completion of transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah, May 10, 1869. The Army's involvement with the trans- continental railroad dates to early 1850’s when Congress found a new way to em- ploy the Army’s technical assets for the internal development of the country. The Corps of Topographical Engineers was charged with surveying four routes from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Four routes were spread evenly across the West showing good faith of the gov- ermment without regional favoritism. Amny officers led each of the four routes, three active duty officers, and a former Amny officer, Isaac Stevens, then governor of Washington Territory. The coming of the Civil War ended any hope of rail con- struction, President Lincoln, nevertheless, initiated the transcontinental railroad pro- ject in 1862, but the demands of the war delayed its completion until 1869. eke FORT EUSTIS AND THE GOLDEN SPIKE CENTENNIAL During its tour of duty with the 714th TROB, Locomotive #612 was selected to represent the U S Army at the 1969 P Golden Spike Centennial celebrating the (Continued)The Golden Spike continued) Leading the #612 mission to celebrate the centennial was the 714th TBRO "B" Company commander Lt. Michel J. Con- nor along with a detachment of 15 enlisted personnel. The lack of remaining steam engine servicing facilities necessitated that the #612 be moved to and from Utah -Joaded on a depressed center flat car. Also making the trip to Utah were three ex- hospital cars containing Transportation Corps, Corps of Engineers, and Quarter- master Corps exhibits depicting the Army's contribution to the construction of the transcontinental railroad. ei The locomotive and three cars were as- sembled into a train at Defense Depot Ogden Utah, and operated under steam making stops at Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Brigham City where they placed on public exhibit. Lt. Connor and his detachment, dressed in period uniforms, participated in the Golden Spike Centennial ceremonies at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1969, as the official U. S. Army delegation. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, the #612 returned to Defense Depot Ogden Utah where it was loaded back on the depressed center flat car for the return trip to Fort Eustis. ‘The original track through Promontory Summit became a secondary route with the construction of the Lucin Cut-Off across the Great Salt Lake in 1904. The rail on the original Promontory Summit was lifted in 1942 as part of the WW IT scrap drive effort leaving the site of the : driving of the Golden Spike trackless. With special acknowledgement to COL (R) Thomas W. Sweeney and Mr. Michel J. Connor LTC (R) Mark Metz