Last updated: April 16, 2026
Place
Stop 12-Trestles and Fills
NPS/ncastoro
Union Pacific crews began construction work in the Promontory Range much later than Central Pacific. Their belated start and the difficult job required shortcuts wherever possible.
On the right, workmen trestled across this ravine rather than completing the fill as originally planned. A culvert crew finished a lengthy stone waterway along the bottom of the ravine before the decision was made to build a trestle instead. Central Pacific builders, on the other hand, were here through the harsh winter of 1868-69. They had more time and easily completed their fill across the same ravine.
On the right, workmen trestled across this ravine rather than completing the fill as originally planned. A culvert crew finished a lengthy stone waterway along the bottom of the ravine before the decision was made to build a trestle instead. Central Pacific builders, on the other hand, were here through the harsh winter of 1868-69. They had more time and easily completed their fill across the same ravine.