Transportation
4
The Big Fill Trail follows a 1.5-mile round-trip route to two major railroad construction features in the Promontory area: the Central Pacific's Big Fill and the Union Pacific's Big Trestle site. Its easy grade reflects the two percent limit set by the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862, yet the Promontories formed the most difficult and intricate section of the line west of Weber Canyon and east of Donner Pass. Union Pacific Chief Engineer General Grenville Dodge counted this work among the heaviest on the route, with high grades, sharp curves, enormous fills, and numerous cuts. The Big Fill itself was built by hand with shovels and dump carts by Mormon workers, and the project ultimately required 500 men and 250 teams of horses to raise the massive earthen structure to a height of 170 feet, equal to 17 stories.
Hear stories like this as you drive
ExploreHere reads historical markers out loud as you pass them: over 325,000 stories across the US. No account needed.
4.7 · 800+ ratings · Free
FIND IT
Howell, Utah · United States
