The Golden Spike

Kids,

Have been holding off "Spilling the Beans"
on the latest "Saga",
until I finished writing about "Trouble in Paradise".

But, can't put it off any longer.

Have broken it down into 15 Chapters
with well over 100 photos,
so bare with me on the downloads.

So, here goes...

As you might recall,
I was in Salt Lake writing emails and doing research.

Accordingly,
I tripped over several interesting items
relating to The Lincoln Highway and Ogden,
some 40 miles to the North.

So I decided to make a short detour and check them out.

When I arrived in Ogden,
it was way past dark and getting close to bedtime.

Suddenly,
I found myself entertaining
thoughts of spending the night in the cab.

Not Again...

For some reason I passed the first Ogden exit
and got off at 24th street.

Later, I learned 24th street only exits Northbound!!

In any event,
I worked my way down the street looking
for some clue that would point me in the right direction.

Then,
as if by magic,
Fire Station # 4 appeared out of the mist.

I stopped hoping only for directions,
30 seconds later I had a warm bed for the evening.

Hard to Believe...but true.

Next morning,
I checked out the various sites in Ogden,
then went to the Library for more research.

Turns out Promontory, Utah,
site of the Golden Spike,
is only 60 miles Northwest.

When I finally arrived it was getting dark.

Why is that???

In any event,
Checked in with the Ranger,
and we decided under the circumstances
I 'd better run over to the Rail Barn
and get shots of the two locomotives
before they closed up for the day.

Got a shot of the whole crew with Mr. Lincoln,
and Union Pacific Number 119,
then focused on one of the Engineers.

No pun intended...lol.

Here's one from the cab,

and the Engine Box.

Then went over for a shot of the Central Pacfic Engine...Jupiter.

Both are full scale working replicas of the "Real Deals".

Said my good-byes to the crew,
then headed back to the main site.

Got this shot real quick,
then went inside to check with the Ranger again.

Went out to the tracks where the Golden Spike was driven,
May 10, 1869,
then started taking pictures using the timer and tripod.

Seeing the folly of my ways,
the Ranger came out to help.

With him came:
"The Golden Spike".

Well not really,
it was a replica,
but it worked just the same.

We took a variety of photos,

but due to the darkness and the snowfall,
it was hard to get the automatic flash and focus to work properly.

I was disappointed...

We tried one more at the Monolith before I left.

On the way back to Ogden,
I decided the shots were good enough
a reshoot was in order.

So, early the next morning,
I made my way back to Promontory.

The engine had been running a little rough the night before,
but it seemed to clear up with Dry Gas,
so I dismissed it as water in the fuel line.

About 100 yards from the entrance ramp to I-15,
there was flutter and the engine went dead.

I tried to pull over out of the line of traffic,
but couldn't make it before the "Ole Girl"
rolled to a stop across 3 lanes of traffic.

Fortunately,
I was able to flag down an oncoming motorist,
and within 5 minutes was off the road and in a parking lot.

Lucky for me he carried a log chain, or was it???

I asked if he knew anyone who could help?

They said, the truck was too big
and suggested I call Dean's Automotive.

And the rest as they say is History....

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