We had two lovely historic days in Altoona. It’s such a clean and scenic town and easy to navigate. The town is nestled down in the flat valley and the mountains surround it on all sides. They look untouched and historic and make you feel isolated when you are there. I was driving so I didn’t get a lot of scenery pictures but there were so many farms and quiet, rural roads and CORN FIELDS! And the corn was super tall!
Stock image
So I’ll take half a day at a time, so as not to crowd the posts. We left Greensburg at 8am Thursday and arrived at Horseshoe Curve about 9:30am, after driving through the tunnel under the railroad tracks. We parked and paid and freshened up, then went outside. We were offered a ride in a side by side but decided to walk up the steps. We all made it just fine but it was quite a hike!
Tunnel through the mountain – under the tracks!
Welcome!
A long way up.
AND a long way down! Reservoir, museum and gift shop, stairs!
As fortune would have it (Thanks, God!) we just got to the top plateau and level with the curve when the first train came though. It was super long! It was still coming out of the right side of the mountain when the engine disappeared into the left side! It filled the whole curve. And the reservoir was glimmering in the bright sun, the sky blue and cloudless. My favorite part was hearing the train whistles.
Brown eyed Susans lining the steps…
In abundance!
Me in front of PA train
Kelly and the PA train
Kathy and the PA train.
Me, Kathy and Kelly and our Altoona shirts!
Me and Kelly
Kelly and Kathy
Here comes the train!
Several engines…
Keeps coming and coming….
High flying flag
Train
Norfolk Southern
John Deer on the train!
A few minutes later the Amtrack came through, and it was fun to wave to all the passenger and have them wave back. There were two more trains went through and the last one had a loud, long .series of whistles. Super cool! When I got home Friday night I found a YOUTUBE video of the Big Boy 4014 going around the Curve, and I can imagine how impressive it would have been to watch that.
And there goes the train….
I was also a fan of the purple picnic tables! We walked through the gift shop but I didn’t purchase anything. I normally get magnets – but I had a really nice one from the last time I was at Horseshoe Curve – about 10 years ago – and it’s nicer than what they have now. We walked through the adjoining museum and watched a few of the videos and learned some interesting facts. Also learned that the Liberty Bell traveled around the curve in 1915 on a journey from San Francisco to Philadelphia.
Pavilion and purple picnic tables – with Kathy
When we left Horseshoe Curve we drove down into town to the Railroaders Memorial Museum. I’ll cover that tomorrow!
I just got a txt from Autmn – she and Christina are going to a concert in Pittsburgh for their favorite band. They were both very excited!
My beautiful girls – Christina and Autmn
I wanted to get a jar of honey and I had two empty jars to return so I did that after lunch. I walked around Miller’s Crossing while I was there – and found a skunk! I didn’t really need any more skunks – but then, I probably didn’t need any to begin with! I also was able to replace a black ring that I destroyed in the winter so that was a plus – and very reasonably priced.
My 11th skunk, the black ring, and honey.
Quote of the Day:
PEANUTS?
TOMORROW July 26th is:
National Aunt & Uncle’s Day; National Parents’ Day; National All or Nothing Day; National Bagelfest Day; National Disability Independence Day; National Coffee Milkshake Day; National Dog Photography day; National Tree Day.
I’ll celebrate AJ and UC for sure – and be remembering my parents. I could eat a bagel – but chocolate chip bagels (my favorite) are impossible to find around here (I’ll have to settle for egg bagels!). Save a tree! God bless…
On this day in History:1866 Ulysses S. Grant is named the first General of the Army. Today is also five months until Christmas Day!
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