The railroad companies had a huge impact on the development of the West. As people moved to the West, they needed a way to transport products from the West to the East. They also needed products from the East to be sent to the West. The railroad companies provided this service. As more people moved west, companies began to expand westward also. The people who lived in the West demanded products and services. Businesses expanded to meet this growing demand. Without the railroad companies, it would have been very hard for businesses to expand. Finally, as people moved to the West, they needed a good mode of transportation so they and their families could travel back to the east or to other parts of the country. Without the railroad companies, westward expansion would have been more difficult.