1 minute read

AllAboard&Welcome!

Next Article
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

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

ByKenBuehler

There’s something happening here. People are telling stories and stories to be told at a later time are being made. That’s what happens on a train. You are remembering your first train ride, your romantic train ride, your memorable experience as a passenger, an employee or evoking a memory of a family member who was a former railroad worker. It’s all coming back to you now. For children and grandchildren this could be their first train ride. They are making the memories that will one day be shared in stories of their own.

As you travel with us today, look out your window and watch the beautiful landscape of Lake Superior pass by and imagine what that scenery looked like a hundredplus years ago. Duluth didn’t have a skyline, only a few buildings were over two stories tall. Tar paper shacks, clapboard homes, boarding houses and the bowery would have been some of the sights along our route. Canal Park was a dirty, hardworking industrial blight – not the tourist attraction it is today.

What hasn’t changed though is the beautiful splendor of Lake Superior, it’s rock and tree lined shore and the majestic Northwooods. Your ride today lets you see all of that from your window seat on our train and we’re proud to share it with you.

We are honored that you chose to be our guests today. A dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers who donate tens of thousands of hours a year of their time and talent keep our Railroad and the Lake Superior Railroad Museum going.

Volunteers are why the Lake Superior Railroad Museum was voted by USA Today as the “BEST Transportation Museum in America.” They are why Better Homes and Gardens ranked our Railroad as one of the “Top 10 Family Friendly Scenic Train Rides in North America.” These are honors we strive to live up to everyday. As Executive Director of the Museum and General Manager of the Railroad, Thank You for riding with us today. If you have comments, please let me know.

Happy Railroad Memories!

Ken Buehler, kenbuehler@duluthdepot.org

More articles from this publication:
This article is from:

North Shore Scenic Railroad 2019