Trains.com

Pennsylvania tour: Horseshoe and the Altoona experience

Posted by Brian Schmidt
on Friday, October 18, 2019

I have to confess, this went better than I expected. Perhaps I've been jaded by my seven years in Wisconsin that one can sit by the tracks for less than two hours and not see a train. Well, in 90 minutes at Horseshoe Curve on Wednesday morning, our group got four trains, including the Southern-painted heritage unit! Best of all, the group made it to track level (by funicular or by stairs) before the first train passed! 

Having not been to Altoona for about 25 years, I'm reminded of just how much railroading there is for the visiting railfan: Horseshoe Curve, the Railroaders Memorial Museum, Everett Railroad, and Allegheny Portage Railroad come to mind immediately. But there are opportunities to check out what's happening around the Juniata Shop, visit the "West Slope" communities, or even just ride Amtrak to Harrisburg and enjoy the scenery. 

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