As with their westbound counterparts, nearly every tonnage train descending the mountain has helpers on the rear to assist with braking. The 6366/6374 set is coupled to the 6256 East, PIBA, as it ... (more)

Coming 'round the mountain: Symbol freight PIBA (Conway-Baltimore) eases its consist around the curve coming into MG Interlocking, high on the Allegheny slopes. Ektachrome.

A pair of Dash 9's bracketing an SD70M-2 lead eastbound intermodal train 20T as it passes by the shuttered Alto Tower on the western edge of Altoona.

Amtrak Pennsylvania 42, NS 04T, slows on it's approach to the Altoona Transportation Center with the PRR Private Car, Catalpa Falls, between the locomotive and the new Phase III Baggage car

A 4 pack of helpers wait to enter Rose Yard after assisting a heavy eastbound mixed freight over the mountain. A westbound mixed freight can be seen making its run on the hill in the foreground.

Helpers push a westbound stack train past the closed Alto tower.

Loads for pickup. The Altoona, Pennsylvania Juniata Locomotive Shops and adjoining yard of Norfolk Southern were loaded with engines of all kinds on Saturday, November 2, 2019. Of note are the A-B... (more)

As 39Q patiently waits for its turn to head west, a higher priority intermodal train passes by at CP Altoona.

Midway between the apex of Horseshoe Curve and MG Interlocking, an SD45/SD40 helper duo lends a strong assist to symbol freight PG-3 as it climbs the mountain on No.3 track in McGinley's Curve. Th... (more)

A pair of SD40-2 "snappers" are coupled ahead of the road power on Conrail Mail 9 (Morrisville, PA-Chicago) as the train rounds the most famous bend in railroading at Horseshoe Curve. Hi... (more)

LMS 724, one of the GE lease units painted for Big Blue, drops downgrade past the westward home signals for MG on an autumn afternoon. STES (Sterling, MI to Harrington, DE) has auto parts for Newa... (more)

Patience is a Virtue

A short, unidentified intermodal train fills the center arc of the Horseshoe Curve above Altoona, PA. On the east leg, if you squint hard enough, you'll see the ... (more)

What we have here is a discouraging matter of timing in that the 6406, a train of empty PPLX hoppers, had stalled at MG and had to await rescue helpers to come up from Altoona to shove. It got mov... (more)