Horseshoe Curve

[Anonymous]

I am planning a trip to Altoona, PA. this summer, I was wondering about Horseshoe Curve and the area around it. Is the volume of traffic the same since the NS took over? I also heard that the brush in the park area is growing up pretty bad. Any info will be appreciated.
Thanks[:D]

[Anonymous]

I was there in September. stayed for about an hour, and 4 trains came through. they keep the bushes and grass cut in the accessable areas, as well as the "foot" on each end so you can see whats coming. its still a great place to watch from.

[Modelcar]

....I know there were plans to cut brush / trees on the "ends" of the curve to allow better viewing of trains coming and going...and glad to hear from the post above [trainheartedguy], they may have started to do so....It is a good place to witness units laboring up the grade with long loads and even units on the downgrade with dynamics whining and flanges squealing...maybe brakes smoking too...

[Anonymous]

I've been to Altoona seven times since 1995 so I know a lot about the area. I will give you a guide to the area. First, the Altoona area is packed with cool things, like two amusement parks, one by the tracks, some museums, a mall(not that I'm interested in malls but some people do like them, although this one has a great arcade), and other cool stuff. In fact, one of the amusement parks has a miniature golf course that is dedicated to railroads, it even has a hole for the Gallitzin Tunnels! The area is great for the family. Here is a list to all of the places to railfan, from Altoona westward to Johnstown, as of April to August 2003:

Altoona: There are several places to railfan around here. My favorite is the area across from the Amtrak station. You can get magazine-quality (I've made a few sucessful contributions to magazines in this area) shots here. The town is eay to get around, and has several great hotels, plus there is the Railroaders Memorial Museum , which has several great exhibits featuring railroading. The greatest part about railfanning here is that you catch a lot more helper action than Horse Shoe Curve.

Juniata Shops: The shops are just east of the Amtrak station, and are pretty much inacessible to the public. There is an area behind one of the many Sheetz gas stations/fast food restaurants that are everywhere you look on western PA. I have nabbed several good shots here, and this is where most of the good stuff in Juniata is.

Horse Shoe Curve: Yes, the rumors are true. Weeds are building up in the area, wrecking many "almost good" photo ops in the area. It almost looks like Penn Central days, maybe black paint isn't the only thing NS shares with PC[:(]. Other wise the area hosts some great shots.

Gallitzin: Technically we shouldn't be calling this area the Gallitzin tunnels because the town's real name is Tunnelhill, and the real Gallitzin tunnel is the one you will see that has no track heading through it. The double track tunnel is the Allegheny Tunnel, and when you hear a train, but don't see it, it means the train was heading through the New Portage Tunnel, which is out of sight. The one disadvantage is that almost all of the trains you'll see will be westbound, so you have to have good hearing and be quick to catch them. I was talking to a kid who said that he saw two trains head out of the Allegheny Tunnel at the same time! The eastbounds are rare, almost exclusively Amtrak, while the rest of the eastbounds head through the New Portage Tunnel.

Cresson: The helpers sit here. You can also find some of the rare SD80MACs here. The train volume is great.

Cassandra Overlook: Hard to reach but the rewards are endless. I got a great shot here of a Conrail SD40-2 leading the Amtrak Three Rivers, and was my first sucessful magazine contribution.

Johnstown: Another great town. The NS trains are easy to photograph and there are also CSX trains here. You can head up the incline and get a great view of the trains. Plus, this town is also family friendly, with an Immigration Museum and a Museum covering the infamous Johnstown Flood.

South Fork: On a branch line there are coal trains with SD80MACs on them, plus since this is the place the dam that caused the Johnstown Flood was located, there is a museum here.

I would covered more but this is as far as Ive gone west of Altoona. The last time I came here I came the day before the August 14th 2003 blackout and met a kid who came from Long Island who left on the day of the blackout! Earlier in the morning of the 14th I had photographed a Long Island DE30AC and a Pennsylvania Power and Light coal train, was it a sign of things to come? I had a fun time last time I went here, and I always can't wait till we head for the nearest Amtrak station and head for Altoona[:)].

[Anonymous]

Oh, I also forgot to mention that Cumberland, MD is an hour away and is a relief from all of the NS black.

[adrianspeeder]

I was there, and it is one place ever train lover should see. dougal hit everything pretty good.

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

When I got there in Sept., they had a guy up there finishing up weed cutting.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update!

[UPTRAIN]

I thought the NS closed the old Juniata shops there, am I thinking of somewhere else or is this true?

[Anonymous]

I've heard at horeshoe curve there's a 4-4-2 Atlantic sitting in the park. Is this true?

[Anonymous]

no 4884bigboy ii was there this summer and it is a conrail high hood gp7

[UPTRAIN]

I thought the GP7 was in PRR paint?!?!?!?!? *(watch Zach as he scratches his head with wonder)*

[Modelcar]

...Without digging out photos my memory tells me the diesel on horseshoe curve is in Pennsylvania paint. CSX presence in Johnstown is very small anymore. It enters from Rockwood..[main line of CSX], via the Somerset Cambria Branch which used to be a big coal hauler and it did haul steel products out of Johnstown too....still does haul a minimun of products with approx one train each day..............The steamer that used to be on display on Horseshoe was a K-4. If memory serves me correctly it was removed about 1986 and taken to Altoona and reastored to working order. Last time I heard it was not running at the present time. I did photograph it at the Railroaders Museum in Altoona some years ago....[Across from the Amtrak station there]. I agree this is a great area of great Pennsylvania RR history and interested railfans should learn what is there and in the summer season...go take a good look. The oldest railroad tunnel is in this general area too....It's not used on a rail line anymore but I understand they are working on it as part of a Trail...Someone from the area might comment on where they stand on that project now....One more comment....At Southfork one can walk out on a part of the *** of the dam that failed and caused the 1889 disastrous Johnstown flood.

[Modelcar]

...Sorry, post was entered twice. Just removed it.

[Anonymous]

It was a K4S It was taken to the Museum, but was then sent to Steamtown and restored to operation. (the city of Altoona wants it back, NS said if they send it back, it'll never move from the museum again, because they want to remove the turnout to the museum) The GP7 is in Black paint with the keystone logo on each end, and the word Pennsylvania on each side. The old Juniata shops are as active as ever. One building burnt a few years back, but the rest are still in operation. (and thats a lot of buildings).

Cumberland is a good place to stop too. As a Marylander, I am sad to say Ive only been there once. They have the CSX main, and an excelent WM excursion to Frostburg and back--running steam and diesel. If your interested, they have a large museum in the old station hotel for the C&O canal.

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

I thought the NS closed the old Juniata shops there, am I thinking of somewhere else or is this true?

You might be thinking of the Hollidaysburg Car Shop -- NS did close that within the last couple of years, and that's just a few miles outside of Altoona.

--Nora

[Anonymous]

Norfolk Southern did close the Juniata shops. [soapbox]




Amtrak Mark

[Anonymous]

NS closed to Hollidaysburg car shops, but not Juniata. The shop is still going strong. The GP7 is actually what I call a GP9J, a GP9 overhauled at the Juniata Shops with blanked dynamic brake blisters and a paper air filter. Most people call the engine a GP9, and although it is a GP9, I call it a GP9J

[Anonymous]

A big thank you to everyone for their reply. [^] I was also curious about the Pittsburgh area, I've seen the Pentrex tape and it looks pretty busy. Thanks again.[:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AMTRK143

Norfolk Southern did close the Juniata shops. [soapbox]

Amtrak Mark

Then why were there a couple of locos going in with cars, and a loco being moved on the transfer table, as well as open fence gates when I was there in Sept.?

[alien]TAKE .. ME .. TO .. YOUR .. LEADER..........STOP .. IGNORING .. ME[:-^]

[UPTRAIN]

Thanks for the info on the GP9 and on the shops. Don't they have little trolley or cable car things to take you up the hill....I mean.....mountain ([:D]) in case you don't want to climb the steps?

[trainfan1221]

Was there several years ago, and Conrail put on quite a show. A couple of friends of mine go there a few times a year (never invite me) and say there is still a lot to see.
The places in Cresson and the town with tunnels, name completely slipped my mind, which are right next to the tracks are supposed to be good.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Thanks for the info on the GP9 and on the shops. Don't they have little trolley or cable car things to take you up the hill....I mean.....mountain ([:D]) in case you don't want to climb the steps?

Yes, there is an inclined plane at Horse Shoe Curve. The cars are painted tuscan red with five gold pinstripes and a Pennsy keystone on the front. The incline only operates every 15 minutes now, but Horse Shoe Curve is open 24/7/365(or six). The park used to be open only until 8:00 pm with the incline operating every three minutes. I myself prefer riding the incline, but for some reason my brother likes to tire himself out on the 130+ stairs.

[Anonymous]

Sorry about the post with the shops closing. I meant to say that they closed it off to the public. I just got carried away there. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

The incline is called a "Funicular"and it is "Fun"

[Anonymous]

thats Ok Amtrk. we all skip an important line here & there. yes it is closed to the public, but you still can see most of the action in the yard from certain points

[Anonymous]

To see the action at Juniata, I prefer heading to the Sheetz (don't get confused, there are eight of them in town), there is a fence there, but even I am tall enough to grab a safe shot.

[Anonymous]

The Horseshoe Curve does have a finicular (sp) which is a cable car to take you to the top of the curve where the viewing area is. The steps are no big deal if you are reasonably fit and the little bit of exercise will be good for you. Another good place to see slow moving uphill traffic in Altoona is the old brick factory located adjacant to the tracks around 31st street. Ask directions from any older resident and they should know where it is. There is also a Motel 6 with $40 rooms and several restaurants right off the first Altoona exit going north on Rt. 220 (I think). It would be worthwhile seeing all the other nearby train watching sites such as Cassandra, Gilletison, etc.that others mentioned by making it a three day weekend. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays have the most rail traffic. Have fun! Bill

[rf16a]

If you go to Cresson, a great place to stay is The Station Inn. (www.stationinnpa.com)
You can watch main line action from a rocking chair on the front porch. Owner/host Mr. Tom Davis can provide you with a wealth of information about railfanning the area.

Lilly, Cassandra, and South Fork are all good locations.

If you're in the Altoona area, the Brickyard is a nice spot.

If you go to Johnstown, visit the inclined plane and ride it up to the top of the mountain for a spectacular view of the city.

As for Horseshoe Curve, if you have never been there, by all means go.
I for one wi***hat 1)the excess vegetation on the Curve would be removed asap, and 2) that the Curve was open to visitors year round.

[co614]

I can report that I have made a number of visits to HSC this past year ( including 3 days ago on #40) and that I would rank it as THE best train watching location in America-bar none. There's virtually non-stop action(about 6 trains an hour average), the scenery is spectacular,and it's very visitor friendly(restrooms,snackbar,souvenir stand etc.) and very well run by the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum folks.
Only 6 miles away in Altoona is for my money the finest exhibit in the nation in terms of telling the human side of the American Railroad story. This very under-rated exhibit(which includes an excellent movie show) is a MUST see for everyone whose interested in the story of how our pioneers conquered the Alleghany Mountains( Horseshoe Curve), the immense importance of the steam engine in the growth of the nation, and the captivating story of how and why the Penn. R.R. founded and nurtured Altoona,Pa., which for most of the 19th&20th Centuries was known as "Railroad City,U.S.A."
I 've been through all the RR museums and I'd rank The Railroaders Memorial Museum exhibit in Altoona as head and shoulder the best, particularly in telling the human side of the story.
I'm also pleased to be able to report that the new management team at The Railroaders Memorial Museum has made great strides recently to correct the poor financial situation they inherited and I believe thery've turned the corner and that Altoona hasa bright future. I would urge anyone who can to $upport thier efforts and to check them out at ...railroadersmemorialmuseum.com
2004 is the 150th anniv. of the Curve and the folks at he ARMM are planning some great events to allow us to join in that celebration. Who knows,if NS should become heritage minded,we MIGHT even see steam on the curve???? NEVER say NEVER!!
I highly recommend that you make plans to ionclude a visit to Altoona this year to both visit HSC and TheARMM in Altoona. You'll be glad you did! Ross Rowland