The Golden Spike

Black Irish Band performing railroad ballads during Portola Railroad Days

The 29th occurrence of Railroad Days, Portola’s big hurrah, is just around the corner. As in years past, traditions like the softball tournament and the horseshoe tournament and the Willie Tate Memorial Run will provide the community with some good-natured competition.

The Lucky Duck Race is returning, where the competition is zanier, but winners end up with real money. And the Mountain Madness Car Show, which has grown every year for the past four or five years, promises to be the biggest yet.

The Golden Spike Parade is the highlight of the four-day event, which will be immediately followed by the Spike Driving Contest, a fairly new tradition to Railroad Days that has proved popular.

Last year, the Railroad Days event expanded its territory and this year’s events build on that history.

From Aug. 18 until Sunday, Aug. 21, inside Portola, Railroad Days’ activities can be found along Commercial Street, at City Park, at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum and along the Feather River.

Outside Portola, the Blairsden Barn will feature performances of “Spirit” and Nakoma will hold its second Railroad Days wine tasting at Gold Mountain.

A second excursion train, Domes to Railroad Days, is also returning this year and again offers locals one-way excursions Friday and Sunday, with buses carting excursioners back to their cars for a one-day trip featuring the Feather River Canyon’s spectacular scenery.

This year, the Feather River Express is adding music to the train trip up and down the Feather River Canyon.

The Black Irish Band will entertain train travelers on their way to and from Railroad Days and at the same time, release their 21st CD, “Lonesome Whistle,” which features 14 ballads in honor of America’s railroad history.

The release covers over 150 years of songs that focus on the workers that toiled endless hours creating a national rail network. The CD includes songs about the Chinese and Irish, who competed to create the first transcontinental railroad.

According to band member Patrick Michael Karnahan, railroad ballads did not catch on until the beginning of the 20th century. Popular ballads such as “Casey Jones” were written around 1910, and what followed were many songs featuring railroad men as heroes.

The new Black Irish CD details that history through original songwriting and traditional railroad favorites. The album also features a song, “Train to Utah,” in honor of the modern railroad engineer on the long haul.

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A little rain didn't dampen the festivities at the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center on Saturday when around 300 people enjoyed the third annual Summer Barbecue.

"We used to schedule this for Memorial Day weekend, but decided the weather was too iffy," said JoAnn Hoatson, executive director at the Golden Spike. "So we have it on the Fourth of July weekend and it rains. Oh, well. You can't do anything about the weather and we have had an excellent turnout."

Those in attendance enjoyed hot dogs and hamburgers prepared by First National Bank of North Platte and listened to the music of Yes Ma'am, a female trio from Bayrd, making their second appearance at the Golden Spike.

The USO-style group performs World War II era music.

"We enjoy coming out to the Golden Spike," said member Mary Beth Mau. "But I think we brought the rain with us."

The event was a fundraiser for the Lincoln County Historical Museum.

"We are very grateful to the Spike for doing this," said museum curator Jim Griffin.

High water levels threatened flooding at the museum this spring, forcing the rescheduling of the annual Heritage Festival that typically starts off the Nebraskaland Days celebration in June.

"We are working at returning to some semblance of order at the museum." Griffin said. "The community really came through for us this spring and we appreciate it."

The Heritage Festival has been scheduled for Aug. 20.

Staff at the Golden Spike is gearing up for their busiest time of the season, Hoatson said.

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