Blowing off steam at Golden Spike | The Salt Lake Tribune

Demonstrations • Winter Steam Festival runs Dec. 28-30 at Promontory.

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Golden Spike National Historic Site in northwestern Utah is holding the annual Winter Steam Festival Dec. 28-30. Steam locomotive No. 119 will arrive at the Last Spike Site at approximately 10 a.m. daily and will be on display until 4:30 p.m. There will also be special steam demonstrations at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The No. 119 is a fully operational replica of the Union Pacific's No. 119, which was present for the Golden Spike Ceremony on May 10, 1869.

In addition to witnessing the steam power of the 119, rides on the park's historic handcar and 1950s motorcar will be offered (weather permitting) as well as cab tours of the #119.

Young visitors can become Golden Spike Junior Rangers by participating in the Junior Ranger program. This short booklet takes approximately an hour to complete. Once finished, a ranger badge and certificate are given to the new Junior Ranger.

More information is available at www.nps.gov/gosp or by calling 435-471-2209 ext 29. Golden Spike National Historic Site is a national park fee area during the winter months, if you do not have any of the federal passes; it is only $5.00 per vehicle. The visitor center is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located 32 miles west of Brigham City via highway 13 and 83. Take exit 365 from I-15 and exit 26 from I-84. The visitor center will be closed Christmas and New Year's Day.