PENN CENTRAL

This page will cover the famous Horseshoe Curve.  Located just west of Altoona, PA, the curve is the result of the Pennsylvania Railroad's effort to get over the backbone of the Appalachian Mountains.  The PRR maintained four tracks on its mainline and they certainly needed all four over the mountain as helpers returning to Altoona to push the next westbound train vied for track space with other trains.  The photos below were taken on September 15, 1974. 

  The sun is barely up as SD40 6220 and two others work hard on the climb.

  Two pairs of SD's are assigned to push this heavy coal train.

   6057 is moving downgrade with lots of brake shoe smoke .

  SD45 6216 and another SD40 are using their dynamic brakes to hold the train in check.

  SD40 6255 and an SD45 helper set drift downhill enroute back to Altoona for their next assignment.

  Another helper set, this time two SD45's run lite back down the hill.

  GP35 2335 leads a westbound around the curve marking the entrance to the curve.

  SD35 6012 single-handedly moves a train of Hi-Cube box cars westbound.

  A bunch of units run lite up the hill.

  GP38 8108 leads a westbound into the curve.    Looking across the narrow valley to the west side of the curve.

  6255 seen above has drawn the assignment to push this train up the hill.

  SD40 6281 and GP38 7699 are westbound working the grade.

  SD45 6144 and friend push hard on the train.

  GP40 3016 and U28B 2891 westbound in the middle of the curve.

  Four SD45's lead this westbound.

  6223 and another SD45 are assisting this train on its descent to Altoona.

  Both trains meet at the point of the curve.  The sounds are deafening.

  Moving over to the west side of the curve finds SD40 6053 westbound.

    Finally, the famous PRR K4 1361 that once sat up on the curve.  At the time of my visit, it was getting some paint touch up work.  The 1361 was moved off the curve and restored to operating condition.  It ran a few trips in the 1990's, but has been sitting unused for the last several years.  A former PRR GP9 has replaced the 1361 at the curve in full PRR paint.  After April 1, 1976, Conrail operated this track and now it is under the ownership of Norfolk Southern. 

For some odd reason, I never visited the curve during the Conrail years, but elected to go just west of there. 

West of Horseshoe Curve in the Conrail years.

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