150th Anniversary of the Real Completion of the Trans Con

150 years ago yesterday, September 6th,  was the real completion of the transcontinental railroad.  The date popularly referred to was only the completion to Sacramento.  Four months later the line was complete through Niles Canyon to Oakland.  You will see and hear steam trains in the canyon today in celebration.  The following is from the Niles Canyon Railway web page:

The Niles Canyon Railway will be celebrating the all-important 150th Anniversary of the Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. The rail line through Niles Canyon was the primary route for overland traffic to and from the San Francisco Bay. The true final completion on September 6th, 1869 is when the Last Link of the Transcontinental Railroad was opened from Sacramento to Oakland. The hard working efforts and ingenuity of thousands of Irish and Chinese migrant workers made the rail connection between the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad a reality.