Allegheny Portage Railroad facts for kids
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Allegheny Portage Railroad
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Incline 6 Trail and Recreated Tracks
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Blair and Cambria counties, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| Nearest city | Altoona, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 1,296 acres (524 ha) |
| Built | 1831-1834 |
| Architectural style | Wood, Stone, Wrought Iron |
| Visitation | 118,931 (2009) |
| Website | Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site |
| MPS | Allegheny Portage Railroad MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000648 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
The Allegheny Portage Railroad was a very important railroad built in Pennsylvania, United States. It was the first railroad to cross the Allegheny Mountains. It ran from 1834 to 1854.
This railroad was special because it connected the Midwest to the East Coast. It helped people and goods travel across the mountains. The railroad was about 36 miles (58 km) long. It linked up with the Pennsylvania Canal at both ends.
The main job of this railroad was to carry river boats and barges. It moved them over the mountains between the Ohio River and the Susquehanna River. Today, you can still see parts of this old railroad. They are protected at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. The National Park Service takes care of it.
The railroad was part of a bigger plan called the Main Line of Public Works. This plan was approved in 1824. The railroad had five special sections called "inclines" on each side of the mountain top. These inclines helped move things up and down the steep slopes.
The railroad started in Johnstown in the west. It ended in Hollidaysburg in the east. The railroad used clever wheeled barges. These barges rode on narrow tracks. Steam-powered engines helped lift these vehicles.
The railroad track didn't just go straight up. It had long, flat parts where animals could pull the cars. Then, it had very steep sections called inclined planes. On these steep parts, stationary steam engines used ropes to pull the cars. It was a bit like how modern ski lifts work.
This railroad was amazing for its time. It worked in almost all weather, all year round. It helped cut travel time from Philadelphia to the Ohio River from weeks down to just 3 to 5 days. It was a huge step forward in opening up the central United States. It helped people settle and trade beyond the Appalachian Mountains. The railroad also had the Staple Bend Tunnel, which was the first railroad tunnel in the United States. Its opening was a big celebration!
History of the Railroad
Building the Old Portage Railroad started in 1831. It took three years to finish this 36-mile (58 km) long railroad. It stretched from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown. The project included a tunnel that was 900 feet (270 m) long. There was also a viaduct (a long bridge) over the Little Conemaugh River.
The railroad climbed 1,172 feet (357 m) from Johnstown. From Hollidaysburg, it climbed 1,399 feet (426 m). The state of Pennsylvania paid for this project. They wanted to compete with other big canals and railroads. These included the Erie Canal in New York and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland. Most of the building work was done by private companies.
The railroad used eleven flat sections and ten cable inclined planes. There were five inclines on each side of the Allegheny Mountains summit. These inclines helped carry loaded canal boats on special flatbed railroad cars. Mules pulled trains of two or three cars on the flat sections. On the steep inclines, powerful steam engines pulled cars up and down. They used strong hemp ropes at first, then switched to wire ropes in 1842.
The entire Main Line system connected Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It was about 400 miles (640 km) long. It included the Philadelphia-Columbia railroad, a canal from Columbia to Hollidaysburg, the Portage railroad, and another canal from Johnstown to Pittsburgh. A trip that used to take 23 days by horse-wagon now took only 4 days!
The Old Portage Railroad was used for twenty years. People called it "the wonder of America." A famous writer, Charles Dickens, even wrote about his trip on the railroad in 1842. He described how exciting it was to travel high up in the mountains. He saw valleys below and small cabins. He also wrote about the steam engine. It would come "buzzing down alone, like a great insect" after the carriages had already gone down a steep pass.
By the 1850s, new railroad technology made the Portage Railroad less useful. In 1846, the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) was created. It planned to build a railroad across the whole state. By December 1852, PRR trains were running between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. This cut travel time from 4 days to just 13 hours.
A new railroad, the New Portage Railroad, started being built in 1851. It was 40 miles (64 km) long and avoided the steep inclines. The Pennsylvania Railroad became very successful. In 1857, they bought the old Portage railroad and other parts of the Main Line. The PRR then stopped using most of the old line. They sold or removed anything valuable from the Allegheny Portage Railroad.
Later, in 1904, parts of the old railroad were used again. They added new tracks for freight trains. However, in 1981, the railroad company Conrail stopped using this line. They removed the tracks.
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
The National Historic Site was created in 1964. It covers 1,296 acres (524 ha). It is about 12 miles (19 km) west of Altoona. The site is in Blair and Cambria counties.
The park has a visitor center with interesting displays. You can learn all about the old railroad there. Close by is the Samuel Lemon House. This was a popular stop for railroad passengers. It used to be a tavern. Now, the National Park Service has turned it into a historical museum.
The park also has a part of the track that has been rebuilt. There's an engine house with exhibits. You can also find a picnic area and hiking trails.
Another cool feature at the site is a skew arch bridge. It's a beautiful bridge made of cut stone. It is about 60.4 feet (18.4 m) long on one side and 54.9 feet (16.7 m) long on the other. It is 22.2 feet (6.8 m) high. This was the only bridge on the line built to carry a road.
The Staple Bend Tunnel is also part of the historic site. It is in a separate area, about 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Johnstown.
Gallery
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Exterior of Engine House 6 Exhibit Building
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Interior of Engine House 6 Exhibit Building
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Incline looking from the Engine house
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Exterior of the Lemon House
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Inside the Lemon House
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Inside the Lemon House
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North face of the Skew Arch Bridge at the National Historic Site
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South face of the Skew Arch Bridge
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Lilly Culvert, built 1832, along the APRR
