![]() In 1938, services to Promontory were discontinued. Above left, the marker still stands adjacent to the main entrance to the Visitor Centre. By that time, however, except for local residents, the original event appears to have been all but forgotten. In 1916, the Southern Pacific Railroad, which had assumed control of the Central Pacific in 1885, erected a marker at Promontory to commemorate the Golden Spike ceremony. ![]() The opening of the Lucin Cutoff hoisted on trestles in a straight line across Great Salt Lake west from Ogden in 1904 greatly reduced traffic through the old route, and railroad facilities, workers, shops and towns soon began to dwindle and disappear all along the line. Although the old line was subsequently used occasionally when bad weather threatened the cutoff, in 1942, the rails were torn up and salvaged for the war effort, an event marked by the ceremonial "undriving" of the last spike at Promontory. The grade had a major operating life of thirty-five years until the Lucin Cutoff was completed in 1904, connecting Lucin with Ogden directly across Salt Lake reducing the overland route by forty-four miles and eliminated the steep grades. ![]() It is a fascinating story, and you can find out more about the grade west from Rozel to Lucin, UT, on the Historic Central Pacific Grade page of this website. They both include markers at key points that give information on the historic significance, building techniques and people that built the transcontinental railway. It is one of two vehicle tours on the site (the Eastern Auto Tour appears later on this page). The gate in the distance is the western end of the seven mile NPS Western Auto Tour leading back to Promontory. On 10th May each year, the site also stages a re-enactment of the ceremony of driving the last spike, with participants dressed in period costume and the two locomotives meeting pilot to pilot as the originals did in 1869.Ībove, looking south along the old Central Pacific grade east of Rozel. It is better to visit between 1st May and Labor Day, however, when the two replica locomotives are steamed up and on display. Today, the site is a fascinating place to visit, wonderfully cared for by the National Parks Service. ![]() Although a somewhat unassuming place, it is the location of what has come to be seen as a seminal event in US history: on 10th May 1869, the last link in the nation's "first" transcontinental railway was forged by the ceremonial striking of the Golden Spike. Promontory was established as the meeting place for the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways by Congress on 10th April 1869. The site and Visitor Center is operated by the National Parks Service. The Golden Spike National Historic Site is located at Promontory, UT, eight miles off Utah Highway 83, fifty-three miles north-west of Ogden and eighty-six miles from Salt Lake City. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |