Well here are the answers!

1.  May 10, 1869 at 12:47pm by Central Pacific and Union Pacific.

2.  True.  There were actually 4 commemorative spikes used.  Two gold, one silver and 1 regular spike with a gold plated top and a silver plated shaft.   Prior to the Golden Spike Ceremony 4 holes where drilled in the tie so that the spikes could be placed in rather than spiked.  After all of the speeches the four spikes were pulled out as well as the commemorative tie and replaced with ordinary ones.   When the last spike was driven in place it as well as the hammer used where wired up to the Transcontinental Telegraph line so that the whole country could hear it.

3.  Rocky Mountain Railtours and it was 34 cars.

4.  COFC by 17%.

5.  Vancouver Jct in Vancouver, WA.

6.  Hawaii

7.  May 10, 1997.

8.  Sam Hill (son-in-law to James Hill).

9.  May 1, 1971.

10.  BNSF with 2,214 miles.

11.  1/4 mile long sections.

12. Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

13. 200-220 trucks.

14. September 22, 1995.

15. It was operated by BHP Iron Ore in Australia on June 21, 2001.  It was 4.568 miles long and consisted of 682 ore cars and 8 diesel-electric locomotives which pulled the train about 170 miles.