Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Which train got to the point first??? Union Pacific no. 119, or Central Pacific's Jupiter??? I have read everything and can not find the answer, please help. Thanks!!!
—Eric
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 10:06 PM
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3 Comments:
It's a trick question, because neither train ever got to Promontory point. The point is the southern tip of a peninsula that projects into the Great Salt Lake from the northern shore. Trains didn't get there until a causeway was built across the lake for the Lucin Cutoff completed in 1903. In 1869, the rails were routed through Ogden and north of the Great Salt Lake to the meeting place at Promontory Summit (Much to the dismay of the Mormons who had hoped the transcontinental railroad would go south of the Great Salt Lake, through Salt Lake City, as originally planned).
The completion ceremony was scheduled for May 8, 1869. Stanford's train was pulled by the locomotive Antelope, but when it got damaged en-route, the Jupiter was substituted, and they arrived with time to spare. Durant's UPRR train, by contrast was delayed when workers took offense to not being paid, requiring the ceremony to be put off for two days until May 10, 1869. ("You say you remember that you were detained in laying the last rail by the absence of Mr. Durant, and you understood he was kept by white men, and you say that was because their wages were unpaid.") That's why the golden last spike is engraved May 8th instead of May 10th.
You can read about this in more detail, in David Bain's excellent book, Empire Express.
yes but who OR which side layed the last rail union or centeral Because I need to know with company compleated there track first.
"Driving the Last Spike at Promontory, 1869" by J. N. Bowman states: "At about 10:30 the Chinese began the final grading for the last 2 rails, the laying of the ties and rails, the driving of the spikes, and the bolting of the fishplates of the west rail. The last and east ceremonial rail no doubt was bolted at its south end, and perhaps a few spikes were driven near this junction. ... J. H. Strobridge of the Central Pacific and S. B. Reed of the Union Pacific, both general superintendents of their respective lines, carried the laurel tie, the former holding the west end and Reed the east end, and from the east side of the east and last rail they placed it in its position under the final joint. ... "
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Newspaper report:
"BY TELEGRAPH TO THE CLEVELAND DAILY LEADER.
[May 10, 1869, Vol XIII---NO. 110, p. 1]
LAST NIGHT''S DISPATCHES.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
THE LAST RAIL LAID ON THE CENTRAL SECTION.
LAST RAIL TO BE LAID TO-DAY ON THE UNION SECTION. ... "
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