The "Golden Spike" is coming to Texas

The actual Transcontinental Railroad's "Golden Spike" will be on display, only in the month of March, at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, during the Trains: Tracks of the Iron Horse exhibit now on display. The "Golden Spike" will be on loan from Stanford University, it's the very spike that joined the East with the West at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869 between Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads.

In addition to opportunity to see the "Golden Spike" and tour the other exhibits, the NRHS and Bush Library are pleased to welcome two speakers who will present slide shows on Texas railroads on Saturday, March 18.

The first presenter is Mr. Leonard Ruback who will present "Bush 4141 and the Brazos Valley." Mr. Ruback, a research scientist with the Texas Transportation Institute, has spent more then 20 years in the Brazos Valley documenting the railroads. His presentation will focus on the Union Pacific 4141 and railfanning in the Brazos Valley in the Bryan/College Station and Hearne areas. His Hearne Area Railfan Primer web site at offers a wide variety of railfan information that will serve as the basis for his presentation.

The second presenter is Mr. Steve A. Goen who will present "Famous Passenger Trains of the Lone Star State." Mr. Goen is the author of seven railroad books on Texas railroads including Texas & New Orleans Color Pictorial: Southern Pacific's Texas & Louisiana Lines; Down South on the Rock Island: A Color Pictorial 1940-1969; Cotton Belt Color Pictorial; Santa Fe in the Lone Star State Color Pictorial, Volume One, 1949-1969; Kansas City Southern Color Pictorial; Fort Worth & Denver Color Pictorial; and Texas & Pacific Color Pictorial. Mr. Goen has agreed to make copies of his books available for purchase and will inscribe books on request.

Both the North Texas and Gulf Coast chapters of the NRHS are offering package tours to members, and non members, to attend this historic event. Availability of tickets is very limited.

(Skip Waters)