Golden Spike Historic Site: Train Talk Ep. 11

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10th, 1869. In this episode of Train Talk, we visit the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Promontory, Utah. This was the site of completion for the Transcontinental Railroad and today, it is presented how it would've looked on the day the railroad was completed. We'll learn about the history of the site as well as what you can find there today. All aboard!
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[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Today is may 10th!

[@luketansiongco3953]

Wow, im glad that the transcontinental railroad is still completely alive.

[@royreynolds108]

The rails of the CP were 60 lbs per yard and of the UP were 56 lbs per yard and 30 feet long. Dirt or gravel was the ballast. Crossties were pealed poles with hewn ties under the joints and 8 feet long. Treatment wasn't used until years later so ties lasted about 4 to 10 years in track.

[@jacquesblaque7728]

Reportedly original-UP ties were hand-hewn, many by Scandinavian immigrants in WY, but CP's were largely cut by sawmills from High-Sierra timber. Striking dichotomy there.

[@Stoker58]

The fact that the park service commisioned two faithful replicas of the Jupiter and 119 is nothing short of amazing. I know they're serving the task they were built for and I'm not sure if they could be used for anything else, but if they could potentially pull short trains it's a bit of a shame they're confined to such a short stretch of track. But regardless they're serving their purpose and representing history.

[@TommyPicklesFan]

2019 will mark 150 years of the driving of the golden spike.

[@railfanben5935]

I love 4-4-0s; great work!

[@YardLimit]

Excellent video! Thanks for putting it together, Mike!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you very much!

[@paulgracey4697]

A long time resident of Costa Mesa, I recall going by on the street where O'Conner's workshops were located seeing steam rising from behind and hearing the sounds I used to hear when I lived much closer to Disneyland.

[@danescumihai7905]

Paul Gracey aA

[@CoasterFan2105]

That must've been pretty neat to see and hear.

[@johnnyjames7139]

Paul Gracey I went to Mr. O'conners shop to see the locomotives shortly before they were completed. A beautiful job.

[@trainroomgary]

Classic Railroad History / Well told. • Cheers from The Detroit Mackinac Railway • Pronounced: (mac-in-aw) 🚂

[@kevp9601]

kev p loves your comment. and kev p loves Steam Trains Too! :-D

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@rhettrobinson1371]

Just love these wonderful replica locomotives.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

What a popular historical site!

[@Goomba_N64]

So beautiful, I wish I had my own Train I would be on the Railroad all day

[@CoasterFan2105]

That would be cool!

[@LegoWormNoah101]

I'm really not sure how a privately owned locomotive network would behave

[@cnichting08]

I had a idea for a topic train ferries and why they aren't used as much today

[@Balerio2357]

EXCELLENT video Mike, well done! Historical data, well crafted editing and beautiful videograghy are key elements of this wonderful work. - Balerio

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Balerio!

[@miloschulze3751]

Really cool!

[@fluffnose3386]

I never realized how insanely informative your videos are! I’m binge watching the crap out of all your videos! Great work man

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you very much!

[@Marontyne]

hi coaster fan 2105

[@Marontyne]

i am a fan of you😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@SierraRailway]

The Disney Company actually never built "full size" replicas. They built up-scaled variations of Walt Disney's "Lilly Belle", a 1.5" scale live steam model of Central Pacific 173. Great video, Mike. Always enjoy material made on this topic.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you very much, Mike. I may have to do something on Railtown once 28 is up and running.

[@willyward722]

Have an idea for a topic for rail talk. How do Railroad determine track speed for her territory that the train are operating through?

[@CoasterFan2105]

That could easily be a topic at some point down the line.

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Awesome Video Mike

[@average_joe8905]

Great video man! Learned quite a bit more about the Promontory Summit site!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you very much!

[@SimonOfFortune]

Nice video! Can you do an episode on the history of EMD or GE or ALCo sometime?

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yes, I'd like to do that eventually. Thanks!

[@mistersnipes6862]

Love the videos

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@TommyPicklesFan]

Very well done. And Speaking of that, Smokebox is making The Central Pacific Jupiter 4-4-0 for Train Simulator 2017 as well as The Union Pacific 119.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Alan!

[@JoeSmith-vs5sy]

Great!!!

[@fluffnose3386]

I would absolutely DIE to see these engines up close. Such beauties! But why is the spike at some place in California and not on display at the museum RIGHT NEXT TO IT?

[@Trainman3985]

The day we truly become the Untied States of America. I have an Idea for a train talk video, Talk about the EMD SD70ACE's

[@Ferromexfan4081]

Cool video!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@someperson5265]

Cool!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@kevp9601]

I Forgot To Tell You, +CoasterFan2105!, Happy Cinco De Mayo! :-D

[@CoasterFan2105]

You too! Thanks!

[@trainsandmusic3228]

I can’t believe the originals were scrapped I wish they should have done that

[@brucetharpe762]

Thanks for posting the video! Will you ever make a train talk of Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751? I highly reccomend it!!!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Bruce! I may do a video on famous mainline steam locomotives, which would include 3751.

[@WolverineStateRailfan168]

I'm doing a state report on Utah, and I'm going to write about this!

[@valeriebassett3107]

Great video. It sure is a shame that the original locomotives we're scrapped.

[@spacecookie5730]

Nice video! ツ

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@spacecookie5730]

CoasterFan2105 :-)

[@AnEAShasbeenissued]

can you do a Train Talk episode on the Fresno Calwa Diamond?

[@CoasterFan2105]

I'll look into it!

[@jackboerner1901]

I hate to be nit picky but it's Promontory Summit not Point. Other than that, Great Video!

[@SierraRailway]

1:21 He said Summit.

[@CoasterFan2105]

You are right, the first time I said Promontory Point. The second two times, I said Summit.

[@jackboerner1901]

CoasterFan2105 it's okay. Everyone has probably made that mistake. It happens.

[@CameraManRailFan]

Will you do a train talk on the Grand Canyon Railway?

[@CoasterFan2105]

I might at some point!

[@russellgxy2905]

I can only imagine how difficult it was to build the two replicas from scratch.

[@MatecaCorp]

A wonderful video, but in actuality, the SP purchased the CP rather than coming out of it. Other than that, splendid!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you and you are correct. I didn't want to go into the intricacies of that since I wanted to focus on the historic site, but that will be clarified in a future episode.

[@jacquesblaque7728]

My understanding is that the CP bought the SP (of CA), merged it, an took on the SP name for the resultant company. Before the Transcon was completed, the CP bought a bunch of local CA roads.

[@kevp9601]

...Okay, Now I'm Over It! :-D

[@turbochargedtransit7241]

My birthday was yesterday! Nice video, when will be the next time you head to the northeast?

[@Ferromexfan4081]

Aaron Klem happy birthday!

[@CoasterFan2105]

A late happy birthday! And soon!

[@turbochargedtransit7241]

Awesome! If there are any places to film and photograph Metro North, it would be the SoNo switch tower, Peekskill, NY; and the Danbury Railway museum.

[@darrellborland119]

Thanks and subscribed...We will be taking a road trip this Fall, to drive some of the historic right of way'. Does anyone know if the 87 miles between Lucin and Promontory, can be driven west to east, as well as E. to west? I have not received an answer to that question, from State and Fed. offices.

[@MPT_Productions]

I honestly like UP 119 better. Which do you like better Mike?

[@CoasterFan2105]

That's a hard choice. I really like them both.

[@pinchy08]

Bachmann made these locomotives in HO and N scale. However Jupiter #60s boiler is silver. Not sure if that's correct of color. As for the painting of the locomotives (the real ones) since no one knew what colors they were Disney animator Ward Kimball painted them both Red. As years passed eventually it was said Jupiter #60 had Blue. So that's why it has a little Blue on her cab, domes, and cow catcher.

[@CoasterFan2105]

That's right. Although, now they're saying that they think the Jupiter actually was painted some shade of red, so we'll see what it looks like after the next visit to the paint shop.

[@GreatBasinCarShops]

Who says it was red? All known primary sources describe it as a brilliant blue.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Well, for one, the last time I was at the historic site (October 2016), that is what one of the Park rangers said on one of the guided tours. I have also heard that from other sources, including a video that was done about two years ago from a channel called ToyMan Television. There is apparently only one account that says the locomotive "shone brilliant blue in the sun".

[@GreatBasinCarShops]

I know the guy behind Toy Man, most of what he says he makes up - his videos are really cool but his narration is generally loose and infactual. The ranger was talking about Russia Iron, because that phrase is part of the training that interpretive volunteers receive about the history of the locomotives. Actual historical primary source documentation both from Schenectady and from Sacramento when the locomotive came off the ship describe it as being painted a deep blue with crimson trim, there is no documentation that says that red was its dominant color. In fact a recent unpublished study by the California State Railroad Museum confirmed the blue. I'm a volunteer at the site and a trained historian.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Ah, well that's why I didn't mention it in the actual video! I've seen conflicting reports over the years and thought it would only be a distraction to the video. I will say that the park ranger was indeed talking about the blue paint and not the boiler jacketing, but seeing as you have first hand knowledge, I believe you.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

An important history

[@metalwolf9541]

Could you do a train talk on catenary wires and electric trains? My hometown of SJ just got a lot of money for Caltrain electric, so I would like to know how trains like that operate

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yes, I plan to do an episode on "types of locomotives" that will briefly touch on that in the coming months. Further down the line, I will probably do a dedicated video specifically on electric trains.

[@metalwolf9541]

CoasterFan2105 Can't wait :)

[@brandonlikestrains842]

Coaster fan 2105 when are you going to talk about eastern Amtrak long distance trains

[@CoasterFan2105]

Possibly next year. I need to film all of the trains first though.

[@markfrench8892]

Interestingly enough, the Central Pacific was finally wholly absorbed by the Southern Pacific in 1959

[@ellenszoradychilds7296]

Hi. This is Zach. I wonder why the original locomotives were scrapped.

[@GarrettsTrains95]

lol just ended learning about that railroad in school :P

[@CoasterFan2105]

Cool!

[@GarrettsTrains95]

You must spend alot of money getting to all the states, lol

[@mattyoung2297]

One thing I learned in school, westward expansion, one of the things I learned about was the transcontinental railroad. However I did not get told about a gold spike.

[@shanemyoutubeshit]

Can you do an episode on tank engines?

[@CoasterFan2105]

It's definitely an option in the future!

[@twasinjunaed6709]

Why does’nt this video have that many likes?

[@TheRealEasyA]

Did these old 1800s locomotives like the Jupiter and 118 (The original ones) have the same couplers trains have today or were they different?

[@royreynolds108]

They were link and pin.

[@TheRealEasyA]

Roy Reynolds I thought so.

[@therookie9276]

The F40PH: F - Design Covers *F* ull body 40 - Model Series P - *P* assenger Locomotive H - *H* Ead-End Power generator ES44AC - *E* volution *S* eries 44 - 4400 HP AC - *AC* traction

[@meeperfive]

Metro north f40 is f40ph-3c

[@capefeartrainsandsirens]

UP 119 was involved with the golden spike

[@MobileGamer-ow1co]

Never forget May 10th

[@jameskinglion]

can you do a video about private varnish

[@CoasterFan2105]

I plan to!

[@jameskinglion]

If you do check out the friend of the 261 and we have a trips this fall with our cars I am hoping to see caritas again

[@MobileGamer-ow1co]

Railroad spikes have never really changed in 200 years

[@rogerlollar4325]

No.60 Jupiter is beautiful

[@brianthompson7526]

It starts in council bluffs iowa

[@Marontyne]

🎉🎉🎉

[@zeeboss2762]

hey coasterfan2105!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Hey!

[@charliehansen2192]

Are you going to be uploading more narrated videos?

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yes, new train talks each month, plus I am working on a couple of different longer narrated videos, but it may be a little while before those come out.

[@discodog6138]

do train takl 12 on railroad crossing plz

[@CoasterFan2105]

It's on the list, but I have a few others I want to get to first.

[@discodog6138]

ok good

[@monarchist1838]

They pretended to hammer in the golden spike, instead an ordinary metal one was inserted

[@yaraihan]

Do Train Talk About Indonesian Railroad History Please

[@phil700ag5]

Yafie A Raihan Productions This channel talking about the American Railroads

[@CoasterFan2105]

That one may be a little ways down the line but I have not forgotten!

[@phil700ag5]

what year jupiter was retired?

[@CoasterFan2105]

After being sold to another railroad, it was scrapped in 1909.

[@Cal90208]

what happened to ten original golden spike?

[@CoasterFan2105]

The other original spikes are displayed at various museums around the country.

[@Cal90208]

+CoasterFan2105 oh ok

[@nathancorcoran5347]

I will do seven films in the golden spike national historic site.

[@mattyoung2297]

Why was 60 red, now it’s blue?

[@TractorMonkeywithJL]

I figured they were going to say the original golden spike was stolen.

[@LocalSteppa]

If the met in the middle it would be Wyoming

[@Ferromexfan4081]

My birthday is coming up soon!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Happy birthday!

[@mindlessshark946]

SECOND!!

[@farmerdave7965]

It was NOT promontory point !!!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yes, I incorrectly generalized the area as "Promontory Point". The other 3 times it was mentioned in the video, I did call it "Summit".

[@LUHURCCDAOP]

The train

[@jocelyncarmona1840]

46xzc👀🤨🤨

[@LUHURCCDAOP]

The NAY

[@humashah4285]

9ol

[@Ferromexfan4081]

FIRST!