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In 1969 the United States celebrated the centennial of the Golden Spike ceremony - which linked the Pacific and Atlantic coast with railroad service.
Nickel Plate Road 759, a Berkshire steam locomotive, built in Lima, attended the Gold Spike ceremony in Utah. Here is that locomotive, newly painted as the Golden Spike Limited, as it passed through Bluffton with rail fans aboard.
It was the first steam locomotive to pass through Bluffton since steam on the NKP ended in 1958.
Leland Gerber took this classic photo. Notice the Bluffton elementary children watching and covering their ears. The locomotive went through town screaming at top speed.
Notice the passenger station on the right and the freight station on the left.
