Top Ten Things Not to Do Working on the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869

~ John W. Howell

More of the historical backdrop for this set of Top Ten Things Not to Do. This post was published on September 24, 2018. I hope you enjoy. it

Top Ten Things Not to Do

The Top Ten Things Not to Do Working on the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869

10. If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not forget to double-check your measurements. If you do, at best, you can correct any mistakes before the East meets the West. At worst, the Westbound group will be in Promontory Summit, Utah, and your Eastbound group will end up in Provo. (You only missed the union by a few hundred miles, Ferris. Maybe you can cut over before the three-foot snows.)

9 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not borrow Tiny the WWF champ’s sledgehammer. If you do, at best, Tiny will not know you have it. At worst, Tiny has been seeking help for his inability to let things go, but has not addressed the part about possessions. (If you can, Forest, I would sneak that hammer back into Tiny’s tent since it looks like he is in stage ten of a meltdown looking for it.)

8 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not forget your gloves. If you do, at best, you might be able to buy a pair. At worst, you will be using a shovel to dig out the rail bed for twelve hours a day. (It might be a good idea to get those hands wrapped somehow, Fredrik. Otherwise, I think you may be out of a job.)

7 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not light up your cigar as you are pouring gunpowder into the blasting holes. If you do, at best, the wind will save you. At worst, you will get a lesson in flight long before the Wright brothers. (That ringing in your ears means you are lucky to be here, Fakhir.)

6 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not complain about the food. If you do, at best, no one will listen. At worst, the cook, who is a graduate of the Culinary Institute, has a huge knife and very tender feelings. (I think it might be time to try out those new running boots, Flint. I don’t think an apology is going to work this time.)

5 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not decide to sleep out on the prairie even though the stars are beautiful at night. If you do, at best, the mosquitoes will drive you back to camp. At worst, your slumber will be disturbed by growling noises you have never heard before. (Those are wolves, Finnigan. Playing possum won’t help. I would get up and run screaming back to camp.)

4 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, I would not try to introduce s’mores at the nightly campfire. If you do, at best, your fellow workers won’t pay attention. At worst, you won’t have enough to go around, and the resulting riot will get you fired. (Now that you are way out here, Findlay, how are you going to get back to San Francisco?)

3 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not start singing, “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” If you do, at best, you won’t remember the words and will stop. At worst, you’ll get to the part about Dina blowing her horn, and the rest of the workers will want to know who Dina is. (Looks like you have a credibility problem, Flynn. Everyone wants to meet Dina. You’d better figure out who is going to play Dina.)

2 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not think you can organize a union of workers. If you do, at best, your boss will stop you before you get too far. At worst, the railroad company and the government will escort you off the job and on to a buckboard heading back to civilization. (I guess no one told you, Fabian, that this was going to be dangerous, unsafe, hard work, and you would only get minimum wage.)

1 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not party too hard after the last spike is driven. If you do, at best, you will have a killer headache the next day. At worst, you might miss the train back to your city. (Well, Fachnan, it looks like you might be asking the local tribe of native Americans if they have room for a blood brother. Don’t be too surprised if they are less than friendly. You just finished a railroad through their land without their permission.)

63 thoughts on “Top Ten Things Not to Do Working on the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869”

  12. If I were working on the first transcontinental railroad, I would certainly not light up your cigar. I wouldn’t do it at the gas station either. BTW the movie Once Upon a Time in the West featured the the expansion of the railroad. I think it is a great movie.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. Reading this made me imagine how difficult and dangerous life was for the workers who built the first transcontinental railroad in 1869. Behind the humor, there is also a powerful reminder of sacrifice, hard work, survival, and human determination. As someone who understands struggle and hardship, I can feel the deeper meaning inside these words. The workers faced freezing weather, dangerous explosions, hunger, exhaustion, and fear every single day just to connect a nation. Even though the writing is funny and entertaining, it also honors the strength of ordinary people who carried heavy burdens and never gave up. What touched me most is how history is often built by people whose pain and sacrifice are forgotten. Railroads, roads, and nations are not only made of iron and stone they are built with human sweat, courage, and dreams.

    This post is creative, humorous, and meaningful at the same time. It reminds us to respect workers, value history, and remember the people who suffered silently behind great achievements.

    “Behind every great construction in history, there were workers carrying invisible stories of pain, hope, and survival.” ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. On PBS American Experience on the Transcontinental Railroad they talk about the photo. Unfortunately, some people were considered more important to photograph, although it was others who did the hardest work.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        2. Well, there are pictures of the Chinese and Black crews, but this photo was to show the historic meeting up of the rails. The folks in the picture show the story that the men in charge wanted to tell. Thanks for being open to this discussion, John.

          Liked by 1 person

        3. We cannot change history, whether we agree with what went on or not. We should learn from the past and try to not repeat mistakes. It is always good to discuss inequities, Rebecca. I get very sad when I see seemingly intelligent people go off on ideological tantrums against one another. Thanks for the discussion. 😊

          Liked by 1 person

  21. You gave us a lot to chew-chew-chew on here Sheriff.

    Man those were truly hard times. To think, no partying or Smores . . and ten, twelve and fourteen hour days with no state mandated lunch breaks!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Put your favorite fiction or non-fiction in writing. I would love to hear from you