It’s the Juniata shops.
The Juanita Shops belong to Ferromex. [:-^]
Seriously though, that’s a pretty remarkable film! One thing, I hope the videographer had permission for those drone fly-overs. I’m not sure if he’d get in trouble or not for filming the shops as he did, but I don’t think I’d want to take the chance if I were him.
Imagine living in that house by the turntable?
Yes, the best show in town in your backyard and it’s free!
Or, the ultimate model railroader’s layout in “12 inch to the foot scale” and somebody else pays for it all!
Actually, I wonder if that house is private property and occupied, or if it’s owned by NS and part of the facilities?
4 houses there. Pretty sure they’re privately owned. The 3 closest to the turntable have postage stamp-sized yards. The oter one has a decent sized yard. All 4 are within walking distance of an closed/abandoned Sheetz, though. So there’s that.
Gee, I thought the “Juanita” tag was an attempt to cut short another flame war.
Rick
I grew up in Altoona. The video brings back fond memories.
When I was a kid, we would take the streetcar from 58th street in Eldorado through downtown to Juniata. The car went by the shop(s) shown in the video. It turned at 8th Street and terminated about a block from Nth 4th Avenue. The bridge was a good spot for train watching.
My wife and I finally got to Altoona in April and we really enjoyed it, even if all the museums were closed. She was convinced we were going to buy one of those houses next to the Juniata Shops.
Speaking of museums, for those who have seen it, is the Railroaders’ Museum in Altoona worth checking out?
I thought the museum was definitely worth a visit. IIRC, I got to go inside a GG1 there.
Yes! I have been there several times. The museum has an excellent collection of photos depicting what it was like to work and live in Altoona during its hay days. One of the photos shows the type of house my grandparents on my mother’s side lived in.
I grew up in Altoona during the 40s and 50s. Almost everything in Altoona revolved around the railroad, its shops, and the people who worked for the company. My father was a lawyer. Approximately 90 percent of his clients were railroad people.
To give you some idea of the dynamics, in 1957, which was the year that I graduated from high school, Altoona saw approximately 35 passenger train movements a day.
The Sheetz is closed? That was one of my regular stops in Altoona. A snack, drink, gas and the best view of the turntable. The national guard armory on the hill was also a good location.
I have never seen a closed Sheetz! Only new ones being built. On my trips West when I am towing, I stop at one of the Sheetz at Morgantown so I don’t end up paying the higher Pennsylvania gas taxes.
Def’n not the only one closed. I don’t know if any of the older smaller ones are around. Most have seem to be replaced with a larger version (many times at the same location). We didn’t start getting Sheetz locally until the late 90s/early 2000s, but even most of those were torn down with a larger one built in its place.
We had some that were medium sized with the white-painted exterior walls, and neon lights and glass vestibule-things in front (still my favorite version). Even most of those were torn down for the newer bigger ones with red brick walls.
Here’s a photo I found of the Sheetz in question back in 2007. (looks like it closed in 09).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73825122@N00/2763806506
Like 'em or hate 'em, they did force many other convenience stores to up their game.
Looks the same as a 1980’s 7-11 without gas pumps.
Locally the ‘biggies’ are Royal Farm and WaWa. 7-11 has not upped their game locally.
Question: does Juanita shop at Sheetz?
Rick
I guess it’s been longer since I’ve been to Altoona than I thought…
On a trip to VA for a wedding several years ago, I stopped in Altoona but just to show my wife Horseshoe Curve.
They had a pair of pumps - just off to the side.
Sheetz got very big, very fast. And their quality has been allowed to slip, unfortunately.
Lithonia,
Are you sure you’re not thinking of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasbourg?
Great! I have something to look forward to on my next visit to Altoona then.