In 2004 Amtrak was still running two daily trains on the old PRR Main Line making it possible to achieve Sunday-only day trips to Altoona with a couple of hours to hang out and explore the city. My goal in 2004 was to check out the then active ALTO tower where I had an hookup for a inside tour. You can read about that visit in another post, but here I am going to cover the other photos taken on that trip ( mirror ).
Amtrak's Pennsylvanian once ran to Chicago via Cleveland, but due to the termination of Amtrak's main and express freight hauling operation this had had already been cut back to its original New York to Pittsburgh endpoints on the general schedule it still runs today. However because the not-yet-cancelled Three Rivers from Chicago was able to offer Pittsburgh a daily 10am eastbound departure, Amtrak ran a special Sunday only Pennsylvanian Train 44 departing Pittsburgh at 130pm instead of the normal 715am. This created a 3 hour layover at Altoona where one could arrive on Train 45 at 1:11pm and depart on Train 44 at 3:59pm. Here we see P42DC #122 at the Altoona Transportation Centre heading up Train #45. It is about to depart westbound over a Medium Clear indication displayed by ALTO's 38L signal onto Pittsburgh Line main track #3. Note the Conrail painted SD40-2 laying over in the helper pocket.
After Train #45's departure, an eastbound NS coal train rolled down the
hill with NS C44-9W #9522 leading and a former Conrail C40-8W behind.
The pedestal signals, part of ALTO interlocking, replaced Penn Central
era mast signals during Conrail's 1986 Pittsburgh Line re-signaling
project.
Built in 1915, ALTO tower was still an active interlocking station 89 years later. The nearby 17th St bridge provided a superb photo location and naturally became a railfan hotspot. As of 2026 the tower is still standing with goals to preserve it at the nearby Railroad's Museum, however its structural condition is poor making any movement difficult.
Looking eastward, this signal bridge dates from the Penn Central era and was installed as part of a 1974 rationalization scheme that upgraded ALTO from a slow speed (15mph) interlocking to one that supported through movements at main line speeds. NS SD40-2 helper #3342 sits in the pocket track coupled to a Conrail painted unit. At this time trains needing assistance up the east slope and the famous Horseshoe Curve would pull past ALTO then stop for the helpers to roll out of the pocket and tie on. Later NS would realize it was more efficient to stop trains on the main track near Rose yard where helpers could be attached during a re-crew process.
The star attraction at the Pennsylvania Railroader's Museum is PRR GG1 #4913, which at the time was open for self-serve cab tours.
Pennsylvanian Train #44 making an on-time arrival at Altoona behind P42DC #55. If you look closely you can see smoke from the brake pads that had literally caught fire during the descent down the Horseshoe Curve and east slope. My rail industry friend who had arranged the tower tour was unfortunately left behind as he went forth to grab an additional photo of #55. He was also unfortunately carrying my dinner leaving me to the mercy of AmCafe pricing. After attempting to get a ride back on an NS freight (none were scheduled) he was forced to pay for a cab ride back to Harrisburg.
Speaking of Harrisburg the last photo of the day is of P42DC #55 at the Harrisburg station high level platform after sunset. Today this late running Sunday Pennsylvanian is a thing of the past and the modern Train 42 arrives Harrisburg around noon daily.
That's all for my 2004 Altoona trip photos. If you'd like more information about ALTO tower you can find it here.
