The Golden SpikeApr 25, 2010
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Ad for transcontinental train ride
| If you like trains and history this is the place to come. We are just 25 miles from Promontory Summit in northern Utah where the golden spike was hammered into the last railroad tie to connect the Union Pacific Railroad from the East with the Central Pacific from the West. While there were not many people at the celebration on May 10, 1869 when the transcontinental railroad was completed, people in cities and towns all over America celebrated this major accomplishment. The railroad changed life in this country drastically. People could travel across the country in 5-7 days instead of taking weeks and goods could travel from one end of the country to another. The life of Indians on the range would come to an end and the West would be settled by homesteaders looking for a better life. We enjoyed the visitor's center and then walked out to the rail tie where the last connection was made. Then we went to another building to see the re-created locomotives, Jupiter for the Central Pacific Railroad, which built the railroad from Sacramento and No. 119 of the Union Pacific that built the railroad from Omaha. What a feat this was. The work was done by thousands of Chinese immigrants, former slaves, Irish immigrants and Civil War veterans. Starting next Saturday the locomotives will be used to re-enact the event that occurred in this remote place. We wish we were able to see that but going into the building where they are kept and talking with the people getting the trains ready was very enjoyable. The views around here of the mountains and the valley are beautiful. We also saw some people who looked like cowboys and cowgirls with their cattle. Last stop was a bird sanctuary. Unfortunately the road is being replaced and we had to drive 12 miles on a rough road. We probably wouldn't do that again but the red Honda seemed to take it in stride, better than I did. |
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