I'm glad the E8's were back this year.

SATURDAY

On my way to Altoona Sunday morning I heard the Amtrak Special (the Railfest excursion train) clear several mile posts between Huntingdon and Tyrone. I was able to get infront of the train and shoot it a few miles before Tyrone.

After this I went directly to Altoona. The train arrived at the station at 10:02. Before heading to the station and boarding the train, I shot a freight passing the E8's while heading west.

Next I boarded the train. The trip went smoothly and took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Once back in Altoona, I took a few photos of the E's at the station. The power was soon uncoupled and run around the train.

I decided to chase the rest of the excursion runs. I caught the 12:50 run at Benny Curve, and the New portage tunnel once turning on the loop track. While walking back to the car, Amtrak 07T passed through. Once in the car, I high tailed it to the brickyard crossing just outside of Altoona. I decided to wait here for the 3:20 run. While at the brickyard crossing I shot a meet of an east-bound intermodal and a west-bound empty hopper train. A couple sets of helpers soon came down the mountain. Amtrak 04T was after them. Before the excursion left the station, another east-bound freight headed down the mountain. Before the 3:20 excursion left Altoona, a freight on track 2 cleared CP-Alto. I was getting worried that the freight would block the E8's. Luckely, the E8's speed their train up faster and were able to pass the freight. This caused a photo with the E8's in the foreground and the power of the freight in the background.

Our next stop was the loop track at Gallitzin. Specifically, CP-UN. I shot the train switching to the loop. Next I ran as fast as I could to CP-AR to shoot it here. I didn't quite make it in time. Not in as good of shape as I used to.

Next we decided to go to Cresson to see if there was anything interesting there. An RJ Corman GP was sitting on one of the tracks here.

SUNDAY

Today I tried to wake up early enough to catch the E8's at Cassandra on their way back from Pittsburgh. I was unsuccessfull, however I did catch a west-bound intermodal with head-end helpers.

Since it was after 10:30, I decided to go directly to CP-AR to catch the E8's. Before the excursion passed, an east-bound intermodal passed through. About minute after the freight, the two switches leading to the loop switched directions. After a good wait, 5711 popped its head around the corner.

I ran to the car and caught the train at about MP 240 next. I was lucky here because the train was switched to trtack 2 for some reason. If it would have stayed on track 1, I wouldn't have been able to get as good a shot.

I went back to the curve to check it out since some brush was cut. On the east side of the curve is a great view of the trains passing under the MP 241 signal bridge and heading into the curve. I caught several freights, helpers, an Amtrak, and the Amtrak special here. I decided to remain at the curve for the E8s' return. I got several good shots here.

I decided to head back to Altoona and take a closer look at the live steam. This stuff is amazing. I took a shot of the 4-6-0 and the K4. While the E8's were running around the train, a unit freight train of what I think were wood chip hoppers passed through east-bound. Amtrak 06T arrived before the E8's coupled to the train again.

Next I went to Gallitzin to get a shot of the E's comming out the the tunnel. The light wasn't very good at this time and place.

My next spot was CP-MG. Yes, MG tower is still there. Thanks to a freight train, I had plenty of time to catch the train. The Amtrak special had to wait at CP-AR for the freight to clear. Before making it back to my car, a west-bound freight passed through. The light was perfect for this shot.

Once reaching the paved road, I went directly to I-99 to try to get the E8's one last time at the east end of the Spruce Creek Tunnel. The train didn't leave Altoona until I was just outside of Tyrone. I thought I would have plenty of time to reach the tunnel. As always, I got behind slow people. This set me back. I parked the car and started walking back the path. Before reaching the tracks, I started to hear a low rumble. I was hoping it was a freight, but the scanner said "Amtrak Special, clear CP-Tunnel,track 1 east, out." I was extremely disappointed. So there they went through the trees.

Over all, I had a great time at Railfest. I hope next year the Juniata shops are open to at least tour a few locomotives. And wouldn't a full PRR passenger train be great behind the E8's and especially the K4. Does anyone know if there are enough available restored PRR passenger cars around? I know the ARM has a few, but they are in need of a lot of work.

altoona_east@railfanusa.com

Over all, a very good report. How was the attendance? Were the engine shops open as they were in the past? The museum people were banking on Rail Fest to pull them through some trouble, if I remember correctly. Did it's success match their expectations?

http://www.nps.gov/stea/
mustang746@earthlink.net

> Over all, a very good report. How was the
> attendance? Were the engine shops open as
> they were in the past? The museum people
> were banking on Rail Fest to pull them
> through some trouble, if I remember
> correctly. Did it's success match their
> expectations?

Attendance seems to be pretty good. I know I had trouble finding a seet on the train. I never had that problem in years past. The Juniata Shop was not open unfortunately. I don't know if it was because NS didn't want to cooperate or because of the Chestnut St. road construction. I havn't heard any official attendance figures as of now.


altoona_east@railfanusa.com

I would very publically like to state that NS has and continues to cooperate with the Railfest program consistant with their resources and the Museum's resources.

This year NS's cooperation was again very evident in the operation of the special excursion train. Not only did they allow 5 run-arounds of the motive power between "Alto" and "Works" rather than the push-pull operation of years prior to 2001, but they also allowed the train to tie up for the night in Pittsburgh giving us the opportunity to run the E- units on the west slope and giving people in Pittsburgh an opportunity to see and ride behind the rngines. In going to Pittsburgh they allowed the train to run via the Port Perry Branch and the OC Bridge again giving those on the train an awesome view on the Golden Triangle at night. That route has become a very dense and key portion of their normal freight operation and is constricted by a single track bridge over the river on the Port Perry Line.

Their dispacthing was impecable as was their cooperation.

Yes, NS was a good corporate citizen and a very active participant.

People should also realize that from a perspective of raising money for the museum the trip to Pittsburgh was a very important increment of the weekend's activity. The shop tours consume a significant amount of weekend labor for NS and this year with all the termoil at the ARRMM there was a real problem in insuring sufficient volunters for any shop tours.

IN view of the fact that the museum need an opportunity to raiser some "serious" money to deal with "old" problems, NS's contribution in structuring the excursions was a vital and most significant contribution to the success of the weekend. Folks should also be aware that several radio stations and one TV outlet were sigificant boosters of the event. Hoss's Restaurant chain made a significant contribution in catering the dinner train portion of the trip and some of the business leaders of the town contributed by joining the excursion to Pittsburgh with members of their families.

Being somewhat close to the situation I can tell you that I was very disapointed that the Altoona Mirror (the local paper) did little or nothing to promote the weekend, and that local businesses such as the Waffle King across from the museum didn't even post a banner saying, "Welcome Railfans". When it comes to hospitality and civic awareness the City of Altoona needs a lot of help.

Yes; I can say without hesitation, that NS's efforts were key in keeping the show together, and the railfan community and the City of Altoona owe NS real big "thank you".

Due to the nature of politics it might be a long time coming.



v-scarpitti@worldnet.att.net

I'm glad to hear such fine reports on the weekend. One thing that irritates me is hearing someone say, "I don't need to ride that train; I've already done it before." I hope the Es never wear out their welcome on the Curve, in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, or anyplace else for that matter.

http://www.nps.gov/stea/
mustang746@earthlink.net