#11 Union Pacifics Last Cut

East Auto Tour Marker 11-Union Pacific's Last Cut. Ironically, some of the most difficult work for the Union Pacific on their line from Nebraska to Utah was here in these mountains, only a few miles from the completion site. A tortuous ten miles of track, with an average climb of eighty feet per mile, was laid from the valley floor to the summit of the four long fills, four major trestles, five sizable rock cuts, and numerous culverts. 

• Union Pacific's Last Cut

  
  

  Ironically, some of the most difficult work for the Union Pacific on their line from Nebraska to Utah was here in these mountains, only a few miles from the completion site. A tortuous ten miles of track, with an average climb of eighty feet per mile, was laid from the valley floor to the summit of the pass. Included in the construction were four long fills, four major trestles, five sizeable rock cuts, and numerous culverts.

  Date created:

  04/12/2025

  Audio Transcript

  Ironically, some of the most difficult work for the Union Pacific on their line from Nebraska to Utah was here in these mountains, only a few miles from the completion site. A tortuous ten miles of track, with an average climb of eighty feet per mile, was laid from the valley floor to the summit of the pass. Included in the construction were four long fills, four major trestles, five sizeable rock cuts, and numerous culverts.

  Leave your vehicle again and walk the one hundred and sixty-five yard to the long, deep cut at the end of the path. This was Union Pacific's last major rock cut before reaching Promontory Summit. On the opposite side you can see how workers neatly stacked the rocks to keep debris out of the cut.