By: HISTORY.com Editors

1917

U.S. government takes over control of nation’s railroads

HISTORY.com Editors

Published: November 05, 2009

Last Updated: May 27, 2025

Eight months after the United States enters World War I on behalf of the Allies, President Woodrow Wilson announces the nationalization of a large majority of the country’s railroads under the Federal Possession and Control Act.

Evolution of Railroads

In 1869 the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads converged at Promontory Summit, Utah, completing the Transcontinental Railroad.

The U.S. entry into the war in April 1917 coincided with a downturn in the fortunes of the nation’s railroads: rising taxes and operations costs, combined with prices that were fixed by law, had pushed many railroad companies into receivership as early as late 1915. A year later, in a last-minute bill passed through Congress, Wilson had forced the railroad management to accept union demands for an eight-hour work day. Still, many skilled workers were leaving the cash-poor railroads to work in the booming armaments industry or to enlist in the war effort.

By the end of 1917, it seemed that the existing railroad system was not up to the task of supporting the war effort and Wilson decided on nationalization. Two days after his announcement, the United States Railroad Administration (USRA) seized control. William McAdoo, Wilson’s secretary of the treasury, was appointed Director General of Railroads. The railroads were subsequently divided into three divisions—East, West and South. Passenger services were streamlined, eliminating a significant amount of inessential travel. More than 100,000 new railroad cars and 1,930 steam engines were ordered–designed to the latest standards–at a total cost of $380 million.

In March 1918, the Railroad Control Act was passed into law. It stated that within 21 months of a peace treaty, the railroads would be returned by the government to their owners and that the latter would be compensated for the usage of their property. Consequently, the USRA was disbanded two years later, in March 1920, and the railroads became private property once again.

Timeline

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Citation Information

Article title: U.S. government takes over control of nation’s railroads
Author: HISTORY.com Editors
Website Name: History
URL: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/december-26/u-s-government-takes-over-control-of-nations-railroads

Date Accessed: July 08, 2025
Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: May 27, 2025
Original Published Date: November 05, 2009

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