The Wabash Cannonball

Overview

It is one of the most famous names in railroading, but the story of the Wabash line is much more than the tale of one fast train. The Wabash was built and broken by John Jay Gould, one of the most notorious Wall Street traders of the 19th century. Gould dreamed of creating a transcontinental rail empire, but poor decisions and bad luck denied him his vision. THE WABASH CANNONBALL tells the complete tale behind one of the most storied and famous railroads in America. Discover how, when the depression of 1884 forced Gould to put the Wabash into receivership, he actually convinced the government to give it back to him! See extensive footage from the glory days of steam, when the Wabash's habit of running their luxurious passenger trains and fast freights at breakneck speeds led to the "Cannonball" nickname. But it would be decades before the Wabash officially adopted the moniker, and by then, the seeds of its demise had already been sown.