Penn Central #4626 -- a P-2b Electric "P" Motor. Ex-New York Central, exx-Cleveland Union Terminal. Pulled the train from Grand Central Terminal to Harmon, NY at the start of its journey.

Nickel Plate Road (New York, Chicago & St. Louis) #759 was built in August 1944 at Lima, OH. The 2-8-4 Berkshire type pulled the train from New York City (Harmon, NY, actually. Departed May 3) to Kansas City before turning the train over to the Union Pacific. It also pulled the train on the return from Kansas City to Baltimore before handing it off to Penn Central's GG-1 4902. Currently in the Steamtown collection in Scranton, PA.

Auxiliary Water Tender #759A. Ex-N&W. There weren't as many places for a steam locomotive to get water as there had been in the old days. Taking along an extra tender full of water helped extend 759's legs.

Union Pacific Centennial Locomotive #6900 (the largest diesel locomotive ever built), fresh from the manufacturer just in time to pull the GSCL from Kansas City to Ogden (being untried, the 6600 hp DDA40X loco was accompanied by a pair of 2500 hp SDP-35s on the westbound leg). Departed KC for Ogden, UT May 7, 1969. Today the locomotive is on display in Kenefick Park on the grounds of The Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE.

A Union Pacific SDP-35 diesel that helped pull the GSCL from Kansas City to Ogden. Departed KC for Ogden, UT May 7, 1969. Sold for scrap Dec. 1985.

A Union Pacific SDP-35 diesel that helped pull the GSCL from Kansas City to Ogden. Departed KC for Ogden, UT May 7, 1969. The SDP-35s that made the run from KC to Ogden were also chosen because they were capable of generating steam heat for the passenger consist. Sold for scrap Dec. 1985.

Union Pacific 4-8-4 (FEF) #8444. Pulled the GSCL May 10th from Salt Lake City to Ogden for the Golden Spike ceremony. In the afternoon, it pulled the train back to Salt Lake City. This locomotive (now back to its original number 844) has never been retired and still pulls special trains for the Union Pacific. Based out of Cheyenne, WY.

The Union Pacific provided an A-B-B set of E-unit diesels for the trip from Salt Lake City back to Kansas City. Per Al Phillips, these units really got the lead out -- likely hitting speeds in excess of 100 MPH a time or two!

Penn Central #4902, a GG-1 electric, specially painted in American Railroads livery to match the GSCL. Pulled the GSCL on May 19, 1969 from Baltimore to NYC. Later Amtrak 905, then 4905. Scrapped.

An Alco 1000 hp diesel switcher came in as a pusher up Albany Hill in New York.

The United States Army Transportation Corp sent a steam powered museum train from Ft. Eustis, VA. It consisted of USRA 2-8-0 locomotive #612 (#2630 until 1954) and three gold-colored six-axle exhibit cars made from passenger cars. "From the Virginia Peninsula to the State of Utah" proclaimed the locomotive's tender. "Pilgrimage to Promontory" proclaimed the three exhibit cars. The first exhibit car was lettered for the U.S. Army Quartermaster School, the second for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the third for the U.S. Army Transportation Corp (all three schools were co-sponsors of the train). The train was put on public display for three days at Defense Depot Ogden. The exhibit cars of the Quartermaster and Engineer schools depicted the U.S. Army's contributions to the building of the transcontinental railroad. The Transportation School's displays depicted military railroading since 1869, centered on the slogan "The Army Salutes You, Railroaders of America". Soldiers manning the exhibit cars were dressed in reproduction 1869-vintage uniforms of the 21st Infantry Regiment, which participated in the 1869 Golden Spike ceremony. The U.S. Army 21st Infantry Band played at the Golden Spike 1969 reenactment ceremony.