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Horseshoe Curve and the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum
Horseshoe Curve is a National Historic Landmark was built by hand labor in the mid 1800's
by mostly Irish Immigrants. As railroads began moving west, they either needed to go around
the Allegheny mountain chain or go through it. Still used today, the site is passage for nearly
fifty trains per day. There is a small visitors center at the base of the curve where visitors can
learn about the curves history. Upon doing so, you can take a funicular to the track level to
view trains laboring up the elevation of the curve with helper locomotives while listening to
the engineers communicate with the tower personnel on the radio.
Kelly&Kaitlyn in front of the GP9 7048.
Were in the funicular going up with the Side shot of funicular
other coming down.Note the tracks. Two cars
can pass each other.
A freight rounding the curve.
The Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum is dedicated to the Mighty Pennsylvania Railroad
and its employees. Altoona was once a major hub of the Pennsylvania Railroad. At one time,
more than 17,000 residents of Altoona worked for the railroad and lived in company houses.
Their clocks were set to Pennsy Rail time and most houses had two phones: one for
outside calls and the other linked directly to the railroad! Altoona was home to a car shop
and a place to build and service locomotives. The city used to be covered in soot from
all the locomotives. The museum tells stories of days gone by, stories of how residents
would sweep layers of soot off their porches daily. It would have been something to live in those
times! The museum does a great job of sending you back in time and is a real treat for
people of all ages.
Altoona Museum Museum from an observation bridge.
Kaitlyn and Kelly looking at a display. Kaitlyn controlling train movements.
Kelly at the bar, again.
Mechanical engineers Mock bar set-up, notice the
"patrons" on TV screens on back bar
Kaitlyn studying steam propulsion