“A mellow piece of Americana was recreated today,” New York Times reported on May 4, 1969, “as an immaculate blue and silver train powered by a massive steam locomotive flying American flags pounded across the state at speeds up to 75 miles an hour.” The train, dubbed the Golden Spike Centennial, was en route from New York to Utah to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad. The 81 passengers on board, many of them “dyed-in-the-wool rail buffs,” had paid $995 a pop for the privilege of a 16-day ride into history. Those who wanted to take part in the festivities without the hefty price tag came out to see the locomotive on its way from Grand Central Station, where they were captured by our photographer, Robert Walker. In addition to the machinists, movie-theater projectionists and motor-court operators who had climbed aboard for “the trip of a lifetime,” the train also carried a key prop for the festivities: a replica of the “golden spike” used to complete the historic route.
rn2-195 by George Hamlin
Via Flickr:
New York Central T-motor 255 switching adjacent to the westbound passenger platform at Croton-Harmon, New York, December 27, 1967.