Promontory, UT

Customer
US National Park Service

RailWorks Business Unit
RailWorks Track Systems

Description
On May 10, 1869, two railroad companies, Union Pacific and Central Pacific, joined 1,776 miles of rail at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory. Golden Spike National Historic Site commemorates this incredible accomplishment, the completion of the United States’ first transcontinental railroad.

Scope
RailWorks rehabilitated this historic line still in operation at the Gold Spike National Historic Site. Work for the three separate, three-month projects was completed over several years.

RailWorks crews replaced the replica ties and surfaced the track totaling 1.5 track miles or 7,920 track feet. Two types of replica hand-hewn wooden crossties were installed to simulate the actual ties the two railroads used at the time of construction nearly 150 years ago.

All projects were completed on time.

Unique features
Golden Spike National Historic Site is home to the steam locomotives Jupiter and No. 119. These engines are fully-functional replicas of the original locomotives that met at Promontory Summit for the "Wedding of the Rails Ceremony."

RailWorks crews adjusted operations to accommodate the movement of the locomotives over the track several times each day. The locomotives are on display and operate daily from May 1 through Labor Day.