Strasburg, Colorado: Transcontinental Railroad Rival Site

A sign proclaims that this unheralded spot is where the Transcontinental Railroad REALLY linked up. A nearby monument, which had stood since 1970, was removed for repairs in 2019.

I was at Lyons Parks 6/27/19, and the monument is gone. I was told it had been in poor condition and has been removed for repair. The location where it stood has been re-sodded. I was not told any date when it is expected to be back in the park.

It's been 7 years since we stopped here and little has changed. It is still very interesting to see all the old buildings and equipment. It is also a delightful place to stop and enjoy a picnic under the giant spruce.

Strasburg has for years used a big sign to announce that it was the linkage spot for the first continuous road of rails between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, on August 15, 1870. But the sign was made of wood, and had stood outdoors in Colorado weather since 1970, and was about to collapse. Rather than suffer that indignity, Strasburg took down the wood sign and replaced it with a new, more durable sign made of metal. Unlike its predecessor, this one boldly proclaims, "First Transcontinental Railroad." The new sign also stands in a new location, in front of Strasburg's railway depot, which is part of the Comanche Crossing Historical Society Museum complex.

Transcontinental pilgrims, unfortunately, can't visit the actual linkage spot, but the small cement pillar that marked the spot currently stands in Lions Park (corner of Arapahoe St. and Railroad Ave., the site of the old sign). The town expects to eventually move the pillar to be near the flashy new metal sign.

Visited the site on Saturday and took a few photos.