Sparks Great Race Celebration
Sparks Mayor Geno Martini receives a commemorative Golden Spike from Nathan Anderson, Union Pacific's Director - Public Affairs.
Union Pacific presented a commemorative Golden Spike to the City of Sparks, Nevada on July 10, 2018 at the Sparks Heritage Museum, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the railroad reaching Sparks.
Union Pacific and Sparks have intertwined histories dating back to the early 1900s. The first transcontinental railroad spurred growth for Sparks and Union Pacific continues to operate here today.
Sparks is known as Rail City, and the rail yard continues its vital role in the entire valley's economy. A few years ago, along with expanding the tunnel size over Donner Pass to accommodate double-stack cars, Union Pacific constructed a third line in the yard to help accommodate traffic coming from the west. Sparks is a locomotive and crew change point.