Devil's Gate Had Important Part in Early Arrival of Golden Spike In 1869 the Golden Spike headed for Utah and almost missed. Almost 100 years ago, the specially forged and inscribed golden spike was on its way to a ceremony scheduled for May 8, 1869 at Promontory Sum¬mit, Utah, which would unite the nation by rail. Escorting the spike was Dr. T. C. Durrant, Union Pacific Railroad Com¬pany vice president. Two days before the sche¬duled ceremonies, the train bearing both the spike and Dur¬rant was sided by several hun¬dred angry rail workers who demanded their pay, overdue for four months. They threatened the life of Durrant and the telegraph operator who sent Durrant's wire should he send for soldiers instead of money. The next day, the $80,000 urgently requested by Durrant arrived, the workers went back to work considerably happier, and the U.P. vice president heaved a sigh of relief. But all was not to go smoothly during the remainder of the trip. The next obstacle to be faced was a bridge near Devil's Gate, Utah which was near collapse due to dangerous waves from the rain-swollen stream below. It was decided after much chin scratching and debate that the 132 ton engine could not go across but the lighter cars could be rolled to the other side to a waiting engine which would catch the cars, remake the train and continue on to Promontory. The entire crew probably held their breath as each car made a perilous solo trip across the shaky superstructure. Finally the train was on the other side, the crew, Durrant, and the ceremonial spike in¬tact, if not a bit worse for wear and the trip continued with little more trauma arriv¬ing at Promontory in time for delayed ceremonies on May 10. Little concern was apparent back in San Francisco for Dur¬rant and his beleaugered crew. When Mr. Leland Stanford, then president of the Central Pacific (now the Southern Pacific) wired parade chairmen in Sacramento and San Francisco that the cele¬bration was to be delayed until Monday, May 10, the chairmen replied that celebrating had al¬ready begun and would continue indefinitely until the event did take place. In other words, California fiddled while Durrant, Stanford and hundreds of dignitaries and spectators burned. The turn table, pump house, water softener and water tank have been torn down in the last ten years as have most of the company houses. The telegraph lines were removed just a year ago and all that remains of the railroad in this, once one of the major rail centers in this area, are the depot, four houses and some tool sheds. The last helper engine, which was used to push the trains up Wasatch Hill came through here some time in 1961. The big 800 diesel burning steamer which was brought through Echo at 9:00 Friday, May 2 for use on the excursion trains to Promon¬tory during the celebration, re¬newed memories for the many citizens who remembered the days when Echo boomed.