On the spur-of-the-moment whim, the wife and I made the 11/2 hour trip via the Front Runner commuter train trip to Ogden, Utah to watch the ceremony of the historic laying of the Golden Spike. This is just one of a few ceremony's celebrating the historic event. Saturday, May 10th marks the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Continental Railroad connecting the east and west coasts of the U.S. and, there is a big ceremony at Promontory Point celebrating the event.
Anyhow, there were hordes of people from all over the globe to attend Thursday's event in Ogden. I was being crushed and entertained by people from England, Germany, Ohio and New York to name just a few...you have never seen so many old men with cameras!! There were temporary fences erected to keep the crowds numbering in the 1,000's from getting too close to the actual ceremony. Thankfully, the Politicians kept their speeches short.
Incidentally, there were numerous tour groups from China as the Chinese made up a large segment of the workers toiling to build the railroad.
1. #844 The Living Legend
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2. A close-up
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3. Conductor and Brakeman-love their little cameras!
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4. Didn't know the U.P. had their own police force
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5. U.P. Honor Guard marching to begin the National Anthem
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6. Had to hold my camera high to shoot over the crowds
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7. Here she comes, all 7,000 H.P.
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8. Almost to the meet-up with 844
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9. A close up
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10. Historic meet-up connecting the the east and west
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Thanks for sharing something most of us could not attend.
DJ Mills wrote:
Thanks for sharing something most of us could not attend.
You are welcome, DJ...thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!!
Great photos! When I was a boy scout, my hiking partner and I were doing a 2 and a half mile hike for a merit badge.....We decided to walk along the railroad track to an old bridge. When we got there, we built a small camp fire to heat up some hot dogs and pork-n-beans. A train went by and the engineer reported smoke under the bridge. A Southern Pacific police officer showed up. showed us his HUGE badge...looked at the put out fire, warned us NEVER walk on "his tracks" again! Yes...Railroads have their own police force!
Wow Jederick. You have to love trains, history and travel to make this trip, but I am glad you did. It sure seems like more than 150 years. The close-up of the 4014 is magnificent. 7,000k HP? It does look like this engine is much longer. Thanks for sharing.
Nice photos... By the way, most larger railroads have their own police force. It's mainly because the railroad property covers many, many jurisdictions. The railroad police only have authority on the railroad property. In the event bad people are caught committing a crime, the railroad police will call in local or state police.
Good set. Thanks for taking us there.
trainspotter wrote:
Great photos! When I was a boy scout, my hiking partner and I were doing a 2 and a half mile hike for a merit badge.....We decided to walk along the railroad track to an old bridge. When we got there, we built a small camp fire to heat up some hot dogs and pork-n-beans. A train went by and the engineer reported smoke under the bridge. A Southern Pacific police officer showed up. showed us his HUGE badge...looked at the put out fire, warned us NEVER walk on "his tracks" again! Yes...Railroads have their own police force!
Great photos! When I was a boy scout, my hiking p... (
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Never realized they had there own U.P. police force...great story, thanks for stopping by and sharing it with us!!
SpyderJan wrote:
Wow Jederick. You have to love trains, history and travel to make this trip, but I am glad you did. It sure seems like more than 150 years. The close-up of the 4014 is magnificent. 7,000k HP? It does look like this engine is much longer. Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome, Jan and thanks for your comments. It made for a fun day and now we are thinking of following it a ways as it departs on Sunday heading back to Cheyenne, WY.!!
rmorrison1116 wrote:
Nice photos... By the way, most larger railroads have their own police force. It's mainly because the railroad property covers many, many jurisdictions. The railroad police only have authority on the railroad property. In the event bad people are caught committing a crime, the railroad police will call in local or state police.
Interesting...I had just never given it a thought, learn something new all the time!! Thanks for stopping by and commenting...appreciate you interest
RichardTaylor wrote:
Good set. Thanks for taking us there.
You are very welcome Richard and, thank you for looking and commenting!!
Many Thanks. Waiting for them to start making their "tour" of the system this year so can hopefully get some shots of them.
GG
GrayGhost wrote:
Many Thanks. Waiting for them to start making their "tour" of the system this year so can hopefully get some shots of them.
GG
You will enjoy your time pursuing them down the tracks!!
Jay Pat
Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA
Enjoyed the images!!!!!
Pat
bpulv
Loc: Buena Park, CA
Thank you for sharing your photographs of an event most of us train buffs would have loved to attend.
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