05/10/2026
This year Mother’s Day falls on May 10, but May 10, 1869, was an important date for another reason entirely. This was the date of the “Golden Spike” ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah, marking the completion of the first US transcontinental railroad. The line was built from the west by the Central Pacific RR starting in Sacramento, Calif., and from the east by the Union Pacific RR starting in Omaha, Neb. A large crowd of dignitaries and spectators were present for the event. Two locomotives, Central Pacific’s “Jupiter” and Union Pacific’s “No. 60,” drew up to the final section of track, where senior officials from both railroads then drove in a ceremonial gold spike. Of particular local interest is that “Jupiter” was built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works (later American Locomotive Co.). After its completion, it was disassembled and transported to California by ship around Cape Horn. It was put into service less than two months before the ceremony. In addition, the cast iron wheels on the front truck have the inscription “Jonas S. Heartt & Co. Troy NY” on them. Heartt owned a foundry at Second St. and Ida St. in Troy specializing in railroad wheels. We do not know whether the wheels on the “Jupiter” on display at Golden Spike National Historic Site are originals or reproductions. Another interesting local connection is that Central Pacific RR senior executives Leland Stanford and Charles Crocker were born in Watervliet and Troy, respectively.
