Mossdale Crossing - The final link of the Transcontinental Railroad - Lathrop County, CA
N 37° 47.239 W 121° 18.413
10S E 649084 N 4183567
The last piece of the First Transcontinental Railroad, completed September 8, 1869.
Waymark Code: WMKAP
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 08/06/2006
Views: 152
On May 10, 1869 Leland Stanford, president of the Central Pacific Railroad went to Promontory Summit, Utah and drove a Golden Spike through a railroad log, connecting the Central Pacific Railroad from the west and the Union Pacific Railroad from the east, creating the first transcontinental railroad.
Little attention was paid to the fact that at this time a westward bound train ride would have ended just 40 miles shy of the Pacific coast. A little bridge across San Joaquin River in California was still under construction and became in fact the last piece of the Transcontinental Railway to be completed. The first train crossed the bridge on September 8, 1869 and it remains in use until this day.
The bridge itself is located at N37°47.247' W121°18.484', but the best place to see it is near the boat launch ramp at the coordinates above.
The site is a California Historical Site with a Marker located at the additional coordinates given below.