Those warm-weather folks never get to see the steam of a locomotive, fueled by several cords of wood, 800 gallons of water and cold enough temperatures to make billowy white clouds.

That's why the Golden Spike began its Winter Steam Festival, held each New Year's Eve, several years ago. That's when engineer Ron Wilson brings the replica of the Jupiter, the Central Pacific Rail Road engine that came from the west in 1869, out of storage and steams it up and down the track in front of the monument visitor center.

During a steady rain on Saturday, children also took turns shuttling up and down the track on a handcar.

Kindi Flake, 5, of West Valley City, echoed her father, Keith, as she talked about her love for trains. "I like to ride on them," said Kindi, who clambered up the Jupiter and stood atop the locomotive before gingerly coming back down.

It was on May 10, 1869, that the largely Chinese workers of the Central Pacific and the Irish workers of the Union Pacific finished building America's transcontinental railroad. The last spike was driven at this spot 25 miles northwest of Brigham City.

The monument has replicas of both the Jupiter and the Union Pacific No. 119 in storage. Each winter they are taken apart, cleaned and repaired. Beginning in May, they go on display again.

The original locomotives were worn out and destroyed in the early 1900s, said Wilson.

Brent Morrill, who was raised in Brigham City and is now going to school in Columbus, Ohio, brought his family to the Golden Spike because his son, Hunter, 5, is wild about trains. "He likes the whistle and the steam."

Hunter wasn't too happy to learn that he wouldn't be able to ride the Jupiter up and down the track on Saturday. Only tours of the cab were allowed.

Another Box Elder County native, Lisa Sedlak, said it took marrying a Chicagoan, Jeff Sedlak, for her to make her first trip to the monument.

"It's interesting to think of it [the completion of the transcontinental railroad] in context of the Civil War just having ended," said Jeff Sedlak.

Lisa Sedlak said she learned about the Golden Spike while growing up, but had never visited before Saturday. "She wasn't in the Cub Scouts," explained her mother, Judy Hartvigsen of Perry.

Maggie Johnston, the new monument superintendent, said the Winter Festival helps showcase the steam engines when they are actually steaming.

But it also serves another purpose. "Because it's the holidays, so many people have folks visiting and it's an opportunity to bring them out."

More than 150 people had visited this year's Winter Steam Festival by midday Saturday.