On this date (May 10) in 1869, a golden spike was hammered in at Promontory, Utah, marking the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
I have heard of at least two model railroads that had golden spike ceremonies: John Allen’s second version of his HO Gorre & Daphetid and the O scale Sierra Pacific. In both cases, the modelers had small golden spikes fashioned and small markers placed on the layouts to commemorate the completion of the respective mainlines.
Have any of you had a golden spike ceremony on your layout?
Quite a milestone. What a neat idea. I remember reading about such ceremonies in MR. I guess since I don’t spike my own track, it never occured to me to have one - and I also consider the layout really never ‘done’.
Folks in eastern Colorado would beg to differ that Promontory Point deserves the credit usually given to it. That trackage still was not truely transcontinental - there was still a gap that was only traversed by a ferry system.
A few miles east of the little town of Strasburg, Colorado, is where the first true transcontinental link-up was made, on the old Kansas/Missouri Pacific (later the Union Pacific) line. Railroad fans have placed a marker at the site and the town of Strasburg marks the event at the annual Strasburg Days with a track-laying contest.
I have since moved from Strasburg to Louisville, Colorado, but grew up in another historic railroad town, Hugo, Colorado. Hugo is the home of the last remaining original roundhouse in Colorado. The structure is in disrepair, but they are now trying to get some grants to preserve and repair it. It would be a shame to let it crumble to the ground, but of course, it is very costly for a little town to take on such a project.
Not so sure about a gold spike, but I know a lot of fellows on here have a golden nectar ceremony while considering the next spike[;)]. Just ask Laz & David V. Regards Steve
