Another stop on the way home from Declo Days....was the Golden Spike National Monument. Jim was reading a family history about his Grandfather and it mentioned that he was there when they drove the last spike. We were just about 10 miles from the exit when he read that, and I asked, "Do you want to go there? We never have, I think we should!" He said "Sure, it sounds like a good idea." So off we went.
It's quite a drive from the freeway, and I have to say when I thought of Promontory Point, I always thought it meant a point on the Great Salt Lake. But the lake is several miles from here. So it must mean something else....Hummmm, something to research.
We were very fortunate with our timing. I guess three times a day they actually MOVE the trains and re-enact the "meeting". We arrived there just 20 minutes before one of the times, so we were able to go watch the big trains actually operate.
Here is the 119 from the East and it operates on coal.
And here is the Jupiter from the West and it operates on wood. Well, actually they BOTH operate on STEAM, it just what they burn to build up the heat to produce the steam. I didn't realize that they engines were painted such bright colors back then, but they wanted to attract attention, so they were very bright and boldly painted at the time. It wasn't until later that they mostly went to black.
Here comes the 119! It's almost there.........
....and there it is!
And here is the special tie and plaque where the last spike was driven. The spike isn't actually there.
And a closeup of the plaque.
It was a very educational visit. Then it was time to head for home.
It's quite a drive from the freeway, and I have to say when I thought of Promontory Point, I always thought it meant a point on the Great Salt Lake. But the lake is several miles from here. So it must mean something else....Hummmm, something to research.
We were very fortunate with our timing. I guess three times a day they actually MOVE the trains and re-enact the "meeting". We arrived there just 20 minutes before one of the times, so we were able to go watch the big trains actually operate.
Here is the 119 from the East and it operates on coal.
And here is the Jupiter from the West and it operates on wood. Well, actually they BOTH operate on STEAM, it just what they burn to build up the heat to produce the steam. I didn't realize that they engines were painted such bright colors back then, but they wanted to attract attention, so they were very bright and boldly painted at the time. It wasn't until later that they mostly went to black.
Here comes the 119! It's almost there.........
....and there it is!
And here is the special tie and plaque where the last spike was driven. The spike isn't actually there.
And a closeup of the plaque.
It was a very educational visit. Then it was time to head for home.
1 comment:
Maybe if we went back to colorful trains then hoodlums wouldn't feel so compelled to make them "colorful" again with their graffiti which by the way.....some of those paintings are VERY talented....too bad they put it to waste.......
My kids would love this monument. We'll have to see about taking them there.
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