My rail companion Ed Kaspriske got me out to Enola in September 1973. That was an awakening for someone who only saw photos of the areas! I did meet many other area rail fans over the decades.
Our visits always started in Enola, PA. That yard hugged the Susquehanna River and at one time was the PRR’s largest in America.
Enola was never quite for long, there was always something moving back then. There was a caboose track in the west end that allowed the caboose to coast down to couple onto the westbound freight train. The crews called this the “pimple track”. Never knew why except it was probably a pain in the ass to work.
There was a yard by pass track, known as track G, which was another busy track in the Penn Central era.
Of course, in Harrisburg was the station where the GG-1’s that brought the westbound passenger trains and changed engines for diesels to continue the journey west. In Harrisburg, the McClay Street yard always had diesels being serviced.
The Middle Division went to Altoona and our group visited Bennington Curve to see some big Alcos before the disappeared.
Enola
The west end of the Enola yards in June 1974. I took this photo from the Iron Bridge…a great rail fan’s photo location in those days.
I took this photo of west end of Enola, PA on a rainy night in August 17, 1975. This is one of my favorite night shots of Enola. I liked the mood of the evening shot.
SD-40 #6078 and U25C #6528 are heading west with a freight leaving Enola on September 29, 1973. Note the caboose on the gravity track on the left.
GP38-2 #7944 is pushing an N-10 caboose #24042 onto the pimple track in June 1974.
GP38-2 #7944 & #7946 are the drill diesels that switch the Enola in August 1975.
A grimy GP-38 #7762 and cleaner #7827 & #7738 are westbound leaving Enola
in June 1975.
GP-9 # 7163 is at Enola in June 1975.
SD-40 #6041, #6054 & a 3rd unit are westbound on the Enola track G, which by-passed the yard in August 1975.
GP-30 #2243 GP-9B #3803 and GP-30 #2243 are the power for this freight heading west from Enola in June 1974.
GP-35 #2300 & GE U23B #2749 are making up their train at the west end of Enola in September 1973. Route 81 is under construction and caboose track is to left in this view.
GP-35 #2300 & U23B #2749 are leaving Enola in September 1973. We chased this train to Duncannon, PA.
GP-35 #2321 and U-25B #2600 are westbound on the Enola low line, track G, on September 29, 1973.
GP-40 #8129 and 3 other units are running light eastbound and are heading into Enola in August 1975.
GP38-2 #7946 sits at the west end of Enola yards on September 30, 1973.
SD-40 #6076 and another unit are under the Iron Bridge entering the west end Enola yards in September 1974.
U33B #2899, which was built in November 1968 & ex-NYC GP-40 #3000 that was built in October 1965 are reversing into the yards at Enola in June 1975.
Harrisburg,PA
Switcher #8513 is moving dead E-8 #4325 in Haririsburg on August 17, 1975.
GG-1 #4850, #4844 & #4840 with coal train in the Harrisburg yards on August 17, 1975.
Former New Haven Railroad EP-5 became PC E-40 #4977 & #4973 are on the dead track in Harrisburg on August 17, 1975.
McClay Street engine facilities
Amtrak SDP-40F #591, #598 are in the McClay Street terminal in Harrisburg in June 1974.
Amtrak P-30 #703 at McClay Street in Harrisburg, PA. Engine getting washed! June 1975.
Rockville Bridge & Tower
The Rockville Bridge over the Susquehanna River. I took this photo from route 322 in 1980, but it gives the perspective view of the bridge. At 3,820 feet long, it has 48 70-foot spans. The new Rockville Bridge opened on March 30, 1902, and it replaced the old bridge whose footings can still be seen from the Marysville side.
Westbound Train #41, The Broadway Limited, in the early morning on September 29, 1973.
Ex-PRR U25C #6503, that was built in April 1965 & ex-PRR SD45 #6158 which was built in January 1967, are eastbound across the Rockville Bridge in a hazy September 1975.
An eastbound freight is passing the Rockville Tower on Octpber 12, 1974.
Rockville Tower and tower man Frank Riedlinger was the operator in October 1974. Frank is a friend of Ed Kaspriske. Frank was also the tower man at Banks Tower.
GP35 #2334 & #2355 are on the trackage behind the Rockville Tower and are heading north onto P&E in October 1974.
Banks Tower & Cove, PA
Banks Tower is on the banks of the Susquehanna River. The PRR named their towers to their locations. The tower controlled the trackage coming off the Rockville Bridge which included the east and westbound mainline trackage and the tracks entering Enola.
We chased some of the westbound trains from Enola to Banks. Route 11-15 paralleled the railroad so we could follow the trains to Duncannon. There was a photographic access above the mainline just before Banks.
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GP-35 #2300 & GE-U25-B #2749 are west approaching Banks Tower near Marysville, PA on September 29, 1973.
SD-35 #6000, GP-40 #7970 and GP-40 #3068 are westbound near Banks Tower in June 1974.
SD-40 # 6047, GP-35 # 2391 and GP-40 #3090 are westbound in June 1974.
SD-45 #6142 & SD-35, unknown number, are westbound at Banks Tower with a Pennsylvania Power & Light coal train on August 17, 1975.
Banks Tower with Ed Kaspriske, Barry Trogu & Frank Reidlinger in September 1975.
SD-40 #6257 & SD45 are eastbound at Banks Tower in August 1975.
Amtrak National Limited with SDP-40F #596 is east bound at Banks Tower on August 17, 1975. Frank Riedlinger’s pick up truck is along side the tracks.
Sunrise at Cove, PA with a westbound freight led by SD45 #6156 and 2 other units in August 1975. Our coffee is perking and the bacon is sizzling as we cook our breakfast! Our group camped at Cove overnight on Fridays as we worked our way west to Altoona many times.
Amtrak train 30, the National Limited, with SDP40P #592 is east bound in October 1974.
GP35 #2300 and U23B #2749 are west at Duncannon, PA in the rain on September 29, 1973.
West to Altoona, PA
SD-45 #6189 & SD-40 are eastbound with a freight that has some issues at Jacks Narrows, PA in October 1974.
On the East Altoona scrap line I saw this switcher #8399. It is a Lima Hamilton Baldwin 1200hp unit with an EMD 567V12 on September 1973.
Altoona, PA
ALCO Century C-636 #6323, #6321 & C630 #6302 & friends at Altoona are heading west on October 12, 1974. I took this photo from the foot bridge at Works Tower.
Another view of Alco C636 #6323, #6321 & C630 #6302 on westbound freight at Works Tower on October 13, 1974.
SD40 #6045 & SD45 #6145 with an eastbound freight at Works Tower on October 13, 1974.
A view of Altoona from the Works Tower foot bridge on October 13, 1974.
Another view of C-636 #6323, 6321 & C630 #6302 heading westbound at Works Tower on October 13, 1974.
Horseshoe Curve & Bennington Curve
GP35 #2384, #2354, GP40 #3058 & #3067 handle a westbound ore train climbing Horseshoe Curve on October 13, 1974.
A view of the helpers pushing a westbound train up the Horseshoe Curve in October 1974
SD-45 #6215 & #6234 are pushing a westbound freight at Horseshoe Curve on October 13, 1974.
Alco C-628 #6308 & C-636 #6334 are the helpers heading west to Cressson, PA at Bennington Curve on October 13, 1974.
. Alco C-630 #6319 with westbound freight at Bennington Curve on October 13, 1974.
Meet Alco C630 #6319 at Bennington Curve on October 13, 1974. In Your Face!!!
Alco C-636 #6334 is pushing a westbound coal train at Bennington Curve on October 13, 1974. This was the only time I ever saw the big Alcos.
SD-40 #6253, SD-45 #6131 are drifting east to Altoona to push another freight up the grade. I photographed this at Bennington Curve on October 13, 1974.
Cresson, PA
Alco C-630 #6322 is east bound at AR Tower, Gallitzin, PA in October 1974.
Alco C-630 #6322 heads east with a coal train near AR Tower, going under the Tunnel Hill bridge near Gallitzin, PA on October 13, 1974.
SD-40 #6041, built for the PRR in February 1966, is resting at the Cresson, PA engine terminal on the evening of October 12, 1974. According to the signage below the cab number, she is assigned to Enola engine terminal.
This was the last time I saw this area until the Conrail era in July 1976.
