
Topics covered
- railroad history
- Santa Fe
- Arkansas Valley
- land grants
- construction deadlines
Keywords
- railroad
- Santa Fe
- Arkansas Valley
- construction
- March 3, 1873
- land grants
- history
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Santa Fe, Arkansas Valley, Colorado
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