Hell on Wheels and the Golden Spike

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Cool beans Frulk

OK legitimate question. If those two trains ended up head on, did one of them have to back up a long ways to get off the track? Did it only run one way or where there turn arounds?

They have a side spur there. But, both trains stay in the same building and the Jupiter backs out first, then the 119 comes out. The original track was deactivated there long ago when the Lucin Cut-off was built. Trains no longer run on in that area. The cut-off was built 28+ miles to the south and goes straight through the middle of the Great Salt Lake (Check it out on Google Earth). It in itself is a great achievement in modern construction and basically was built on top of a dump filled causeway.

This pic was taken looking due east at the causeway the Lucin-Cut off was built on. Turn left 90 degrees and the Golden Spike site is about 28+ miles to the north of where this pic was taken.

That is stunning, to say the least. It's sufficient cause in itself to warrant a trip to the area.