Overview of the Altoona Area
Note: The Hollidaysburg & Petersburg Branch maps are not available at this time. The Sam Rae Page is active.
History of Altoona
Altoona was created by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In the year 1849, a few little cleared patches of farms set in wilderness, formed, with some of the wilderness itself, the site of what is now Altoona. The 224 acres of farm and woodland, on which the original Altoona was built, constituted the farm of David Robeson. The railroad company, then pushing to completion its line from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and looking for a site for their shops, decided that this location was ideal.
Archibald Wright of Philadelphia, acting presumably for the railroad company, purchased the Robeson farm for $11,000, although said to be worth only $2500 for farming purposes. The deed was dated April 24, 1849. On this tract of land original Altoona was laid out and the first units of the railroad shops were built during the later part of 1849 and 1850.
In 1850 the erection of the Altoona shops on a small scale had began. In 1854 when the railroad line and "Horseshoe Curve" was completed westward. The village of Altoona began to grow rapidly and had a population of 3,591. Then came the Civil War and Altoona became a place of importance as a rail terminal.
It is believed that Altoona's name was derived from the Cherokee word, "Allatoona", meaning "the high lands of great worth." The name was bestowed after the picturesque "Allatoona Pass" in Georgia by Archibald Wright, who was long a resident of the Cherokee country in Georgia and an admirer of the musical names of the Indian language. There is also some debate as to whether or not the city was named for the a major railroad town Altona, Germany. Altoona was incorporated as a borough in 1858 and chartered as a city in 1868.
By 1870 its population (Mostly composed of Native Americans, Germans, Irish, and Scotch who worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company) had grown to 10,610.
"The Altoona Shops of the Pennsylvania System embrace five general departments as follows: Altoona Machine Shops, Altoona Car Shops, Juniata Shops, East Altoona Engine House and South Altoona Founderies. They cover a yard area of 242 acres and embrace a floor area of 48 acres.
Altoona Machine Shops comprise all that body of buildings extending from below Twelfth Street to Sixteenth Street. Here are located buildings having an aggregate frontage of more than three miles, all constructed of stone or brick, and occupied by the best machinery for locomotive building and repairing that modern ingenuity can devise. The Altoona Machine Shops include thirty-six departments, the total floor area being nearly 16 acres giving employment to over 4,000 men.
At the Altoona Car Shops in the southern section of the city, is located the yard enclosing the immense round house (largest in the world) and the construction and car shops. They cover an area of 65 acres, while the floor area of the buildings is 16 acres, divided into thirty departments, giving employment to nearly 4,000 men. Here are manufactured and repaired passenger, mail, parlor and sleeping cars. Like the Altoona machine shops, it is a giant plant, one of the largest of its kind in the world, but even by this statement their magnitude cannot be comprehended. It is necessary to see them running to realize their extent and capabilities.
The Juniata Locomotive Shops are located a short distance from the eastern boundary of the city. Their total area is 6 1/2 acres and the number of men employed about 1,600. These men are employed solely in the production of steam and electric engines. There are two immense blacksmith shops in which are employed over 1,000 men.
The East Altoona Round House is one of the largest structures of its kind in the world, and is said to have cost one million dollars. It is 395 feet in diameter. There is a turn table 75 feet in diameter, and the total area of all the shops of this department is 4 1/2 acres, while the yards cover 34 acres, an average of 300 locomotives are handled per day, and 750 men employed.
The South Altoona Foundries, including shops and cover a tract of 84 acres, the floor area of the buildings being 7 1/2 acres. Here are manufactured all wheels used in the various departments of the locomotive and car shops, the operations giving employment to 950 men. The shipping facilities of Altoona are therefore unexcelled, and the city has sixty passenger trains daily." ("Story of Altoona", Clarence E. Weaver, 1911)
Approximately 20,000 people were employed by the railroad in the Altoona area during the railroad's heyday in the mid 1920's with about 16,000 in the shops and another 4,000 working as crew members in the railroad yards. Altoona's population coincided with the growth of the railroad, reaching a peak of 90,000.
A December 27, 1931 fire destroyed the machine shop in the Altoona Works at 12th Street and the decision not to rebuild it marked the first signal the railroad sent out that it was considering consolidation. Today, Altoona remains linked to the railroad through Norfolk Southern's Juniata locomotive and Hollidaysburg, PA Car Shops.
For further information on the history of Altoona as well as the PRR, see the following publications, all on the Altoona Area Public Library's On-line/Digital Collection:
- "Story of Altoona", by Clarence E. Weaver; Eddy Press Corp. 1911
- "Altoona, the Keystone City of the Keystone State", by the
Chamber of Commerce: Altoona, PA, 1924.- "A History of Blair County Pennsylvania", by Charles B. Clark, Esq.
Altoona, PA., 1896.- Altoona Mirror Souvenir Booklet, from the Semi-Centennial of the Loyal War Governors' Conference, Altoona Mirror Printing Company: Altoona, PA., 1912
- Blair Archives - Area/Local History
- William F. Gable Company 30th Anniversary Souvenir, 1914
17th Street Juniata to "Works"
The east end tower ("BELL") was located at MP 230.0. Between 1955 and 1961, "BELL" became an unattended interlocking.
West bound freights would enter the Westbound Empty Receiving Yard at "HOMER", travel through the Westbound Empty Classification yard, and progress to Rose. "HOMER" was a two story stone structure built on top of the passenger mains. It was demolished in 1969 or 1970.
"ANTIS" was located at MP 232.1. This tower segregated the Passenger Mains (Tracks #3 and #4) to the (RR) north and the freights operating on tracks #1 and #2. Tracks #1 and #2 left the Eastbound Departure Yard here.
The passenger mains snaked under the west bound hump near "HOMER" Tower and continued on to "WORKS" Tower (MP 235.5).
At 17th Street, Juniata, south of and adjacent to the freight mains was the famous East Area Engine House Complex. This was the side of the largest round house in the world. "HOUSE" interlocking controlled the west end of the Complex. Note that the iron bridge at 17th Street, Juniata is partially dismantled today. The East Altoona Passenger Station was located at 15th Street Juniata.
Altoona was known world-wide for its reputation as a railroad center and for the advanced standards adopted by the industry based on the Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona motive power development and testing. As a major railroad center and division point in the steam era, the East Altoona roundhouse was the hub of locomotive servicing with 50 stalls which gained it the reputation of the largest roundhouse in the world. In its peak years during WWII, a new turntable was installed in 1942 with a 110 ft beam to accommodate the newest and largest locomotives being developed. This accommodated the largest and last steam locomotive class built by the PRR in Altoona, the class T-1, which was identified by his "shark-nose" appearance.
At it's peak, the East Altoona roundhouse serviced 325-350 steam locomotives daily and employed about 1200 persons which included inspectors, machinists, boilermakers, laborers and engine hostlers.
Just east of the roundhouse, was the mammoth East Altoona Coal dock which refueled steam locomotives for the Pittsburgh and Middle Divisions. This Coal Dock was constructed of concrete over a steel frame, was 135 ft high, and, when filled to capacity, held 1,250 tons of coal; at peak operation, 35 hopper car-loads of coal were required daily to replenish supplies. After removal of scrap steel, the base of the structure was dynamited and dropped into a huge pit prepared for that purpose, by Robert J. Kruise, demolition contractor. However, the structure was so huge, that the first attempt only resulted in dropping the structure in a tilted position (similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa), but was subsequently dropped into the pit with a second blast some weeks later.
Dale S. McCracken was the last foreman of the largest roundhouse in the world. Mr. McCracken, of 1012 24th Avenue, Altoona, assumed the position June 1, 1953 until the closing of the facility in 1968 with the advent of the Penn Central merger on February 1st of that year. The East Altoona Roundhouse facilities were demolished during the next 6 months.
Mr. McCracken died December 18, 1995 at the age of 80.
ADDENDUM; During 1968, the Penn Central Merger year, many PRR structures and facilities in the greater Altoona area were razed. Among the most notable losses to the city were the PRR Test Department on 16th Street, and the famous steam locomotive test rack, which was housed in a separate building at the rear of the Test Department laboratories.
The locomotive test rack was the only one of its kind in the world and was designed as an exhibit for the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. When the exposition ended, the test rack was shipped back to Altoona and installed in the new Locomotive Test building at the PRR's Test Plant. A recollection of Mr. Dale McCracken, Foreman of the East Altoona Roundhouse, "only the best engineers and firemen were ever assigned to the test rack to operate locomotives undergoing tests. Many engineers vied for this position, for the man thus assigned was considered the best in his line." One of the last steam locomotives tested on the rack, was the experimental class Q-2 which showed a maximum of 7,897 horsepower at a speed of 57.4 mph. This was the greatest horsepower developed by any locomotive at that speed. However, many locomotive tests were run at speeds of 100 mph and the plume of coal smoke from the buildings ventilation chimney was a familiar site to Altoonans as was the roar from the structure. (Submitted by David Seidel; from his Altoona Mirror achieves)
South of the engine house were the East bound yard tracks. Many of these tracks are still in existence today. They lead to "FARM", then to the Eastbound Classification Yard, to the hump at the Scales. The tracks then enter the Eastbound Receiving Yard, continue on to "SOUTH", and then to "ALTO" where they connect with the passenger mains.
17th Street Juniata Bridge. Looking SE. Date: Fall 1995 
Looking NE from the 8th St Bridge into the old "Eastbound Classification yard.". 12/96 
Looking East toward the old "passenger mains and westbound loaded classification yard" from the 8th St Juniata Bridge. Date Unknown. 
Westbound locomotive shifting cars in the old "westbound loaded classification yard". The old "freight mains" are to the right. Looking East. 12/12/97 
Looking East from the 8th St Juniata Bridge toward the old "Westbound Loaded Classification Yard". Date Unknown. 
April 1963, The parlor car "COURAGEOUS" at East Juniata, white-lined, in storage pending disposition. Disposition unknown. Photo by David Seidel. In the wake of the Penn Central Merger, NYC #4016 and PRR G5 #5741 sit at the Juniata E&M shops. 6-16-1969. By David Seidel. Jan. 27,1950...A steam engine approaching Juniata, looking east off of the 8th. Street bridge in Juniata. 1939...The S1 locomotive as seen from the 8th. street bridge in Juniata , near Altoona, in 1939, just before it went to Flushing , NY. for the 1939 World's Fair, where it was ran on a specially built treadmill for display. This was designed by Raymond Loewy, built in the Juniata Shops, and it was almost twice the size of the K4 locomotive. The PRR only made one of these, (this was #6100),and this only ran for four years before it was cut up for scrap. 
PRR S-1 #6100. Photographer and location unknown. Date Unknown. Presumed to be on display at the World's Fair. Collection of Chris Behe. 
PRR _ #5149 travels west. View east from 8th St Juniata Bridge (Red Bridge)
in the vicinity of Rose Tower. Note the white guard rail posts in
background, which is the drive into Eastbound from the bridge. The drive off
the bridge into the yard at 17th Street, was very steep and dropped into the
roundhouse area.
Date unknown. Arlington J. Wolfe photograph William Burket Collection.
A view of a T-1 locomotive at the East Altoona Enginehouse. Date unknown. Arlington J. Wolfe photograph. William Burket Collection. Nov-Dec 1980. Tanks at Rose Yard being shifted. By David Seidel
Nov-Dec 1980. Tanks at Rose Yard being shifted. By David Seidel
Regarding Rose Tower, Bill Volkmer recalled:
The attached photo shows an A&LVERY trolley crossing "Red Bridge" in Juniata during the PRR steam era. Also pictured is the "old" Rose Tower prior to being demolished in a fire. Photographer unknown. Date unknown. Collection of David Seidel.
"This is far different appearance than the way I remember Rose Tower in 1958 when I worked in Altoona. The roof had been entirely rebuilt and did not have anything in the way of cupolas, dormers or whatever you call the stuff on the roof. Also the tower portion had been amputated.
The view looks southeasterly, and the two tracks in the foreground were the passenger main tracks, which brings up a funny story.
Take a look at the window in the lower left hand corner of the building. Note particularly how close to the track it is. I would say 15 feet would be a good guess as to how close to the CENTERLINE of the track that window was. Well, that happened to be the Trainmaster's Office. Not only was it the Trainmaster's Office, but the TM, Ralph Decker in those days, used to sit in his chair with the back tilted up against the windowsill and his head literally resting against the glass.
I will never forget the first day I visited Ralph in that office. He was sitting in the tilted position, when an eastbound passenger train (probably 50 the Admiral running a little late) roared past. When I say roared past, I mean ROARED past. Every window pain in the entire building shook and rattled. I personally was looking for a window to jump out of.
Ralph kind of grinned, never moved a muscle, and pointed over his shoulder, "Best damned maintained piece of track on the entire Pennsylvania Railroad! Gets inspected EVERY DAY by the Trainmaster himself!"
March 28, 1953: The Pennsylvania Railroad's ROSE TOWER was destroyed by fire. Seven employees on duty escaped the flames uninjured. Collection of David Seidel.
"ROSE" (at 8th Street Juniata) is currently used for: Helper layover and staging, crew change point, maintenance staff area, the site of relay tracks, as well as local yard work.
A westbound helper set passes "Rose" and a stopped Eastbound empty coal train. Both trains are on the old "passenger mains". Looking West from the 8th Street Juniata Bridge. 12/12/97 Looking West to the old "Westbound Departure Yard" from the 8th St Juniata Bridge. Date Unknown The old "Pittsburgh Cabin Tracks" are visible in this SW view Looking towards the Juniata Scales ("JS"). Date: Unknown Juniata Shop complex. Looking NW from the 8th St Juniata Bridge. Fall 1995 The Scales ("JS") and old "Pittsburgh Cabin Tracks" are visible in this SW view from the 8th St Juniata Bridge. Note the door on the trailer at left. 5/26/2000 The E&M shop complex. Looking NW across the old Eastbound Classification yard" from the 8th St Juniata Bridge. Fall 1995
The Eastbound Classification yards are currently used for storage. Over the years, they became overgrown with brush and small trees. However, Conrail, in 1997-8 cleared the area of them. Mostly hopper cars reside in the area. There is talk of using some of the land as a business incubator. Of course, the Juniata Shops are still in use. The turntable is located at 6th Street.
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Photographs are
by Chris Behe unless otherwise noted.
Title Photo of the Altoona Station at 12th Street is from an antique postcard.
