Just got back from my “pilgrimage” to the Horseshoe Curve. On the way we stopped by what’s left of the Kinzua Bridge. Altoona is really railfan friendly. Anyway, my question is, has anybody out there made a try at modelling the curve? I’ve sort of played with the idea on paper and pretty much convinced myself it’s beyond my capabilities, for now at least. I was just interested in any other attempts or successes.
I know of many PRR era Horseshoe layouts and one CR.
I’ve seen a few over the years in MRR or RMC but I don’t recall who did them. They were all nicely done though. As for myself, even though I prefer to model the Reading, I always thought the Rockville bridge near Harrisburg would be a neat thing to model. Most people just see it from I-81 but it’s actually much bigger than it looks when you get right up next to it.
Every time I even go near Altoona I come back thinking how neat it would be to model anything from teh Altoona area, particularly the section right west of Horseshoe Curve that’s clinging to the side of the mountain and can easily been seen from Route 22.
Did you see the model of Horseshoe Curve at the railroad museum in Altoona? It’s built and maintained by a club there, and is located in a second building across the property from the museum.
I’ve known several modelers who have done the curve on their layouts. A couple were so-so, radius on most was WAY too tight to even give the feeling of the “curve”.
However there was one man who used to live in Montgomery, Al. who liked the curve so much that in order to do it justice he had a crane come in and lift the entire roof off of his house while he framed a new second story for it, completely devoted to a railroad, his house had no basement. One third of the layout he put in that room was the best rendition of the curve I’ve ever seen, using the old 4-track curve. I think he said that the inside radius of his curve was 86" and the outside was 92". Seems he was raised close to the curve and wanted it on his pennsy layout.
It was amazing to see two of his PRR decapods dragging about 80 hoppers around that thing starting at about chest high and ending up almost at eye level. All I could say was WOW!!
I have seen many attempts at Horse Shoe Curve at the Railfest Shows I have attended!
My club here in Mt Union Have thought about going that Far with our layout , But the Juniata Shops seems to be where we will be ending. East bound we will be modeling to Enola.
That leaves Mt union smack dead in the center where the EBT will connect to the Pennsy!
Jack P:
Yes, I saw the layout. In the old equipment bldg. The place is basically empty and just cries out for a big modelling effort by somebody 
I was glad to see all the names on the memorial board as well. Gone but not forgotten!
Bobchuck, How did you get to Kinzua Bridge? How close were you able to get. I live close by in New York State and would like to take a trip down there some day. I emailed someone in the area that was listed on a website and got no reply.
Thanks Mike Dickinson
The bridge itself was destroyed a year or two ago.
I live 15 minutes form the Curve. And as said above the Layout at the Museum is great. There used to be a Modeling Club under the Culvert going up Mill Run, that was a long time ago. I need to find a Club near here, does anyone know of one?
Thanks
Michael
MichaelWD:
We were driving down from Canada. Came south through Ellicotteville. In Pennsylvania we were on Rte 219. Little place called Lantz Corners at Rte 219 and Rte 6, a 4-way stop sign. Go east and follow the signs. It’s a very pretty drive of just a few minutes on a winding, woodsy road. The bridge is in a state park, no admission fee. You can’t miss it. You can get right to the bridge but not onto it due to safety reasons. About half of it is still standing. The rest is fallen over into the valley. You can see the trees destroyed on the tornado’s path, leading right up to the bridge. It looks like the bridge might have been spared if the storm path had lifted about 50 yards sooner. There is a lookout for a decent view. If you really want to do it up right, there is a small excursion train which runs from the town of Kane, just west of Rte 219. It was backed right up to the bridge when we were there about 10 days ago. I don’t know what the hours of operation are for the train. Pennsylvania Tourism might have some info. It is well worth the trip to the bridge although it obviously would have been a much better trip 2 years ago. Bummer!
I hope you can find time to make the trip. It’s worth it.