Horseshoe Curve

bnsfncoal · July 27, 2006, 7:22pm

Most of us have seen great pictures of this at Crawford Hill but how accessable is this place? Is this public property? It looks like a hike is involved as it seems semi rugged. Most pictures look really cool and someday I would like to go see the place. More curious than anything I guess, anybody been there or know?

Guy

HEdward · August 11, 2006, 10:36am

It’s a bit of a drive for me so I’ve got no current plans to visit, but there is a public railfan park that some photos show. The views from up on the hill, I don’t know, but I’ll just have to go there in the fall and get back to you on it.

squeeze · September 6, 2006, 11:47pm

http://64.84.107.59/view/index.shtml?videos=one

Here is the web address of the web cam that is used at the Historical Park. Search the internet and there’s tons of info about it. Look for the tunnels at Galitzen and Cresson. Hope this helps some.

BR60103 · September 7, 2006, 10:06pm

You can drive through Altoona and out to the curve. You may need to ask someone local for directions as the roads don’t go directly there.

You park in the middle of the horseshoe, downhill from the tracks. There is a gift shop there and you have a choice of a funicular up to trackside or a set of stairs.

At trackside there is a viewing platform, an old locomotive, and possibly a scanner tuned to the railroad. When we went, they had a train schedule that might or might not be accurate.

I don’t know how to get above the tracks.

SSW9389 · September 8, 2006, 1:10pm

bnsfncoal are you asking about a horseshoe curve on Crawford Hill in Nebraska or are you asking about The Horseshoe Curve near Altoona, PA?

bnsfncoal · September 10, 2006, 5:43pm

Nebraska… sorry I wasn’t very clear as I know there are more than one “horseshoe curve” locations.

Thanks,

Guy

HEdward · September 10, 2006, 9:40pm

I have NO plans to visit Nebraska, ever. Not even for a game of horseshoes on the railroad tracks!

SSW9389 · September 10, 2006, 10:01pm

I visited Nebraska in 2000 with my wife and oldest son. We went up to Grand Island and then west along US 30 as far as Lexington. Out in Nebraska the freight trains run like street cars. Hot and cold running trains every ten minutes. We saw four coal trains at Gibbons Junction waiting to get through while other trains went through. Don’t write Nebraska off if you want to see some serious trains in a short amount of time.