In the race to build the western portion of the transcontinental railroad, the Central Pacific Railroad recruited over ten thousand young men from China, creating a skilled and dependable workforce. Upon completion, many of these workers, who had come to America under contract for employment, returned home to China, while others remained to find employment building railroads throughout the United States. At one end of the twenty-two-mile Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad that connected Nevada City with Colfax and the Central Pacific Railroad, construction began in 1875 and over three hundred Chinese immigrants labored to build the line. They built the railroad grade over the rugged and uneven terrain between Colfax and Grass Valley, scaling canyons, filling ravines, and preparing the way for bridges and trestles using hand tools, horse-drawn scrapers, hand carts, and their determination. They completed the task in early 1876. Although considered more dependable than white workers, they were paid less. When the railroad was completed in 1876, most of the Chinese moved on to other railroad construction projects, while a few remained as track workers maintaining the NCNGRR. Apart from laboring on the railroad, several Chinese businessmen in Nevada City were investors and retained stock in the company into the 20th century. The contributions of Chinese immigrants were an essential element in the building and success of the NCNGRR.