Promontory, Utah - September 8th, 2013
Drive by the Hill Aerospace Museum between Salt Lake City & Ogden on the way to Promontory, Utah
Outdoor displays: F-89, F-4, C-124C, B1-B, CH-21C
Sadly, not enought time to stop and visit
See the Great Salt Lake off in the distance
Continue north on I-15 to Brigham City
Heading northwest on State Highway 83
Getting close once a left is taken onto 7200 N Road
A great place for two transnational railroads to meet!
Finally arrive at Golden Spike National Historic Site
Visitor Center completed on the centennial, 1969
Southern Pacific Monument marked the site since 1916
The monument was restored and moved here in 1965
Through the visitor center and out the door to see the golden spike site with replica locomotives
West bound Union Pacific No. 119
Original built in 1868 and scrapped in 1903 for $1000
East bound Central Pacific Jupiter
Original built in 1868 and scrapped about the same time
Park Ranger talks about the locomotives and the event
Flashy engines were rolling billboards for the companies
We show up just in time for an engine demonstration
No. 119 will back up, and cross tracks to the other line
No. 119 rides the line nearer the visitor center
Bell, whistle and chugging engine are quite authentic
No. 119 continues on to a safe stream release point
Back to the track cross and return to the original spot
Stand clear until it stops, steams, and locked in place
Engineer puts chains around drive wheels to park
Now safely approach the laurelwood tie
Original tie was lost in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Holes were drilled for the soft spikes to be tapped in
4 precious metal spikes were tapped in, then removed
Platforms in the back to view the engine compartments
Engine of Union Pacific No. 119
No. 119 burned coal to make steam
View of detail on the No. 119 and Jupiter in the distance
Colorful tender car for the 119
David poses with the Jupiter (red & blue!)
View of Jupiter's engine compartment
Jupiter burned wood at the time of the golden spike
Dave and Brad check out the trains, each with an engine viewing platform
View of the visitor center from behind the trains
Lucin Cutoff opened 1904 bypassing Promontory Summit
Original track was pulled up in 1942 for the war effort
Track was relaid in 1969 with stand-in trains on display
National Park Service ordered replica trains built in 1974
Replica trains were finished in 1979
Operations began on May 10, 1979, 110 years later
1869 era locomotive demonstrations have continued ever since, which is greatly appreciated
Inside the museum, building the grade and ties
Images and models of that day back in 1869
Original laurel tie was lost in the 1906 SF earthquake
Arizona iron-silver-gold spike (left) now in NYC
2nd gold spike (right) was lost in the 1906 SF earthquake
Last Spike (left) 17.6 carat gold now at Stanford U
Nevada silver spike (right) now at Stanford U.
Replica spike that flew on Atlantis STS-38
background image from www.grsites.com