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.
RailWorks rehabilitated this historic line still in operation at the Gold Spike National Historic Site. Work for each of 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. More recently, RailWorks returned to the site to replace timber grade crossings.
All projects were completed on time.