Golden Spike National Historic Park : Language of the Rails (Last Updated: June 26, 2018)

"The 'frontier railroad' was ephemeral," wrote railroad historian Jim Wilkie, "only lasting a few years – until towns grew up along the line [and] eastern standards of good track and facilities were installed." Along the transcontinental railroad, upgrades and improvements coincided with the building of more permanent stations, including Promontory Station, Utah, and the similar Battle Mountain Station, Nevada, shown above. Stations contained ticket and telegraph offices and, sometimes, eating rooms and hotels, while nearby were coal sheds, engine houses, and other facilities to service the traveler and the iron horse.