Sunday, July 14, 2013

How did the trains reverse after the Promontory meeting?

From: "Frank Foti" fsfoti@gmail.com

... question ... regarding [the Promontory Summit] historic event. Please tell me how the trains got off the track after meeting face-to-face? Since there was no turn-around built at the time, did they run back in reverse to some point? ...

—Frank S. Foti

3 Comments:

Blogger CPRR Discussion Group said...

"the Union Pacific completed their line to within one rail length of the western line, built a siding and also a 'Y.'"

A wye is used to reverse a train.

7/14/2013 8:48 PM  
Blogger CPRR Discussion Group said...

From: "Kyle Wyatt" kylekwyatt@gmail.com

Both railroads had sidings, so locomotives could run around trains and pull their cars running backwards. Union Pacific almost immediately built a wye at Promontory, and Central Pacific built a turntable a short time later.

—Kyle

7/14/2013 8:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

From: "Frank Foti" fsfoti@gmail.com

Thanks for your timely reply regarding how the trains reversed direction at historic Promontary Point! [sic] Why is it that the "Wye" and the turnabouts are not mentioned in the history books? Again, thanks!

—Frank Foti

7/16/2013 2:26 PM  

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