Historic Centrail Pacific
Railroad Grade 1869-1942
The original grade of the Central Pacifric Railroad (The Promontory
Branch) may be followed from here to the east, around the Great
Salt Lake to Golden Spike National Historic Site, and to the west
about a mile to where it joins the Lucin Cutoff and the rest of
the original line to California. The completion of the Transcontinental
Railroad at Promontory Summit may be the most important event in
the history of the western expansion of our country. It linked
east and west, opened up vast areas to settlement, and provided
easy access to new markets.
The task fo constructing the railroad was enormous, requiring several
years and untold hardships. This 90 miles was the last stretch of
almost 800 miles of construction from San Francisco. It had a
number of difficult grades which required extra engines to pull
heavily loaded trains. The Lucin Cutoff, currently in use, was
completed in 1904. It crosses the lake by trestle and built up
grade, shortening the original route by 40 miles and eliminating
the difficult grades.
Following completion of the cutoff, traffic dwindled along the Promontory Branch,
consisting primarily of local residents and livestock. In 1942, the rails were
removed so that the steel could be used in the war effort.
