The Golden Spike...Which isn't There

Transcontinental Locos Meet

Today we dropped by the Golden Spike National Historical Site in Promontory, UT.  Surprisingly there were a number of people visiting the site.  It is out in the middle of nowhere...although it is close to ATK (aerospace producer of rocket fuel) which is a helpful location when you can blow up the surrounding mountain side.

The rails join...imagine gold spike

Central Pacific rail bed

Unfortunately the site does not have the original locomotives or even the actual rail system.  The originals engines were scraped for a $1000 each early in the 1900's.  Those on display were reproduced in the 1970's...beautifully done, but it didn't feel right.   The rails were taken up during 1942 and reused for the war effort.  A shame that no one thought to preserve the originals.  Even the gold spike is no where close...it's at Stanford University.

Central Pacific Cut through hillside

We spent a couple of hours looking at the engines and walking along the old rail grades for both the Union and Central Pacific Railroads.  An interesting day before heading off to Twin Falls, ID.

ATK

ATK bunker

We're thinking of heading up to some camping in Montana tomorrow...providing the rain moves out during the morning and the fires aren't where we are heading.  Idaho is so smokey we're not sticking around here.

Cooper in his usual state of excitement