5. Guerrilla Warfare on the Tracks
The struggle for railroad supremacy often devolved into guerrilla warfare. Private militias and hired guns waged covert campaigns, destroying bridges, tearing up tracks, and launching raids against rival crews. These violent tactics blurred the line between ruthless business competition and open conflict, turning the railroads into battlegrounds. The lawlessness and sabotage that followed became a hallmark of America’s railroad wars. Explore these turbulent clashes at PBS.
