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Filming this event was a major deal in 1914. The official photographer was E.R. (Edwin Ruthven) Freeman. The Humboldt Standard, July 28, 1914, stated:
"Instead of these being flat points here and there his [Freeman's] work will form a complete panorama of the route in the form of a 'motion picture' of the trip. President Palmer of NWP road will cooperate with him on the trip and the result will be a complete and comprehensive view of the scenery and work along the road. Also he will take moving picture films of the ceremony of the driving of the golden spike."
Duhem Motion Picture company of San Francisco along with Freeman used 3 motion picture cameras to capture the route and the official ceremony. Peter Palmquist writes about Freeman and his work in the Northwesterner Gold Spike Issue Fall 1989. He states that a major portion of the original film footage was discovered among the remains of the Duhem Motion Picture Company archives and was reassembled into a video by Mr. Bert Gould of the Bay Area Archive. Ironically, the portion of the film showing the actual driving of the spike is missing.

This starts out really strongly, with a simply FANTASTIC train ride on the newly completed track. Honestly, this was just great as the train (using a backward view mostly) would look behind at all the men still working.. What I loved is the tunnel shots! Like the screen would go dark for a few secs, then emerge from the tunnel! I mean I LOVE that.. Again, we see workers still working on the railroad.. Some of these are working on the bridges. Look especially at the first bridge, from the first tunnel.. The workers seem to be a billion miles up! Whoa!
The 2nd part is.. well.. A tad dissapointing then the first half, as it showcases the celebrations going on when the train came to town. Lots of hat waving, champagne breaking etc. Not that bad.. But not as good as the first half.