The Meeting of the Rails 2009

Since the woodworker was looking for subjects to carve on his planes, we decided to make a trip to Promontory, Utah, to see where the meeting of the rails took place. This is the event portrayed on the Utah quarter, which took place in 1869. On Saturdays during the summer, volunteers do a reenactment twice a day. We weren't quite sure what to expect when we got there. We found the place, but no trains were in sight. At the time for the reenactment, a whistle blew, and in the distance we could see a train coming into our view. Minutes later, another whistle blew and another train came into sight. They met right in front of us.




This is Jupiter.



Here is Engine 119.



The re-enactors gave speeches and portrayed events of the driving of the golden spike, connecting the eastern and western parts of the United States. Those re-enactors are dedicated folks. Promontory is rather out in the middle of nowhere, so some came every Saturday from as far away as Ogden, Utah, just to play their parts. Sometimes some of the reenactors can't make it. For those occasions, they have a big box of various costumes so they can draft people from the audience. If you look carefully at the fellow in the brown coat, you might see that it is the woodworker!

In 1969 it was the 100th anniversary of the driving of the golden spike, so appropriate ceremonies were held to commemorate that event. A plaque telling about it is at the site. Much to my surprise, there were 2 familiar names on the plaque! The manager of the project was Lawrence D. Wilde Sr. whose son was a friend of ours in Alaska. Alf L. Freeman, who portrayed one of the original participants is my great-uncle.