ALMANAC On this day, May 10

1869 A golden spike was driven in Promontory, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

1924 The city’s fifth trolley strike in 15 years started. The Downtown area was jammed with automobile traffic. The Pittsburgh Railways imported 900 electric railways operators and guards from New York to run trolleys. The Liberty Tubes were closed for further work on the ventilation system after 12 people were overcome by fumes.

1940 During World War II, German forces began invading the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and France. The same day, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned, and Winston Churchill formed a new government.

1956 Rodef Shalom Congregation observed its 100th anniversary and dedicated its new Temple at Fifth and Morewood avenues. 1994 Nelson Mandela took the oath of office in Pretoria to become South Africa’s first Black president.

2008 Manfred Honeck, the incoming music director for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, made his first recording with the symphony.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin

Today’s birthdays: Author Barbara Taylor Bradford, 89. R&B singer Henry Fambrough (The Spinners), 84. Actor David Clennon, 79. Writer-producer-director Jim Abrahams, 78. Singer Donovan, 76. Singer-songwriter Graham Gouldman (10cc), 76. Singer Dave Mason, 76. Actor Mike Hagerty, 68. Sports anchor Chris Berman, 67. Actor Bruce Penhall, 65. Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., 64. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., 63. Actor Victoria Rowell, 63. Rock singer Bono (U2), 62. Former Sen. Dean Heller, RNev., 62. Rock musician Danny Carey (Tool), 61. Actor Darryl M. Bell, 59. Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, 59. Model Linda Evangelista, 57. Rapper Young MC, 55. Actor Erik Palladino, 54. Rock singer Richard Patrick (Filter), 54. Actor Lenny Venito, 53. Actor Dallas Roberts, 52. Actor Leslie Stefanson, 51. Actor-singer Todd Lowe, 50. Actor Andrea Anders, 47. Race car driver Helio Castroneves, 47. Rock musician Jesse Vest, 45. Actor Kenan Thompson, 44. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jason Dalyrimple (Soul For Real), 42. Actor Odette Annable, 37. Actor Lindsey Shaw, 33. Actor Lauren Potter, 32. Olympic gold medal swimmer Missy Franklin, 27.

Thought for today: “Creative minds always have been known to survive any kind of bad training.”