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Back to the Railfan's Guide to the Altoona Area
The Flood of 1936
Impact on the Pennsylvania Railroad
(Photographer unknown)
Also see the History of the 1889 Johnstown Flood on Robert Schoenberg's Pennsy Page
Table of Contents
ALTOONA MIRROR HEADLINES, March 19, 1936
Tyrone Refugees Quartered in School
Johnstown Dam Believed to be Perfectly Safe
Relief Efforts Started in City
Vivid Picture of Johnstown Flood
Ghost City Left, Says Eyewitness
Many Harrisburg Families Fleeing
PRR Attempting to Move Traffic:
Company's Objective is to Get Foodstuffs and Provisions Moving Over Line Into Stricken AreasTrains to Pittsburgh
Shop Men at Johnstown
ALTOONA TRIBUNE HEADLINES, March 19, 1936
- 5,000 Refugees Flee Johnstown
- Big Dam Reported Safe
- Civic Groups Plan Relief
- Terrified Pittsburgh Faces Starvation
- City Will Have To Be Rebuilt (Johnstown) Mayor Says
- Three Drown in Huntingdon County
- Altoona Moves to Relief of Flood-Stricken Areas; Mayor Issues Proclamation
- Huge Property Loss in (Blair) County
- Canoe Creek Area Hard Hit
- Memory of '89 Flood Speeds Trek to Hills (Johnstown)
- Johnstown's Woes Told
High Water Stops PRR Trains
Rail Service is Resumed
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ALTOONA MIRROR HEADLINES, March 20, 1936
- Centralize Efforts to Extend Relief
- Pittsburgh Death Toll Now 43
- Vast Destruction Caused by Flood
- Disaster Fearful in Williamsport
- Sunbury Reports 12,000 Homeless
PRR to Resume Train Operation: Officials Hope to Bridge Barree Washout Tonight and Open Through Service Over Mainline
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Articles from the March 19, 1936 Altoona Mirror
PRR Attempting to Move Traffic:
Company's Objective is to Get Foodstuffs and Provisions Moving Over Line Into Stricken AreasThe Pennsylvania Railroad is waging a strenuous battle to get the main line between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg open to traffic. Its chief objective now is to get tracks open for the speed movement of foodstuffs and provisions into the stricken areas. Passengers are being moved from eastern and western terminals over detour routes of other railroad lines.
Altoona continues to be cut off from the outside world so far as rail transportation is concerned. Its only link is one track between here and Pittsburgh. The Middle division is hard hit from Tyrone east to Harrisburg, the high waters now raging east of Lewistown to Duncannon. Miles of track are under water. Just how soon a track can be opened to traffic is a conjecture.
The Middle division branches connecting Altoona with the surrounding area continue out of service, being damaged by landslides and washouts. On the Pittsburgh division an army of workers is making headway toward recovery from flood damage and hopes to soon have another track open to traffic. All the branches, Portage, South Fork and others over which much coal is moved are down from damage.
The flood waters that did inestimable damage to the Middle division from Tipton east to Huntingdon last night moved eastward. New damage is reported at Mill Creek, Mount Union, and in the vicinity at Lewistown, with the tracks covered by water at Mexico, Millerstown, Newport and Duncannon.
The bridges at Huntingdon, Mifflin, Port Royal and Mexico, all highway structures, have been swept away, according to reports received at the Middle division headquarters. The bridge at Millerstown is menaced by high waters and the bridge and other debris from points further upstream. Cottages are reported washed away at Mill Creek, Ryde and other points east to Lewistown.
High water, was reported at Harrisburg, four feet of water being around the station in the Capital city and the tracks flooded in all directions. Middletown, Steelton and other points east to Elizabethtown have been flooded by high water and considerable damage done to the railroad.
The company hired 200 husky young men yesterday at the Middle division office at Ninth avenue and Twelfth street. This number was doubled this morning. They are being utilized at points between Tipton and Spruce Creek, where the greatest damage was suffered from flood waters. A schuttle train was pressed into service this morning to feed the men.
The Middle division workers, under the direction of Division Engineer Sheffer and his force, worked feverishly all yesterday to repair the damage at Byers, near Tipton, and at Barree. They were compelled to relinquish the operations last night, but resumed the morning with greater efforts to get the line repaired.
Hundreds of cars of ballast and cinders are being utilized at a couple of points trestling must be resorted to to bridge washouts. Other maintenance-of-way men are working at all points on the division to get the rail bed repaired.
There have been many washouts along the line east of Huntingdon. At Ardenheim, Mill Creek and between Mapleton and Mount Union the tracks have been badly washed. At Ardenheim the telegraph and telephone lines were felled by the high flood waters. Similar damage has been reported all the way to the eastern end of the division, including the demolition of signal bridges.
A bad washout occurred in the vicinity of Longfellow, west of Lewistown. East of Lewistown, especially in the Narrows, the tracks have been submerged by the high waters of the Juniata. While the water rose over the tracks at Mexico, Thompsontown and Duncannon it is not thought that much damage has been done. Track No. 4, running along the river for some distance west of Duncannon, has been badly washed out.
Considerable damage has been done along the Hollidaysburg branch in the vicinity of Spring Meadow. The stone retaining wall has been washed out and the track damaged. At Hollidaysburg the railroad bridge was moved slightly. There are several washouts and a landslide on the Petersburg branch, blocking it to traffic. There are washouts on the Morrisons Cove branch at Martinsburg Junction and at Curry. BEDFORD BRANCH BAD
The Bedford branch suffered heavily from the storm and flood water. Bad washouts have occurred at Imler and Reynoldsdale and also in the vicinity of Fishertown. Train No. 6372 still remains marooned just north of Bedford, high waters and washouts preventing its return to Bedford. The engine and train crews have been removed as well as the passengers. Local freight trains continued marooned at Williamsburg and Roaring Spring.
The Clearfield branch has been badly damaged, according to reports made after a survey. There are numerous washouts between Philipsburg and Clearfield. The Bald Eagle valley branch continues to be closed to traffic because of the damage done to the line in the vicinity of Vail and further northward. The Bellefonte branch is out of service and considerable damage has been done at Snow Shoe and Beech Creek. Julian is all under water and other small towns have suffered considerable damage.
The Bellwood division is closed to traffic and reports are that considerable damage was done in the vicinity of Punxsutawney. Maintenance-of-way workers are engaged in efforts to get the line open for the movement of coal and other traffic.
Trains to Pittsburgh
The company is continuing the movement of passenger trains over the Pittsburgh division. Train No. 613 left here at 9:30 o'clock this morning with passengers for all points west of the city. This afternoon trains Nos. 25 and 511 will be operated, the former scheduled to leave at 3:25 and the 511 at 4:38 o'clock.
Two trains arrived from Pittsburgh this morning. Nos. 682 and 8. They carried passengers only for points along the division and to this city. This afternoon four other trains, Nos. 24, 612, 18 and 6, will be operated under similar conditions.
Passengers who came to Altoona on trains Nos. 74, 46, 18, and 6 on Tuesday night are still in Altoona. They are being housed and fed here at hotels at the expense of the company until they can continue on to their destination. There was a delegation of Greensburg people on the trains and they were returned to their homes yesterday.
Shop Men at Johnstown
A force of ten Altoona works shop men was sent to Johnstown yesterday afternoon to aid in repairing railroad damage done at the Conomaugh engine house and at Johnstown. They are scheduled to remain there until the damage has been repaired.
The men took with them cots and blankets and will be fed from a special commissary car. This morning it was reported that the company's men are making headway in the work and that a second track may soon be opened through the flooded city.
Articles from the March 19, 1936 Altoona Tribune
High Water Stops PRR Trains
Philadelphia, Mar 18 (AP)All traffic over one of America's greatest railroad routes between the east and west still was blocked tonight by high water on the eastern side of the Allegheny mountains.
After water receded from three places on the Pennsylvania railroad near Johnstown, the flood covered tracks at five other places - Huntingdon, Ardenheim, Mount Union, Mill Creek and Longfellow.
Some of the Pennsylvania's fastest trains were cancelled and others were sent over extensive detours.
Among the trains annulled were the Broadway Limited, Pennsylvania Limited and Manhattan Limited, New York to Chicago; American to St. Louis and Red Arrow to Detroit.
The counterpart trains eastbound were also cancelled.
Some trains are running by way of the New York Central from New York into Ohio and then west.
Passengers from Washington for Chicago are going over the Chesapeake and Ohio to Cincinnati.
Two night trains from New York and Pittsburgh were sent to Trenton, N.J., Stroudsburg and then over the Lackawanna railroad to Binghamton, N.Y. and then via the Erie railroad to Akron, O., and back to Pittsburg.
New York passengers for Pittsburgh will follow the same route in special trains, leaving New York shortly after midnight. Passengers from Pittsburgh for New York and Philadelphia follow the reverse route.
Train service between Columbia, Pa., and Perryville, Md., has been suspended; also train service between Harrisburg, Williamsport, Renovo in Pennsylvania and Buffalo. There are no trains between Sunbury and Wilkes-Barre.
The Pennsylvania received a report that 80 percent of the city of Williamsport was under water.
Rail Service is Resumed
Train service between Altoona and Pittsburgh was resumed yesterday afternoon after a 24 hour lapse.
The first train to reach here from the west since Tuesday afternoon arrived in the city at 12:08 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Another interruption in the service followed and the next train to reach here from the west came at 7:19 o'clock last night.
The second train in charge of Clarence Keifer, with C. P. Reynolds and A. R. Platt as brakemen, and G. R. Taylor and C. Reading as the engine crew, reported that water conditions around Johnstown were rapidly returning to normal.
Branch lines out of the city were completely closed. Railroad authorities said that they were unable to communicate with the crews in charge of the various branch trains. On the Bedford branch one train could not be located at all.
Several westbound trains left this city but since railroad communications were completely out of service it was impossible to learn if they reached their destination, Pittsburg.
About 45 passengers were sheltered in Pullman cars in the local passenger station last night and a similar number sought lodging at local hotels.
No trains were moving out of the city for the east. Railroad officials stated that because of the undetermined damage done to their tracks at various points on the Middle division it was impossible to determine when service would be resumed.
Articles from the March 20, 1936 Altoona Mirror
PRR to Resume Train Operation: Officials Hope to Bridge Barree Washout Tonight and Open Through Service Over Mainline
The Pennsylvania Railroad company will resume through traffic over its main line some time tonight or early tomorrow morning after the suspension of both passenger and freight movement over the Middle division since Tuesday afternoon. Bridging the bad washout at Barree and establishing one track will permit the resumption of travel and the movement of freight.
This morning a mail and passenger service was established between Altoona and Tyrone. A special train was made up here and moved out of the local station at 10:10 o'clock to carry a lot of accumulated mail destined for Bellwood and Tyrone. It will shuttle back and forth between the points. This morning it proceeded to Birmingham and brought back to the city a student of the Birmingham seminary for admittance to one of the city's hospitals.
The first passenger service since Tuesday from Harrisburg was established this morning. A special train of No. 623, an established Middle division local, made the run to Lewistown and during the day it will shuttle between the two cities carrying both passengers and mail. The passenger service between Pittsburgh and Altoona, as established on Wednesday, was continued today, several trains being operated in each direction.
The washout at Barree, one of the worst that ever occurred on the Middle division, bars the resumption of traffic over the Middle division. It must be bridged by trestle and a fill, a force of several hundred men being engaged on the work. The Middle division business car and a Pullman car have been stationed at that point for the use of the supervisory force while a commissary and shuttle train is being operated for the workers.
Good progress is being made to bridge the chasm, just east of the Spruce Creek tunnel. It is expected that one track will have bridged the washout some time tonight and permit the resumption of through passenger service over the main line. A second track will likely be established by tomorrow. With its opening the company will have two tracks open to service between Altoona and Harrisburg.
The augmented maintenance-of-way force is active all along the division and is making progress in the rehabilitation of the roadway. With two tracks open the trackmen can speed up the repairs to the other tracks, damaged at either side of the roadway by washouts. The waters have receded from the tracks at all points and a survey shows that the damage is not as bad as first believed.
The company this morning enlisted the service of A. L. Anderson & Bro., a local contracting firm, in the rehabilitation of the company's main line and branches. Its equipment, stationed at Sixth avenue and Thirty-sixth street, was moved east of the city where it will be utilized in procuring materials for fills wherever it is required. Hundreds of carloads of earth, stone and other material will be needed.
Work was started this morning to repair the damages done to the Bald Eagle branch, damaged at numerous points by washouts and slides. It will be speeded in order that passenger service and the movement of coal traffic can be started as soon as possible. Other maintenance-of-way men are working on the Hollidaysburg, Petersburg, Bellwood and Bedford branches repairing the washouts and getting the tracks in shape for traffic.
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Also See:
Greater Johnstown Area Information (by the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority)
(Articles submitted by David Seidel; Photographs are by Chris Behe unless otherwise noted.)
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