Happy Anniversary to The Horseshoe Curve!

[Euphod]

As I noted on my blog, the Horseshoe Curve officially opened for rail traffic on February 15th, 1854. A happy anniversary for all fans!

 

[deadpoolmx55]

i wish i could of went to the laser light show for the 150th anniversary at the curve

 

[cascaderailroad]

Everyone pictures the Horseshoe curve, as just the "Curve" location ... when in fact the line is a 37 mile long East Slope & West Slope up and over the Allegheny Front Range.

Prior to 1854 the line split away at Petersburg Pa, and went via Holliaysburg Pa, via the 2 tracked Muleshoe Curve, to Tunnelhill Pa ... Altoona was very sparcely populated, and train service was not even to the town until the late 1840's (Altoona was founded 1849).

I was wondering how many Trainzers remember meeting the retired PRR Forman Oscar Salpino, or remember walking up the 197 old RR tie steps, dodging rain & snow storms under the old *gazebo (*which many a grown up Altoonan' can trace back as to his/her actual conception location- aka: lovers lane), the gift shoppe, ice cream stand, old wooden caboose, the K4 atop the park, and the old flagpole (which had a locked steel plate hatch in the concrete base, that millions of kids used to jump up and down on, making a hellacious wracket). What was inside that flagpole base hatch ?

And who remembers seeing low grade, slow iron ore, and coal drag trains, traveling over the two tracked Muleshoe Curve ?

I remember it all as if it was only yesterday !

Zoom in, to view at high zoom level:

The Allegheny Portage RR Canal system (1800-1815)

When a 60-car coal train coming down the Mule Shoe curve on the eastern slope of the Alleghenies, near Altoona, lost its airbrakes on November 6, 1916, the heavy freight train smashed into four standing engines with devastating results. The crash destroyed 47 of the 60 cars and killed seven men.

http://explorepahistory.com/kora/files/1/2/1-2-6C6-25-ExplorePAHistory-a0c1p3-a_349.jpg

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/show...-secion-under-construcion&p=705139#post705139

 

[scratchy]

Happy Birthday indeed! if i can listen hard enough i reckon i can hear the wheel squeal from the other side of the world lol. Wish I could visit again

 

[cascaderailroad]

You can on YouTube .. You don't really want me to post a zillion Horseshoe Curve YouTube video links ... do you ?

 

[Euphod]

the old *gazebo (*which many a grown up Altoonan' can trace back as to his/her actual conception location- aka: lovers lane)

That's just creepy...

 

[cascaderailroad]

I once witnessed a wedding at the park atop the Horseshoe Curve ... the bride sure must have been highly flexible as to choice of wedding locations ! :hehe: I think the wedding reception was at Waffle King !

Let's ponder that for a while, in depth: A wedding at Disney Resorts, or atop the Horseshoe Curve ?

I really don't know where the couple actually concieved though ... possibly the same location ? ! ? !

:hehe: