Commemorate the driving of “The Golden Spike” by Making a QSO with Special Event Station W7G on May 10, 2025
Before there were tiny computers in your pocket, heck, before there were cars or planes, the primary modes of communication and transportation were horses and trains—and only one of them didn’t need bathroom breaks. On the other hand, horses and stagecoaches didn’t require tracks, making them the preferred method of transportation across the U.S.
That is until May 10, 1869, when the final spike was driven into the Transcontinental Railroad—the first continuous railroad line across the country, linking two halves of the growing nation. Aptly called “The Golden Spike” because of its appearance, it connected the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento, California and the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha, Nebraska at Promontory Summit in Utah.
Even though it was built between 1863 and 1869, the idea of the railroad was in development even earlier, according to the Library of Congress. Records show that there were plans for a railroad that connected Chicago to California in 1849. In 1853, geographical surveys were conducted in Sierra Nevada and later presented to Congress.
Years later, the Pacific Railroad Act of 1863 was signed, and the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad were authorized to begin construction.
Work on the 1,911-mile railroad was long and grueling. While African Americans, Irish immigrants and others contributed, the bulk of the work was done by Chinese immigrants who were often overworked and poorly treated compared to their counterparts. This led to the deaths of around 1,500 workers resulting from dangerous conditions like landslides, harsh weather and, in some cases, explosions, according to the History Channel’s website.
There was also a devastating toll to Native Americans, who were forced to move by way of peace treaty to new lands for the railroad to be built. Worse yet would come after the project was finished, when sport hunters and industrialization decimated the bison population, leaving these tribes without their primary food and material source.
The connection of the railroad dramatically changed America. The railroad shipped $50 million worth of freight coast to coast every year. Additionally, an industrial boom happened because resources mined from the Midwest could go anywhere across the continent and be used in factories.
It also improved communication and the spread of information because what used to take months or years on foot or horse now only took days, according to PBS.
While there were no ham radios around to spread the news of the railroad’s completion, there was Morse code. When the final spike was driven connecting the east to the west, W.N. Shilling of Western Union sent a four-letter message letting the country know:
D-O-N-E.
Side note: There were also electric connections tied to the spike. When the spike was hammered into the final hole, signals were simultaneously sent to San Francisco and New York where cannons were rigged to fire, signaling to the world the railroad was complete. How cool is that?
Of course, a golden spike is a horrible material to use if you want to actually keep a railroad together because of how soft the precious metal is. So, if you want to see the 17.6 karat gold spike, it’s on display at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.
Special Operating Event
May 2025 marks 156 years since that spike was driven into the rail, connecting two halves of a nation. Folks looking to celebrate this historic achievement can do so on May 10, the day the railroad officially opened for usage. Contact special event station W7G from 1500Z-2300Z, operating from Corinne, Utah. The event is being hosted by the Ogden Amateur Radio Club (W7SU). Click here for more information.
