I made my 3rd trip to Altoona last weekend. There is alot to see there- mountain railroading with helpers, a busy mainline hosting 50+ trains per day, the legendary Altoona Works and more. I feel like I'm on sensory overload! It is the best place to see NS in the Northeast, and I'm saying this as a loyal, lifelong NYer. So let's get on with it...
On the way down, I spent a couple hours with the Nittany & Bald Eagle RR, a colorful shortline that operates a former PRR/PC/CR branch. thnax to a tip from a fellow railfan, I caught their local for the 1st time ever.
West 10th Street brdige in Tyrone:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0527%20NBER/DSCN3173.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0527%20NBER/DSCN3173.jpg.html)
Street running at Washington Avenue in Tyrone:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0527%20NBER/DSCN3188.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0527%20NBER/DSCN3188.jpg.html)
Highballing at Main Street in Unionville:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0527%20NBER/DSCN3211.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0527%20NBER/DSCN3211.jpg.html)
For a complete look at my NBER chase, please visit the slide show at:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2016/May%202016/0527%20NBER
All photos in this post and the link were taken by me Friday 5/27/2016 in central Pennsylvania.
Another first, seeing Horseshoe Curve from the west (non-park) side of the tracks.
Eastbound NS intermodal:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3241.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3241.jpg.html)
Westbound hopper train:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3319.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3319.jpg.html)
After the hopper train passed, I moved downtown to the 24 1/2 Street bridge.
Westbound NS tank train 66Z:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3377.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3377.jpg.html)
Westbound Amtrak Pennsylvanian:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3454.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3454.jpg.html)
Following dinner, I also caught this westbound NS intermodal from the pedestrian bridge in the center of the city:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3466.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA/DSCN3466.jpg.html)
A complete look at Day 1 of this trip:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2016/May%202016/0527%20PM1%20Altoona%20PA
All photos in this post and the link were taken by me Friday 5/27/2016 in Altoona, PA.
Day 2 was just as intense. I spent 3 hours at Horseshoe Curve Park.
Inside the Kahoning Point Museum at the base of the curve:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Horseshoe/DSCN3534.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Horseshoe/DSCN3534.jpg.html)
Eastbound Amtrak Pennsylvanian:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Horseshoe/DSCN3545.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Horseshoe/DSCN3545.jpg.html)
A short NS work train meets westbound NS tank train 65R:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Horseshoe/DSCN3573.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Horseshoe/DSCN3573.jpg.html)
Westbound NS intermodal 25Z, which was also the 1st train I saw on my first visit:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Horseshoe/DSCN3600.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Horseshoe/DSCN3600.jpg.html)
A slide show of all the trains I saw at Horseshoe Cruve on Day 2, as well as some museum shots:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Horseshoe
All photos in this post and the link were taken by me Saturday 5/28/2016 in Altoona, PA. The trees on the hillside below the curve have been cut down, so the visibility is much better there now than it was a couple years back.
Moving east in the afternoon, I paid a visit to Altoona works. Among other things, the rebuild program for the ex-UP SD90MACs conitnues:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3755.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3755.jpg.html)
yard action, as seen from the North 8th Street brdige:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3777.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3777.jpg.html)
Westbound NS intermodal:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3839.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3839.jpg.html)
Eastbound NS mixed freight departing:
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3849.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3849.jpg.html)
I went back to the shop one more time, and was treated to seeing an SW1001 use the turntable!
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3928.jpg) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata/DSCN3928.jpg.html)
The complete set from Altoona Works and North 8th Street:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2016/May%202016/0528%20Altoona%20PA%20Juniata
All photos in this post and the link were taken by me Saturday 5/28/2016 in Altoona, PA. I can't think of a better place to see mountain railroading or a great locomotive shop.
Looks like a great visit! I was there back in May with my brother and dad. It looks like there is a lot more brush cleared on the east side of the curve in your photos compared to just three weeks ago!
Dan
Thanx! The park received a $50k grant to clear the brush. The west end had been cleared off last fall when I was there with my cousin, but the east end was still covered in brush at that time. I agree it looks much better now.