Promontory Summit

In 1849 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in California.  That set off a mass migration of people heading to California to stake their claim.  The only practical mode of transportation at the time was horse and cart along the California Trail. 

This prompted the construction of the transcontinental railroad to connect California to the rest of the United States.  To complete it faster the railroad was built from both ends by competing railroads.  They were paid by the mile so they wanted to build as fast as possible so they would lay more track than the other.

Promontory Summit is the place where the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.  The completion of the railroad spelled the end for the California Trail, the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express.

Stephen Ambrose wrote a great book about the men who built the railroad called Nothing Like it in the World.

The track that was laid to complete the transcontinental railroad.

The most track that was laid in one day was 10 miles.

Plaque commemorating the completion of the railroad.

The meeting of trains at Promontory Summit

Today at Promontory Summit

Union Pacific # 119

Central Pacific Jupiter

There was this statue that didn't make much sense...

Wrong place to view from

...until you stood in the right place to view it.

Right place to view from