Nostalgia & History > Structure of Horseshoe Curve circa 1800

Here is a screenshot from a YouTube video titled Horseshoe Curve, 1800, Edison. Can anyone explain what this structure might be? Thanks.
 

---

Well, this must be some really rare and never before seen footage since the Curve didn't open until 1854. Maybe they got the date wrong?

JG

jgilmore Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, this must be some really rare and never
> before seen footage since the Curve didn't open
> until 1854. Maybe they got the date wrong?
>
> JG

Agree they were off on the date.  Suspect by looks of scene the year should be circa 1900.
ALLEN

krm152 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jgilmore Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well, this must be some really rare and never
> > before seen footage since the Curve didn't open
> > until 1854. Maybe they got the date wrong?
> >
> > JG
>
> Agree they were off on the date.  Suspect by
> looks of scene the year should be circa 1900.
> ALLEN

You are correct. The date on the video is 1900.

You can view the film clip here: =14pxhttps://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8onq9v

PS: My guess is that this is a coal refueling station.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/24 00:55 by BaltoJoey.

BaltoJoey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> krm152 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
I agree. Cars loaded with coal are on the bridge above the tracks.PRR had a few of these.

Victor Sent

>
> PS: My guess is that this is a coal refueling
> station.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/24 06:58 by wabash2800.

Pennsy Triumph Vol 1 page 81 has several pictures of this circa 1885 over track coaling facility.  A small bridge over the three tracks brought coal to the tower over the fourth track. A short segment of track on the shelf of the mountain allowed a string of coal cars to deliver coal to the coaling facility.  The shelf track went up Kittaning Run.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pennsy Triumph Vol 1 page 81 has several pictures
> of this circa 1885 over track coaling facility. 
> A small bridge over the three tracks brought coal
> to the tower over the fourth track. A short
> segment of track on the shelf of the mountain
> allowed a string of coal cars to deliver coal to
> the coaling facility.  The shelf track went up
> Kittaning Run.

Good point, I have all those volumes and vaguely remember reading about and seeing pics of this very operation on HC, but I haven't flipped through those books in years. Probably time to go back and browse through them because they're so full of cool details like this...

JG

There was an enormous amount of activity in and around the Curve and up to Gallitzin in the period 1885-1940. Branch lines, Glen Alden Coal Company operations, seasonal logging, etc.

While the segment appears to be free of on line shippers now, that wasn't always the case.

You all are absolutely correct, of course. My mistake. The date of the video is1900.

BTW, I think I see spurs leading back along a valley in the mountain side from both ends of this segment of the curve, I guess that would be the north and south ends..  There also seems to be several sidings on the mountain side of the mainlines.  Can anyone provide details. Thanks.

Dan Cupper's book; "Horseshoe Heritage" is a cheaper alternative...

---

Apparently there was a passenger station as well in the olden days... Kittaning station...