The original Golden SpikeCeremonywas held in Promontory,UtahonMay 10, 1869. The spikeweighed 14.05 ounces of 14 carat gold. At today’smarket it is worth $17,948. The original is on displayatStanfordUniversity in California. The school is named after Leland Stanfordone of the original investors in the Central Pacific and served as President of the Railroad and Governor of California. He pounded the golden spikeinto arailroad tie made froma laureltree. On his first swing he missed the spike. Photo courtesyofLibraryofCongress/PublicDomain,usedwithpermission

DELI, BAKERY &CATERING SERVICE

The builders conquered jagged mountain passes buried eachwinter in deep snow,tunnelsblasted through solid rock usingthe newestinvention, dynamite,hostile attacks fromNativeAmerican First Nation tribes not pleased with the arrival of the “iron horse” and long, desolate stretches of flat, unforgivingprairies. Therewas allthatand scandal.

It wasHellonWheels, self-dealing construction bids between the railroads and the companies they formed to actually buildthe line and bribery on amammoth scale. The final straw wasthe CreditMoblier fiasco that wastobethe disgrace of theGilded Ageresulting in the bankruptcy of the Union Pacific and financial and political ruin of manyunscrupulousinvestors.

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ANNIVERSARIES continued from PAGE 2

Butthe linewas builtand so began the future of rail connections East to West and North to South: the Great Northern, Milwaukee Road, Northern Pacific, IllinoisCentral and Santa Fe wereeventually in coast to coast service. As welltheyshould. By 1879 the Transcontinental Railroad shipping$50 million ay worth of products an people alongits route. That would be $115 billion today.

The 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike Ceremony was commemor ated this spring with a recreation of the event featuring the return to serviceofUnion

Pacific (UP) #4014 theBIG BOY. It is the largest working steam locomotive on the planet andwas restored by the UP in honor of their sesquicentennial.

Another milestone in railroading is also being celebrated this year.Though one-fifth the duration, it is stillvery important TO is the 30th anniversary operation of the North ShoreScenic Railroadhere Duluth. It is the train youare riding on today. Thank youfor being a part of our 30th year of operation!

Thisspecial Collector’s Edition of our railroad’s history, the peoplewho dreamed it andbuilt it is yours to keep.We hope youenjoyour story.