SWITCH: Mobile | ePaper | Subscribe

Homes Rentals Jobs Autos Contests

Promontory Summit

Brad Williams walks with his son Crosby, 1, around the No. 119 steam locomotive during the Winter Steam Festival at the Golden Spike National Historic Site at Promontory on Saturday, December 29, 2012. (KERA WILLIAMS/Standard-Examiner)

Misconceptions blow away at Winter Steam Festival at Golden Spike

Last updated Sunday, December 30, 2012 - 12:12am

PROMONTORY SUMMIT — A plume of white steam brought out the bright beauty of the red-and-maroon-trimmed No. 119 locomotive Saturday at the Golden Spike National Historic Site.

“Listen to that,” said Ron Wilson, train engineer, who spoke as the Union Pacific No. 119 locomotive chuffed down the tracks with its own distinctive motion. “She’s talking to me.”

The Winter Steam Festival gives visitors a chance to see the steam locomotives in action in the same place where the transcontinental railroad was completed in May 1869. It’s also a great place for people to take out-of-town relatives, said Tammy Beason, U.S. National Park Service chief ranger for the historic site.

Click here for more information

American History, Festival, Golden Spike National Historic Site, Railroad, Transcontinental Railroad, Utah history, Featured Read more Comments

Actors dressed in attire popular in 1869 take part in a re-creation of the joining of the rails during Thursday’s ceremony to commemorate the 143rd anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Box Elder County. (MATTHEW ARDEN HATFIELD/Standard-Examiner)

Railroad fans celebrate a historic wedding in Utah

Charles F. Trentelman Standard-Examiner

Last updated Thursday, May 10, 2012 - 11:30pm

PROMONTORY — The May 10 celebration of the joining of the Transcontinental Railroad is as predicable as a sunrise, but every year, people find something to amaze them.

Thursday was the 143rd anniversary.

As always, the National Park Service and volunteers at the Golden Spike National Historic Site brought out the polished replicas of the Jupiter and No. 119 steam engines, posed them for the famous picture where they meet nose to nose and then let them sit, hissing and chuffing, glinting in the sun.

American History, Railroad, Transcontinental Railroad, Utah, Utah history, Featured Read more Comments

Anniversary of completion of transcontinental railroad

Matthew Arden Hatfield

Last updated Thursday, May 10, 2012 - 4:06pm

Slideshow, Transcontinental Railroad, Utah, Featured Read more Comments

Union Pacific celebrating 150 years in Utah, across U.S.

Jesus Lopez Jr. Standard-Examiner

Last updated Thursday, January 19, 2012 - 7:12am

This year, Union Pacific celebrates 150 years since President Abraham Lincoln signed it into existence. The story of the railroad company is tied closely to the modernization of the American West. People and freight began using the railroad to travel across the country 150 years ago and continue to do so to this day.

Business, Events, Abraham Lincoln, American History, Celebration, Pioneer Days, Railroad, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, Union Station, Utah, Utah history, Featured, History Read more Comments

(ERIN HOOLEY/Standard-Examiner) At the 142nd anniversary of the completion of the trans-continental railroad at the Golden Spike National Historic Site at Promontory Summit on Tuesday, people in period clothing re-enact the driving of the golden spike.

Re-enactment celebrates transcontinental railroad

JaNae Francis Standard-Examiner staff

Last updated Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 11:19pm

PROMONTORY -- If you thought the driving of the last spike to join the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads on May 10, 1869, took place at Promontory Point, you're not alone.

That point was made Tuesday by Promontory resident Ron Porter at the 60th annual re-enactment of the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory Summit, 35 miles north of Promontory Point.

Events, Children, Event, Railroad, Transcontinental Railroad, US History, Utah, Featured, History Read more Comments