11/1/2024
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Viewing Album: PRR: Old-Time PRR at Muleshoe Curve
By:
Thomas C. Ayers
Dates:
9/22/1846 - 9/22/1846
Album Info:
Here are several images from various sources that concern the Muleshoe Curve ~ a couple of miles West of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on old US Route 22.
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Title:
PRR Muleshoe Curve ~ Circa 1857
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a photo from page 35 of Mr. Robert L. Emerson's 1984 book entitled "Allegheny Passage: An Illustrated History Of Blair County." Photo Caption: "Lesser known than its big sister the Horseshoe Curve, the Muleshoe Curve is also something of an engineering feat. Courtesy of the Railroaders Memorial Museum, Altoona." Shown here are a wood-burning 4-4-0 "American" locomotive and a wooden passenger car. Heading downgrade toward Duncansville, they are poised on the single-tracked New Portage Railroad line circa 1857.
Photo Date:
1/1/1900
Upload Date:
9/30/2017 2:06:48 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Steam,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
429
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Muleshoe Curve Tunnels, 1880's
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a photo of the original single-tracked, double culvert under the Muleshoe Curve near Duncansville, Pennsylvania. It was taken during the 1880's. "The Muleshoe was part of the improvements made by the State of Pennsylvania to the Allegheny Portage Railroad in the early to mid-1850's. Sometimes referred to as 'the Road to Avoid the Planes' or the 'New Portage,' these improvements bypassed the slow eastern-slope inclined planes utilized by the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The section where the Muleshoe was located was opened on July 1, 1855 and made it possible to bypass Plane No. 8. The Muleshoe and the rest of the Portage Railroad were abandoned on November 1, 1857. The Eastern section of the 'New Portage' ~ i.e., from Gallitzin to Duncansville ~ was reopened by the Pennsylvania Railroad in the early 1900's. The culvert under the Muleshoe was rebuilt as a single arch in 1902, with Blair Gap Run passing under the roadway. This is still the same arrangement today." (Photo and text from the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site: 114925998531185) Note the photographer's horse and buggy! Photo taken from the Duncansville side.
Photo Date:
1/1/1900
Upload Date:
9/28/2017 5:49:02 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
Views:
393
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Muleshoe Curve Tunnels, 1880's
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is an image of the original single-tracked, double culvert under the Muleshoe Curve near Duncansville, Pennsylvania. It was taken during the 1880's. "The Muleshoe was part of the improvements made by the State of Pennsylvania to the Allegheny Portage Railroad in the early to mid-1850's. Sometimes referred to as 'the Road to Avoid the Planes' or the 'New Portage,' these improvements bypassed the slow eastern-slope inclined planes utilized by the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The section where the Muleshoe was located was opened on July 1, 1855 and made it possible to bypass Plane No. 8. The Muleshoe and the rest of the Portage Railroad were abandoned on November 1, 1857. The Eastern section of the 'New Portage' ~ i.e., from Gallitzin to Duncansville ~ was reopened by the Pennsylvania Railroad in the early 1900's. The culvert under the Muleshoe was rebuilt as a single arch in 1902, with Blair Gap Run passing under the roadway. This is still the same arrangement today." (Text from the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site: 114925998531185) Photo taken from the Cresson side.
Photo Date:
1/1/1900
Upload Date:
2/15/2021 4:09:53 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
Views:
192
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Muleshoe Curve Tunnel, c. 1903
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a photo of the double-tracked, reconstructed culvert under the Muleshoe Curve near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, c. 1902 "The Muleshoe Curve never reached the same amount of popularity as the nearby Horseshoe Curve. This was due mainly to it being merely a secondary route between Spruce Creek and Gallitzin. It was built in 1850's by the State of Pennsylvania as part of the New Portage Railroad, itself built to bypass the inclined planes of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The Pennsylvania Railroad purchased the line in 1857 and promptly closed it, as the PRR had just completed its own mainline via the Horseshoe Curve. Between 1904 and its closure, the line was used by the PRR as a freight bypass called the New Portage Branch Line. After the PRR was taken over by Conrail in 1981, the Curve was permanently abandoned." (Text from the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site: 114925998531185) William E Burket Collection.
Photo Date:
3/1/1903
Upload Date:
9/28/2017 5:49:42 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Steam
Locomotives:
Views:
522
Comments:
0
Title:
"Fountain Inn," 1909
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a postal card entitled "Fountain Inn ~ Altoona, Pa." Postmarked: 1 March 1909. This establishment was located just West of the Muleshoe Curve. It was built during the mid-1800's and served as a stagecoach stop on the Harrisburg-Pittsburgh Post Road, what's now old US Route 22. Legend has it that the Inn had a large fresh-water pond stocked with rainbow trout!
Photo Date:
3/1/1909
Upload Date:
2/28/2020 11:38:25 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
375
Comments:
0
Title:
"Old Fountain Inn," c. 1909
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a postal card image entitled "Old Fountain Inn, near Cresson, Pa." This establishment was located just West of the Muleshoe Curve. It was built during the mid-1800's and served as a stagecoach stop on the Harrisburg-Pittsburgh Post Road, what's now old US Route 22. Looks quite spooky to me!
Photo Date:
8/15/1909
Upload Date:
4/30/2022 6:49:40 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
110
Comments:
0
Title:
"Muleshoe Reservoir," c. 1920
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a postal card entitled "Muleshoe Reservoir on William Penn Highway, West of Hollidaysburg, Pa." No Postmark. This Reservoir was located just West of the Muleshoe Curve. The two-lane Highway pictured here is the paved version of the original Harrisburg-Pittsburgh Post Road, a rustic dirt path carved through the wild and wooly wilderness during the late 1700's. Note that there are no guardrails around the curve! The Highway was later relocated away from the water's edge.
Photo Date:
8/15/1920
Upload Date:
3/13/2022 11:17:52 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
94
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Muleshoe Curve Tunnel, 1920's
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a photo from page 17 of a 21-page article by Jim Hilker, Jr., entitled "A History of the Hollidaysburg & Petersburg Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad." It was published originally in the Spring 2007 issue of "The Keystone" magazine, page 56. Photo Caption: "Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch in the 1920's. The helper pushing a westbound train is heading toward the main line at Tunnel Hill. (Courtesy of the Huntingdon County Historical Society.)"
Photo Date:
8/15/1929
Upload Date:
9/28/2017 4:24:19 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Steam
Locomotives:
Views:
272
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Muleshoe Curve Tunnel, 1920's
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is an undated postal card view of the Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch Line near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, c. 1920's. Caption: "Deer Crossing Wm. Penn Highway, near Hollidaysburg, Pa." Photo by Deck Lane. Shown here is the eastern side of the tunnel, facing Cresson. Are those "Mule-Shoe Deer"?
Photo Date:
9/22/1929
Upload Date:
2/9/2021 5:10:19 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
Views:
254
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Muleshoe Curve Tunnel, 1930's
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is an undated postal card view of the "Mule Shoe Arch" on the New Portage Branch Line near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, that was issued during the 1930's. Caption: "Arch on Wm. Penn Highway near Hollidaysburg, Pa." Shown here is the western side of the tunnel, facing Duncansville and Hollidaysburg.
Photo Date:
10/14/1936
Upload Date:
9/30/2017 12:21:05 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
Views:
202
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Muleshoe Curve Tunnel, 1930's
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is an undated postal card view of the "Mule Shoe Arch" on the New Portage Branch Line near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, that was issued during the 1930's. Caption: "The Cresson Grade between Hollidaysburg and Cresson, Pa." Shown here is the eastern side of the tunnel, facing Cresson.
Photo Date:
10/14/1936
Upload Date:
11/15/2017 2:38:30 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
Views:
186
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Muleshoe Curve, 1930's
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is an undated postal card image from atop the "Mule Shoe Arch" on the New Portage Branch Line near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, that was issued during the 1930's. Caption: "Cresson Grade on Wm. Penn Highway near Hollidaysburg, Pa." Cresson is to the photographer's front, Duncansville is to the rear. Picnic anyone?
Photo Date:
8/9/1938
Upload Date:
2/15/2021 4:10:50 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
185
Comments:
0
Title:
APR Skew Arch Bridge, 1940's
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is an undated postal card view of the "Skew Arch Bridge" above the New Portage Branch Line near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, that was issued during the 1940's. Front Caption: "Looking Down Cresson Grade Divided Highway at Old Portage Railroad Monument and Skew Arch Bridge on Route 22." Caption On Reverse: "The Monument commemorates the opening of the Old Portage Railroad on March 18, 1834. The Skew Arch Bridge carried this early railroad near the Allegheny Mountain summit, and is the only remaining one of its kind." Spanning Plane 6, it was part of the "Huntingdon, Cambria, and Indiana Turnpike" between Huntingdon and Blairsville.
Photo Date:
8/15/1946
Upload Date:
11/15/2017 2:40:05 AM
Location:
Cresson, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Bridge
Locomotives:
Views:
302
Comments:
0
Title:
The Great Thanksgiving Ice Storm ~ 1950
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is an original photo by Douglas C. Jones that could have been taken on US Route 22 just East of Cresson, Pennsylvania, during the Great Thanksgiving Ice Storm of 23-28 November 1950. This is what it would have looked like all along the New Portage Branch Line and Muleshoe Curve right-of-way. Very frosty, indeed!
Photo Date:
11/23/1950
Upload Date:
8/24/2021 1:35:58 PM
Location:
Cresson, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Winter
Locomotives:
Views:
164
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 7237, EFS-17M, 1959
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a photo by William D. Volkmer that was taken at the Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch Line west of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 29 October 1959. It was published originally in his (2019) book entitled "Pennsylvania Railroad-Best Of Bill Volkmer: Volume 3-Altoona," page 80. Shown here (R to L) are PRR engines #7237, #7240, #7238, and #7239. All are EFS-17M's built by GM-EMD in October of 1959 and rated at 1,750 horsepower each. They are pulling an iron-ore train up the Allegheny Mountains and around the Curve to Gallitzin and points West.
Photo Date:
10/29/1959
Upload Date:
1/12/2020 2:05:31 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
PRR 7237(GP9)
PRR 7240(GP9)
PRR 7238(GP9)
PRR 7239(GP9)
Views:
448
Comments:
1
Title:
PRR 8671, AS-18AM, 1959
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a photo by William D. Volkmer that was taken at the Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch Line west of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 29 October 1959. It was published originally in his (2019) book entitled "Pennsylvania Railroad-Best Of Bill Volkmer: Volume 3-Altoona," page 81. Shown here (L to R) are PRR engines #8671, #8674, and #8677. All are AS-18AM's built by the American Locomotive Company in March of 1958 and rated at 1,800 horsepower each. They are pushing an iron-ore train up the Allegheny Mountains to Gallitzin, where they will uncouple and return to East Altoona for yet another run up "The Mountain."
Photo Date:
10/29/1959
Upload Date:
1/12/2020 2:10:14 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
PRR 8671(RSD12)
PRR 8674(RSD12)
PRR 8677(RSD12)
Views:
643
Comments:
1
Title:
PRR 5899, EP-22, 1962
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is an original photo that I took at the Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch Line west of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 8 April 1962. Shown here are Pennsylvania Railroad engines #5899, #5810, and #5761. All are EP-22's built by GM-EMD and rated at 2,250 horsepower each. #5899 and #5810 were built in 1951, but #5761 was built in 1952. They are pulling a "Railfan Special to the Horseshoe Curve," sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The "Special" departed Philadelphia bright and early on a Sunday morning, following the PRR's mainline through Harrisburg to Huntingdon. There, it switched over to the Petersburg-Hollidaysburg Branch Line and followed the undulating Juniata River to Hollidaysburg ~ where the Railfans were treated to tours of the PRR's Samuel Rea Shop. After leaving Hollidaysburg, the "Special" passed WYE Tower and took the New Portage Branch Line via the Muleshoe Curve up the Allegheny Mountains to Gallitzin. There, it passed through the westbound Allegheny Tunnel, navigated the wye at Gallitzin, and passed through the eastbound New Portage Tunnel on its way down the Alleghenies. At the Horseshoe Curve, the "Special" stopped to allow the Railfans to visit the PRR's K-4S (4-6-2) "Pacific" #1361 enshrined there. After all were safely back on board, the train continued down the Mountains toward Altoona and the return trip to Philadelphia ~ a round trip of over 500 happy miles at $11.50 per person!
Photo Date:
4/8/1962
Upload Date:
8/17/2016 4:35:08 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Passenger
Locomotives:
PRR 5899(E8A)
PRR 5810(E8A)
PRR 5761(E8A)
Views:
833
Comments:
0
Title:
PC Muleshoe Curve Tunnel, 1974
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is an original photo that I took approaching the Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch Line near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, in May of 1974. Shown here is the western side of the Penn Central Railroad's tunnel that crosses over US Route 22, also known as the "William Penn Highway." For the railroad: Hollidaysburg is to the right, Gallitzin is to the left. For the highway: Duncansville is to the front, Cresson is to the rear.
Photo Date:
5/5/1974
Upload Date:
9/28/2017 4:23:00 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
Views:
279
Comments:
0
Title:
Muleshoe Curve Tunnel, 2016
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a photo by MaryAnn Jones that was taken at the Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch Line near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, in the Summer of 2016. Shown here is the western side of the tunnel, facing Duncansville and Hollidaysburg. The old railroad roadbed on this portion of the Line has been converted into a bike path. No more double-headed "Decapods" thundering up the Alleghenies, spewing forth smoke and sparks!
Photo Date:
8/15/2016
Upload Date:
9/30/2017 12:20:24 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
Views:
177
Comments:
0
Title:
Muleshoe Curve Tunnel, Builder's Stone, 2014
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a photo by Missy Gray that was taken at the Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch Line near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, in the Summer of 2014. Shown here is the builder's stone, located on the eastern side of the tunnel over US Route 22. Line 1: "1902." Line 2: "Wm. H. Brown. Chief Engineer. P.R.R." Line 3: "Wm. A. Pratt. Asst. to Chief Engineer. P.R.R." Line 4: "W.K. Martin. Assistant Engineer. P.R.R." Line 5: "H.S. Kerbauch, Inc. Contractor."
Photo Date:
8/8/2014
Upload Date:
9/28/2017 5:52:29 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
Views:
288
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR "New Portage, 1903"
Description:
Muleshoe. Here is a map labelled "New Portage, 1903," as redrawn by Chuck Blardone. It was published originally in Ken Kobus & Gary C. Rauch's (2020) book entitled "The Pennsylvania Railroad's Muleshoe, Horseshoe, Altoona, And Beyond," page 38. The Muleshoe Curve and its pair of passing tracks are depicted near the bottom.
Photo Date:
8/15/2020
Upload Date:
1/17/2022 6:59:11 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
191
Comments:
0
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