Nostalgia & History > Calif. boys go East, 1986 Part 13: Horseshoe Curve

Continuing from my previous post of 10/31/2020: October 24, 1986. We started the day at UN Tower near Gallitzin, PA. Got a westbound pig train with 6274-6291-3200-5039-3050, followed by a westbound manifest that had SD45-2s 6663-6658 as helpers. We then roamed around Altoona and got this rail train with 6666-6661-6368-6338 for power.  - Eric Blasko
 

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Arriving at Horseshoe Curve around 3 pm, we got 5 trains before sundown around 5:30 pm.
 

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We were losing the light, but the trains kept rolling!
 

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As twilight encroached we took a few photos at SO Tower in South Fork PA.  - E.B.   Next: Sand Patch
Previous post (night shots at Cresson PA): https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,5131007
 

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ns2557 posted this reply when my post was accidentally on the Western Board:Great shots. Shot 1. My guess would be the lead 2 units, 6274 and 6291 are helpers. and that would be an Approach Medium on closest signal over the track. Shot 2. Regular heplers. But what I find interesting is the signal aspect above the train. Restricting. But dont recall seeing that with a train passing under it. In my recall, always after the move went thru and Disp set it up for following move. Perhaps he, the DS, getting ahead of himself in getting it displayed for following move. Regardless, nice set of shots. Sure do miss the Pennsy Position Light Signals.  Ben

Thanks for posting these photos.  They bring back pleasant memories of Conrailfanning in Pennsylvania during the 1980s.  Conrail emerged from its difficult beginnings in its earliest years to become a well-functioning railroad  I enjoyed seeing the Conrail locomotives painted in an attractive scheme along with the position light signals which provided a vestage of Conrail's PRR heritage in Pennsylvania.

Excellent Excellent
 

Great group of photos.  There was something optimistic about Conrail’s bright blue scheme (that they kept fairly clean) that is missing from today’s Northeast rail scene.  CSX along the Hudson had promise during the YN2 days, but now replaced by ‘Dark Future’ none of the Class 1s in the area really pop as much in photos, with the exception of CP red powered trains.  Thanks for the look back to brighter days on Horseshoe Curve.  As a westerner myself, I look back fondly on my only visit to the area in 1995.

Rich