On May 10, 1869, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific lines were connected in Promontory Point, Utah with the insertion of four spikes made of gold. This marked the completion of the railroad. A large celebration was held in commemoration, with the owners and planners of the railroad attending.
There was a total of 1,776 miles of track laid, 690 miles by Central Pacific, and 1,086 by Union Pacific. Central Pacific bored through 15 mountains in order to get to Promontory.
Each company was given 20 sections of land on each side of the track, as well as $16,000 for each mile of track of flat prairie land, $32,000 per mile for hilly terrain, and $48,000 per mile in the mountains.