This Saturday, May 8th, I am finally going to go up to Horseshoe Curve. Got a brand new camera last week (Broke it in at tha Nascar race in Richmond and my kid’s track meet last weekend), the wife is taking the kids to visit her mother for the weekend, and I have nothing else planned, so I am going. I have been trying to make this a family trip but that has never worked out, so now I am hitting the road solo. May even stay overnight and not leave until Sunday. I can’t wait!
Enjoy! I was able to go several years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s very impressive, especially when you think of the primitive tools the construction people had to work with when it was originally constructed. I think you will consider it well worth the time and expense of the trip - I sure did.
I’ve been there three times, and I’ve enjoyed each trip.
http://chatanuga.org/HC85.html
http://chatanuga.org/HC03.html
http://chatanuga.org/HC04.html
Have a safe and fun trip!
Kevin
Congratulations ! There’s no place else like it in the world. Pay the fee to get trackside access from the museum folks there, and soak it all in. Check out the museum at the bottom, too - it’s very good. Traffic tends to be heaviest in the morning and late afternoon - check with the staff or railfans up top - so mid-day would be a good time to do that.
I’m presuming you’ve done some on-line research ? There are several good guides available - let us know if you have any questions or need any help.
For the complete picture, got to Altoona and check out the action from all of the overhead bridges. Also go to Gallitzin and Cresson to see the activities at the upper end of the grade - there’s a B&B at each one. The National Park Museum for the Portage Railroad is also a good break and worthwhile. Further west are lots of opportunities at the bridges and little towns - the old bridge at Cassandra is a railfan hangout.
Good
I have done some research. I have also been watching my DVDs of Horseshoe Curve for other spots to. Like I said, I may make it a weekend and see as much as I can. Don’t know when I might get another chance like this.
[C):-)] WOW Wish I could be there with you, Have always wanted to see it Larry
This is a good resource -
http://www.trainweb.org/horseshoecurve-nrhs/Guide.htm
The webpage that includes the Curve area -
http://www.trainweb.org/horseshoecurve-nrhs/Altoona_area.htm#6
http://www.cassandrarailroadoverlook.com/
- Paul North.
One thing I’ve always told people about a trip over there: with the history of the area, the beautiful scenery, and, of course, lots of mountain railroading, you can’t go wrong.
Kevin
Trains had a 1989 article on the curve and it was reading that which gave me an idea of going there. The trip finally came about in Sept, 1996. Rode Amtrak from Kansas to Altoona. The day I arrived it was pouring down rain and was just yucky. Picked up my rental wheels, drove around town, visited the museum, checked in at a nice Best Western and that evening attended the NRHS chapter meeting of which afterward we all gathered at a Waffle House for small talk. A very nice group of people. Next day the weather was sunny, clear and just a beautiful day to be out. Spent the entire day at the curve. If I’m correct, in 7 hrs 25 Conrails plus a few Amtraks passed by. Next day I turned the rental car in and the weather returned to cold, wet and raw. This trip was enjoyable and was well worth it and the National Weather Service decided to cooperate on the actual planned day of the visit to the site.
Well, just to report back, it was really a nice trip.
The drive up was remarkable in that it took way less time than the trip planner said. I got up there way before everything opened, so rather than hang around the museum, which I have to say was interesting but I really did not come for static displays. Following the directions from the website (thank goodness I printed all the driving directions around the place from there) I meandered to the Curve. There was a family there waiting for the gate to open. And of course there was a train up on the curve. By the time the guy showed up to open the gate a helper set came coasting by as I parked the car. Got my fee paid and marched up the steps. First one up!
Was rewarded with a train, then a bunch of helper sets going up alone. Everything was westbound most of the morning, though we got helpers alone going in both directions. From 10:30 to 11:30 there was nothing. People kept coming up to ask me if there had been trains that morning (I had set up a nice camp in a chair with my lunch in a backpack), and I said there were. Then nature called, so I told a couple that I would make the trains come and headed down the steps. Sure enough, got to the bottom and you could hear a train grinding up the hill. Took care of business and sprinted up the steps (I am no spring chicken, but I guess the bike riding is helping) and managed to catch this train. Told the people “see, I told you I would get you a train”.
They were pretty steady but well spaced for a while. Around 2 the wind really started picking up and I was considering checking out Gallatin and Cresson. Well no sooner did I close up my chair than a train came, then another, then another, and on and on. They were both directions, one right behind the other. After a pause I figured that I had time to g
Glad you had a good trip out there, Dewey! Whenever we get that far east, that’s where all roads lead. You’d be surprised…
But…
It sounds like you could use a few Zs. And if you don’t fall asleep with them, stick a few into the name of the city at the top of the hill: Gallitzin.
Thanks for the trip report - it sounds about ‘par for the course’ - bouts of frequent activity interspersed with periods of nothing. Looking forward to the photos, too. With a little luck, there’s about a 50-50 chance I’ll be out there for a few hours next week.
Carl - Dewey was likely just thinking of the river and valley of that same name to the northwest of Yellowstone National Park - which flows past the Big Sky ski resort to the Three Forks of the Missouri River, etc.
- Paul North.