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Handing Up Orders on the Pennsy (SA-10)

Seven miles west of Indianapolis Union Station is Davis Tower were the I&F Branch heads northward for Logansport off of Pennsylvania's St. Louis mainline. Pennsy J1a 6498 storms westward with a freight, picking up orders from the Davis tower operator on the fly. Snow is falling on the Hoosier State, and soon the operator will make a short walk back to the warmth of his tower. (not in view)

Pennsylvania Horseshoe Curve 1952 (SA-5)

The 12 miles of mainline railroad in the mountains between Altoona and Gallitzin, PA., long have been a battleground where machines wage a war against gravity. The perfect theater for this spectacle is Horseshoe Curve. Countless trains of the Pennsylvania Railroad, "Standard Railroad of the World," have passed this hollowed place since the struggle began in 1854. Great steam locomotives with red keystones gracing their smokeboxes have rained cinders on the surrounding hills. But today, almost 100 years later; a new contender fights the grades.

By this crisp autumn day, diesels already have made big inroads on the PRR. The morning sun shines brightly on the colorful trees rimming Kittanning Point and the curving rails below hum with Pennsy tonnage. A freight drops downgrade toward Altoona on track 1, it's snazzy N5c cabin car obediently following. Right behind on track 2, and bringing up the rear of the morning's eastbound passenger fleet, is the St. Louisan, powered by two sparkling EMD E7's in fresh Tuscan dress. The engineer on the passenger train and the conductor in the cupola of 477912 exchange friendly waves. Meanwhile, over on track 4, more tonnage grinds up the mountain toward the summit at UN tower in Gallitzin as four new but dusty Alco FA's are about to fill the Curve with their thunderous roar. Track 3 already has seen tonnage storm past - pushing hard on the train's N8-class cabin car is a pair of Baldwin Centipedes recently demoted from passenger service.

The resonance of internal combustion fills the air at this famous crossing of the Alleghenies. Surely, later this day, the Curve again will hear the sound of steam hammering up the grade. But at this moment on a beautiful October day in 1952, diesels are the show.

Pennsylvania Sharks on the Roll (P-16)