The important thing was to reach Ogden first. In October the Central Pacific had worked a clever stratagem which came very near succeeding.

Did the transcontinental railroad go through Ogden?

The Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) reached Ogden on March 8, 1869. Shortly afterward, the railroad chose Ogden as its western headquarters, in part because of Brigham Young's donation of five acres to the railroad.

When did the railroad come to Ogden Utah?

On March 8, 1869, railroad rails came to Ogden for the first time. The celebration of the first rails was reported in the Ogden and Salt Lake City newspapers, speculating as to the significance of the event.