Norfolk Southern 4041 leads an intermodal through Horseshoe Curve at Altoona, Pennsylvania as it heads west on the NS Pittsburgh Line on a beautiful fall afternoon, on September 3rd, 2021. According to Wikipedia: Horseshoe Curve is a three-track (though originally four) railroad curve on Norfolk Southern Railway's Pittsburgh Line in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The curve itself is about 2,375 feet long and 1,300 feet in diameter; it was completed in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a way to lessen the grade to the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. It eventually replaced the time-consuming Allegheny Portage Railroad, the only other route across the mountains for large vehicles. Because of the Allegheny Mountains geoform, in and around Altoona - and almost perfectly at "The Curve" - westbound traffic goes south and eastbound traffic goes north. So, in terms of final destination, the southern side of "The Curve" is where trains leave to go west, and vice versa. The rail line has been important since its opening, and during World War II the Curve was targeted by Nazi Germany in 1942 as part of Operation Pastorius. The Curve was later owned and used by Pennsylvania Railroad successors Penn Central, Conrail, and Norfolk Southern. Horseshoe Curve was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966, and it became a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2004. Horseshoe Curve has long been a tourist attraction; a trackside observation park was completed in 1879. The Park was renovated and a visitor center built in the early 1990s. The Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona manages the center, which has exhibits pertaining to the curve. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100 -1 stop.

Norfolk Southern 4041 leads an intermodal through Horseshoe Curve at Altoona, Pennsylvania

Norfolk Southern 4041 leads an intermodal through Horseshoe Curve at Altoona, Pennsylvania as it heads west on the NS Pittsburgh Line on a beautiful fall afternoon, on November 3rd, 2021.

According to Wikipedia: Horseshoe Curve is a three-track (though originally four) railroad curve on Norfolk Southern Railway’s Pittsburgh Line in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The curve itself is about 2,375 feet long and 1,300 feet in diameter; it was completed in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a way to lessen the grade to the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. It eventually replaced the time-consuming Allegheny Portage Railroad, the only other route across the mountains for large vehicles. Because of the Allegheny Mountains geoform, in and around Altoona – and almost perfectly at “The Curve” – westbound traffic goes south and eastbound traffic goes north. So, in terms of final destination, the southern side of “The Curve” is where trains leave to go west, and vice versa.

The rail line has been important since its opening, and during World War II the Curve was targeted by Nazi Germany in 1942 as part of Operation Pastorius. The Curve was later owned and used by Pennsylvania Railroad successors Penn Central, Conrail, and Norfolk Southern. Horseshoe Curve was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966, and it became a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2004.

Horseshoe Curve has long been a tourist attraction; a trackside observation park was completed in 1879. The Park was renovated and a visitor center built in the early 1990s. The Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona manages the center, which has exhibits pertaining to the curve.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100 -1 stop.

The Conductor on Norfolk and Western 475 watches the countryside roll-by as they depart with the last passenger train of the day, eastbound at dusk after, pulling in reverse out of the depot at the Strasburg Railroad the last light of the day barley illuminates the train and steam. The cold November air produces a spectacular show of steam trailing along the train on September 9th, 2021 at Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Once they reach their turn around point down the line they will reverse the locomotive by running around the train and head back to the station. According to Wikipedia: Strasburg Railroad (Norfolk and Western) No. 475 is a 4-8-0 "Mastodon" type steam locomotive owned and operated by the Strasburg Railroad outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in June 1906, it was part of the Norfolk and Western's first order of M class numbered 375-499. Today, No. 475 is the only operating 4-8-0 type in North America and the Strasburg Rail Road's oldest operating steam locomotive. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 2.5 sec, ISO 400. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

The Conductor on Norfolk and Western 475 watches the countryside roll-by at Strasburg, PA

The Conductor on Norfolk and Western 475 watches the countryside roll-by as they depart with the last passenger train of the day, eastbound at dusk after, pulling in reverse out of the depot at the Strasburg Railroad the last light of the day barley illuminates the train and steam. The cold November air produces a spectacular show of steam trailing along the train on November 7th, 2021 at Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Once they reach their turn around point down the line they will reverse the locomotive by running around the train and head back to the station.

According to Wikipedia: Strasburg Railroad (Norfolk and Western) No. 475 is a 4-8-0 “Mastodon” type steam locomotive owned and operated by the Strasburg Railroad outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in June 1906, it was part of the Norfolk and Western’s first order of M class numbered 375-499. Today, No. 475 is the only operating 4-8-0 type in North America and the Strasburg Rail Road’s oldest operating steam locomotive.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 2.5 sec, ISO 400.