"ALTOONA - RAILROAD CENTRAL" Top 5 Page for this destination Altoona by mtncorg

Altoona Travel Guide: 20 reviews and 66 photos

Early locomotive of Allegheny Portage Railroad

Altoona has preserved itself from its glory days as a one-industry town devoted to the many trains making their way across the Allegheny Mountains. The trains still roll through, though the vast numbers once employed has fallen off dramatically. You can find a fine railroad museum located in an old rail workers' union hall in Altoona - admission here includes entry to the Horseshoe Curve several miles to the west. I have focused on three areas along the nearby Allegheny Crest that have featured prominently in local transportation history: Allegheny Portage National Historic Site, Horseshoe Curve and the Gallitzin Tunnel.

Last visit to Altoona: Sep 2008
Intro Written Oct 1, 2008
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Reviews (8)

Old Pennsylvania Rail Caboose next to tunnels - Altoona

TUNNELS PARK AND MUSEUM Things to Do (8)

Right next to the Allegheny and Gallitzin Tunnels, the local folks have established a small park and museum devoted to... more travel advice

GALLITZIN TUNNELS Things to Do (8)

Canals never made it over the Allegheny Mountains totally. The final passage was left to railroads. If rails were needed... more travel advice

HORSESHOE CURVE Things to Do (8)

This famous railway curve was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1854 to help trains get up and over the Allegheny... more travel advice

LEMON HOUSE Things to Do (8)

This inn was built for travelers on the Portage Railway and was named for its owners, Sam and Jean Lemon. The inn was... more travel advice

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glabah Oct 8, 2010 at 8:17 PM

Altoona used to have a big locomotive facility in it as well, and they even built some of the PRR's locomotives. I think it may have been turned into a golf course or something like that now.