Horseshoe Curve Visit....

[Modelcar]

I visited Horseshoe curve a few days ago and saw one train east bound and two pushers working up hill deadheading. I had tried to find a schedule of activity on the Curve before we went to the area but could not. In the past when Conrail was the operator, I was able to find a schedule and had an idea what time of day to visit.

In talking to facilities people at the Curve they told me they could not get "any info from NS"....No cooperation at all from them....And NS intends to take business from Truckers....Better get better P R people at the top if that is the image they project to potential customers....

And no...the trees have not been trimmed yet....It is difficult to see much after the units get around the center of the curve.

Any comments............QM, Indiana

[Anonymous]

The last time that I visited the area, traffic levels seemed to be down considerably from the Conrail era. I might have visited on a bad day, but it seemed like quite a wait between trains. the trees at the curve make photography very difficult from trackside...ahh, what a difference a couple of guys with a chain saw could make. I realize that NS has to move trains, not worry about brush. However, it is a National Park now and it seems like they would want to put their best foot forward to the general public. Many non- railfans visit there and all the brush doesnt present a very good image of the rail industry, IMO.

[Anonymous]

I stopped there in April, and saw quite a few trains. There is always an afternoon lull though, from around 14:00 until around 17:00 very few trains (compared to the rest of the day) run.
As far as the trees, there was a sign at the top of the stairs and incline that was asking for donations to be used to cut the trees. Apparently there was like a $5000 grant, but in order to use that money the park had to come up with matching funds from donations, or something along those lines.

[Anonymous]

I doubt NS customers care how thick the brush is at Horseshoe curve.

I imagine NS will get better at P/R at Horseshoe curve after they have addressed more pressing matters.

Ed

[Modelcar]

The attitude of N S to the park people at Horseshoe seems to be in line with R R'ing in general...They sure don't have a very good image. I would wager a sizable portion of the population is not even aware the R R's still carry freight. Good P R sure can't help but help an industry...Especially one that is trying to capture more of the freight that is out there to haul....So maybe a little better image of themselves at places like Horseshoe could help.

QM In Indiana

[Anonymous]

I am not very familiar with horse shoe curve. Where can I find some pictures on the web?

[Anonymous]

Could the lack of information/cooperation be a result of a sercurity concern of terrorist acts or sabotage. Just a thought....

[Modelcar]

It probably could be, but I believe it is consistent with the overall operation of NS system....The public be damned.

QM

[Anonymous]

I think that NS has more pressing concerns, however....having to take up a collection to get brush cut in one small area along a National Park does make a corporation the size of NS look a little cheap to the general public. Not good PR, and if anyone needs friends out there, the rail industry does.

[Modelcar]

Well put....I agree 100%

QM

[Anonymous]

I hate to interupt, but I still would like to know where I could find some pictures on the web. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Try this site:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/horseshoe.html

[Modelcar]

Among the other suggestions...simply type in Pennsylvania Railroad, Horseshoe Curve on Google.com....

QM