For three days at the end of 2016, Golden Spike National Historic Site staged its annual Steam Fest/Lee Dalton
At Golden Spike National Historic Site in northwestern Utah, the last few days of each year are time for the annual Steam Fest. It's a time when one of the site's two replica steam locomotives are fired up to thrill visitors who are tough enough to brave the cold.
This year was 119's turn. Union Pacific railroad's locomotive 119 was the engine that sat nose to nose with Central Pacific's Jupiter on May 10, 1869, when the Golden Spike was driven to complete our first transcontinental railroad.
For three days every December, the staff at Golden Spike opens the gates to provide a great display of cold, snow, steam, chuffing, whistling, and fun for all ages.
Probably the best way to share it with National ParksTraveler's™ readers is to shut up and let a video and some photos do the work.
A national park entrance sign other parks should be envious of/Lee Dalton
The fine art of a locomotive/Lee Dalton
Locomotives were rolling art galleries if you looked closely/Lee Dalton
Brass polished to a mirror finish/Lee Dalton
There are ways to stay warm while waiting for the locomotives/Lee Dalton
The Steam Fest really does feature steam/Lee Dalton
Comments
Looks like a lot of fun, given you have the right long johns and etc.
Makes me want to become a rail fan! Oops, I forgot. I think I already am. Thanks for sharing, Lee, and I do hope everyone notices your "reminders" of the differences between trains and airplanes. We built love into our railroads. Now all we think about is getting there.
The word just came out!
This year's Steam Fest will be three days -- December 28, 29, and 30.
If you are going to be anywhere within about 500 miles of Promontory Summit, it's worth the trip.