Golden Spike - the trace of the Central Pacific Grade

The East Grade Auto Tour follows the trace of the Central Pacific Grade. The scenic drive provides access to cuts and fills made by the crews of the Center Pacific Railroad in their race against the Union Pacific crews to push the linkage of the Transcontinental Railroad farther west. At the time these cuts were being built, the Union Pacific crews were building a parallel rail line nearby in hopes of making the transcontinental connection further east. It was a race to define and control the location of the meeting point.