Norfolk Southern 7603 and 8410 approach the western entrance to the Gallitzin Tunnel at Gallitzin, Pennsylvania as they head west on the Norfolk Southern Pittsburgh Line on November 3rd, 2021, with an empty coal train. According to Wikipedia: The Gallitzin Tunnels in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, are a set of three adjacent tunnels through the Allegheny Mountains in western Pennsylvania. They were completed in 1854, 1855, and 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of the cross-state route that includes the nearby Horseshoe Curve to the east. Their ownership has since passed to Penn Central Transportation Company, then to Conrail, and most recently to the Norfolk Southern Railway. The tunnels are currently used by Norfolk Southern freight trains and Amtrak Pennsylvanian passenger trains. The first tunnel, which is the middle of the three bores through the mountain, was built by the PRR from 1851 to 1854. Originally named "Summit" Tunnel, it is 3,612 feet long at an elevation of 2,167 feet above mean sea level and is known today as the Allegheny Tunnel. The second tunnel, the southernmost of the bores, was constructed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1855 as part of the New Portage Railroad (NPRR). In 1857, the PRR bought the New Portage Railroad from the Commonwealth and appropriated the "Allegheny" name for its "Summit" tunnel. The PRR took the New Portage Tunnel out of service shortly thereafter. In the 1890s, it was expanded to two tracks and used as the primary route for eastbound traffic. The third tunnel, the Gallitzin Tunnel, was begun in 1902 and opened in 1904 immediately to the north of the Allegheny Tunnel. In the early 1990s, Conrail (with money from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) enlarged the Allegheny and New Portage Tunnels to accommodate double-stack container on flatcar (COFC) trains. The New Portage Tunnel was opened for eastbound COFC traffic in 1993. The Allegheny Tunnel was enlarged from its original 1854 cross-section to contain two tracks for that could be used for double-stack rail transport in either direction. The work was completed in September 1995, and the Gallitzin Tunnel (which was not enlarged) was taken out of service. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 22mm, f/4.5, 1/800, ISO 560. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Norfolk Southern 7603 and 8410 approach the western entrance to the Gallitzin Tunnel at Gallitzin, Pennsylvania

Norfolk Southern 7603 and 8410 approach the western entrance to the Gallitzin Tunnel at Gallitzin, Pennsylvania as they head west on the Norfolk Southern Pittsburgh Line on November 3rd, 2021, with an empty coal train.

According to Wikipedia: The Gallitzin Tunnels in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, are a set of three adjacent tunnels through the Allegheny Mountains in western Pennsylvania. They were completed in 1854, 1855, and 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of the cross-state route that includes the nearby Horseshoe Curve to the east. Their ownership has since passed to Penn Central Transportation Company, then to Conrail, and most recently to the Norfolk Southern Railway. The tunnels are currently used by Norfolk Southern freight trains and Amtrak Pennsylvanian passenger trains.

The first tunnel, which is the middle of the three bores through the mountain, was built by the PRR from 1851 to 1854. Originally named “Summit” Tunnel, it is 3,612 feet long at an elevation of 2,167 feet above mean sea level and is known today as the Allegheny Tunnel.

The second tunnel, the southernmost of the bores, was constructed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1855 as part of the New Portage Railroad (NPRR). In 1857, the PRR bought the New Portage Railroad from the Commonwealth and appropriated the “Allegheny” name for its “Summit” tunnel. The PRR took the New Portage Tunnel out of service shortly thereafter. In the 1890s, it was expanded to two tracks and used as the primary route for eastbound traffic.

The third tunnel, the Gallitzin Tunnel, was begun in 1902 and opened in 1904 immediately to the north of the Allegheny Tunnel.

In the early 1990s, Conrail (with money from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) enlarged the Allegheny and New Portage Tunnels to accommodate double-stack container on flatcar (COFC) trains. The New Portage Tunnel was opened for eastbound COFC traffic in 1993. The Allegheny Tunnel was enlarged from its original 1854 cross-section to contain two tracks for that could be used for double-stack rail transport in either direction. The work was completed in September 1995, and the Gallitzin Tunnel (which was not enlarged) was taken out of service.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 22mm, f/4.5, 1/800, ISO 560.

Norfolk Southern 4414 leads a freight train westbound across the Rockville Bridge over the Susquehanna River at Rockville, Pennsylvania on the NS Pittsburgh line as they head for Enola Yard at Enola, PA on November 5th, 2021. According to Wikipedia: The Rockville Bridge is the longest stone masonry arch railroad viaduct ever built, with forty-eight 70-foot spans and a total length of 3,820 feet (1,160 m). The bridge crosses the Susquehanna River about 5 miles (8 km) north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The eastern end is in Rockville and the western end is just south of Marysville. Completed in 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, it remains in use today by the Norfolk Southern Railway and Amtrak's Pennsylvanian route. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1979. The first bridge at the site was a one-track wooden truss. It opened on September 1, 1849, when the PRR began operating over it. The Northern Central Railway began to use it after abandoning their Marysville Bridge. It was replaced in 1877 with a double-track iron truss bridge. The third and current bridge was built between April 1900 and March 1902 by Drake & Stratton Co., which built the eastern half, and H.S. Kerbaugh, working from the west. The laborers were Italian or local. Control of the bridge passed to Penn Central after the PRR merger in 1968, then to Conrail and finally the Norfolk Southern. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Norfolk Southern 4414 leads a freight train westbound across the Rockville Bridge

Norfolk Southern 4414 leads a freight train westbound across the Rockville Bridge over the Susquehanna River at Rockville, Pennsylvania on the NS Pittsburgh line as they head for Enola Yard at Enola, PA on November 5th, 2021.

According to Wikipedia: The Rockville Bridge is the longest stone masonry arch railroad viaduct ever built, with forty-eight 70-foot spans and a total length of 3,820 feet (1,160 m). The bridge crosses the Susquehanna River about 5 miles (8 km) north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The eastern end is in Rockville and the western end is just south of Marysville. Completed in 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, it remains in use today by the Norfolk Southern Railway and Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian route.

The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1979.

The first bridge at the site was a one-track wooden truss. It opened on September 1, 1849, when the PRR began operating over it. The Northern Central Railway began to use it after abandoning their Marysville Bridge. It was replaced in 1877 with a double-track iron truss bridge.

The third and current bridge was built between April 1900 and March 1902 by Drake & Stratton Co., which built the eastern half, and H.S. Kerbaugh, working from the west. The laborers were Italian or local.

Control of the bridge passed to Penn Central after the PRR merger in 1968, then to Conrail and finally the Norfolk Southern.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern 4041, 1843, and 8016 lead 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, 1/725, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Norfolk Southern 4041, 1843, and 8016 lead an intermodal through Horseshoe Curve at Altoona, Pennsylvania

Norfolk Southern 4041, 1843, and 8016 lead 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, 1/725, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern 9629 leads an intermodal train as they chase the sun west past the Alto Tower next to the 17th Street overpass at Altoona, Pennsylvania as they head west on the Norfolk Southern Pittsburgh Line on November 3rd, 2021. Alto tower went vacant for the first time in over 97 years back on June 16th, 2012 when signal crews shifted the authority from the Alto control operator to a NS train dispatcher, according to a NEWSWIRE report by TRAINS Magazine. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/40, ISO 110. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Norfolk Southern 9629 leads an intermodal train west past Alto Tower, Altoona, PA

Norfolk Southern 9629 leads an intermodal train as they chase the sun west past the Alto Tower next to the 17th Street overpass at Altoona, Pennsylvania as they head west on the Norfolk Southern Pittsburgh Line on November 3rd, 2021.

Alto tower went vacant for the first time in over 97 years back on June 16th, 2012 when signal crews shifted the authority from the Alto control operator to a NS train dispatcher, according to a NEWSWIRE report by TRAINS Magazine.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/40, ISO 110.

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.