Horseshoe Curve (Pennsylvania) facts for kids

Horseshoe Curve
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
A March 2006 aerial photo of Horseshoe Curve
Location in the United States Show map of the United States Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania
Location	Logan Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania
Nearest city	Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Built	1851–1854
Built by	Pennsylvania Railroad
Architect	John Edgar Thomson
NRHP reference No.	66000647
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	November 13, 1966
Designated NHL	November 13, 1966

The Horseshoe Curve is a famous three-track railroad curve in Blair County, Pennsylvania. It's part of the Norfolk Southern Railway's Pittsburgh Line. The curve is about 2,375 feet (724 m) long and 1,300 feet (396 m) wide.

It was finished in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The curve helped trains climb the Allegheny Mountains more easily. It replaced an older, slower route called the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The Horseshoe Curve has been used by several railroad companies over the years.

This special curve has been a popular tourist spot for a long time. An observation park was built in 1879 for people to watch trains. In the 1990s, the park was updated, and a visitor center was added. The Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona now runs the center. The Horseshoe Curve is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It's also a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

Where is the Horseshoe Curve?

A topographic map of the area around the Horseshoe Curve

The Horseshoe Curve is about 5 miles (8 km) west of Altoona, Pennsylvania. It's located in Logan Township, Blair County. The curve is on the main railroad line between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.

The curve wraps around a dam and a lake. This lake is one of three reservoirs that supply water to Altoona. The tracks cross two small valleys. One is formed by Kittanning Run, and the other by Glenwhite Run. A highway, the Blair County Veterans Memorial Highway, goes through a tunnel under the curve.

How the Curve Works

Trains heading west climb a steep hill from Altoona to Gallitzin. This climb is about 12 miles (19 km) long. The Horseshoe Curve helps trains make this climb. It allows them to gain height gradually.

The curve is 2,375 feet (724 m) long. At its widest, it's about 1,300 feet (396 m) across. The tracks bend quite a bit within the curve. For every 100 feet (30 m), the tracks turn about 9 degrees. The entire curve turns a total of 220 degrees.

The tracks are made of strong, welded steel. In the past, before diesel engines, the rails were sometimes swapped. This helped them wear out evenly from the train wheels.

Building the Horseshoe Curve

Four trains on four tracks passing each other on Pennsylvania Railroad's mainline near Horseshoe Curve, c. 1907

Why it was Needed

In 1834, Pennsylvania built the Allegheny Portage Railroad. It connected Philadelphia and Pittsburgh using canals and inclined planes. This was a way to cross the Allegheny Mountains. But it was slow and difficult for large vehicles.

The Pennsylvania Railroad was started in 1847. Its goal was to build a faster railroad from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh. This new railroad would replace the old Portage Railroad.

John Edgar Thomson, the Chief Engineer, chose a route through the mountains. He found a way to make the tracks climb steadily. The Horseshoe Curve was the perfect solution. It allowed the tracks to gain height without being too steep.

How it was Built

A stereo card of a train on the curve, c. 1907

Construction on the Horseshoe Curve began in 1850. It was a huge job done without modern machines. Workers used only "picks and shovels, horses and drags." They built up the ground in some areas. They also dug through parts of the mountain.

The section of track that included the Horseshoe Curve opened on February 15, 1854. This connected Altoona and Johnstown. It was a major achievement for its time.

In 1879, part of the mountain inside the curve was flattened. This made space for a park and observation area. It was one of the first places built just for watching trains. As more trains ran, a third track was added in 1898. A fourth track was added two years later.

For many years, passengers could ride trains to a station near the curve. Local railroads also connected to the main line at the curve. These smaller lines brought coal from nearby mines.

Reservoirs were built near the curve to supply water to Altoona. The first was in 1887, and more followed. In 1932, a road was built to the curve, making it easier for visitors to reach. A gift shop opened in 1940.

The Horseshoe Curve became very famous. It was shown in brochures and on railroad stock certificates. The Pennsylvania Railroad used it to show off its impressive route. Train conductors still announce the Horseshoe Curve to passengers today.

Panorama of the curve with Kittanning Point station in the distance in 1934

World War II and Beyond

A 100th anniversary celebration of Horseshoe Curve in 1954

During World War II, the PRR was vital for moving troops and supplies. The Horseshoe Curve was so important that it was guarded by armed soldiers. There was even a secret plan by Nazi Germany to damage important sites in the U.S., including the curve. However, the people involved were caught quickly.

In the 1940s, over 50 passenger trains used the curve every day. Many freight and military trains also passed through. After the war, fewer people traveled by train.

In 1954, the curve celebrated its 100th anniversary. A special night photo was taken using 6,000 flashbulbs to light up the area. A famous steam locomotive, PRR 1361, was placed at the park in 1957. It was a type of engine that often used the curve.

The Horseshoe Curve became a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Later, the railroad companies changed. The Pennsylvania Railroad merged with others to form Penn Central. Then, the government took over, creating Conrail. In 1981, one of the four tracks at the curve was removed. Locomotive 1361 was taken away for repairs in 1985. A different diesel engine, PRR 7048, replaced it.

In the early 1990s, the park at the Horseshoe Curve was renovated. A new visitor center opened in 1992. In 1999, Conrail was split up, and Norfolk Southern took over the Horseshoe Curve. In 2004, the curve celebrated its 150th anniversary. It was lit up again with fireworks, just like in 1954. That same year, it was named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

The Curve Today

Three Norfolk Southern freight trains pass each other on the curve in 2006

The Horseshoe Curve is still a very busy part of Norfolk Southern's Pittsburgh Line. As of 2008, about 51 freight trains passed through each day. This doesn't even include local trains or helper engines. Helper engines are extra locomotives added to the back of long trains. They help push trains up the steep hill and slow them down on the way down.

Amtrak's Pennsylvanian passenger train also uses the curve daily. Freight trains can go up to 30 mph (48 km/h) on the curve. Passenger trains can go a bit faster, around 35 mph (56 km/h).

Visiting the Horseshoe Curve

The Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona manages the visitor center at the curve. The center has exhibits about the curve's history. It also has a special map that shows the area in 3D.

To get to the curve, visitors can take a funicular. This is a special cable car that goes up a slope. It's 288 feet (88 m) long. There's also a 194-step stairway for those who prefer to walk. The funicular cars are painted to look like old Pennsylvania Railroad passenger cars. A small building called the "watchman's shanty" is also in the park.

The Horseshoe Curve is a favorite spot for railfans, who love watching trains. Sometimes, you can even see three trains passing each other at once! In 2012 and 2013, a historic steam locomotive, Nickel Plate Road No. 765, traveled the curve. It was the first steam engine to do so since 1977.

A panorama of the observation park inside Horseshoe Curve, including the watchman's shanty (left), Locomotive 7048 (center), and the funicular (right) in October 2011

See also