Brian Westgate Wrote:
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> Why was it built by 2 separate companies meeting
> in Utah? Why not just UP all the way from Omaha to
> Sacramento?

The country was in a hurry to get the railroad built, and there was no practical way to get track supplies to the mid-points of the project, except from the east over whatever rails had been built and then only to the current railhead.

Starting the western end pretty much at the same time as the eastern end meant that supplies for the western end (Central Pacific) could be delivered by ship. While ship journeys for track supplies were slow, they were practical.

So track construction could progress on two fronts independent of each other.

And then there was a bit of "spreading the wealth". Three of the 'Big Four' of CP were influential California residents.

And the rivalry between the two railroads (race to gather the payments and land awarded per mile completed) was a factor in speeding completion of the railroad.