I wanted to let the viewers of this site know that we had a very brisk 1st day of ticket sales for the upcoming July 4th Lighting of the Horseshoe Curve. This is a ticketed event and the tickets are limited. This has been done to assure the safety and comfort of all of our guests. Tickets for the Track Level viewing area are $60 each. Tickets for the lower "ground" level area are $25 each. The road to the Horseshoe Curve will be closed and access will be by shuttle only. In one day of sales, 20% of the Track level tickets have already been sold. I suspect those tickets will sell out very quickly. If you are interested in getting tickets for this event, especially "track level" ones. I would suggest you contact the Railroaders Memorial Museum as soon as possible. Their phone # is (814) 946-0834 . Hope to see you all at this once in a lifetime event.

Dr. Andy J. Mulhollen
President
Railroaders Heritage Corporation
Railroaders Memorial Museum
Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark

http://railroadcity.com
prrdoc1@aol.com

During the 1954 event, the entire purpose of the event was to stage a once-in-a-lifetime photo, not sell tickets. As I've read, a special platform had to be built for the camera gear high up on the mountain. Although the photographic results were epic, I assume the actual illumination lasted a mere fraction of a second, and therefore the only beneficiaries, so to speak, of the event were the sheets of film and their owners.

My question is, what exactly is planned for the public for this time around? Obviously, we've heard of a fireworks show and NS trains posed on the three tracks. But what does the Average Joe get? It's not like the Triple Crossing night photo in Richmond, where 100 people could get a good lower angle and the "media" was given the better angle on a nearby rooftop. And it's not like I can buy my passage up the mountainside to get a photo from up high. Heck, I don't even know if the rumored tree-trimming to allow trackside Curve visitors better views has been started or finished yet!

Now, if the trains had new NS diesels and freight equipment, Amtrak showed up with its newest train, and Bennett Levin's PRR E8's were doubleheaded with 1361 on yet another train..........

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

The details of the lighting event are not being released at this time. Some of the finer details have not been worked out completely as of this date. Sylvania will be making at least one more site visit to finalize all the details.

I can tell you that this event will not be a "flash photo" type event. This event was not concieved as a "photo-op" for railfans. The event is a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Horseshoe Curve featuring a night time lighting of the Curve using 21st century lighting technology and a huge fireworks display. There will be food for sale and entertainment throughout the event at the lower level. The upper level will have a hospitality tent with refreshments and such for the Track level guests.

As far as what trains may be on the curve during the event, you will just have to stay tuned for more details as they are released.

My posting here was merely to make the viewers of this site aware of the fact that there has been has been a huge response by the general public to this event in just one day. If you wish to wait till further details are released to see if you think it will be worth the money, you may not be able to get a ticket to the upper level, or even the lower level if you wait long enough.

Again I hope to see you all there. We are looking forward to a spectacular once in a lifetime event. If you need any further info about this event or any of the other events taking place this summmer to celebrate the Anniversary of the Curve please contact the Railroaders Memorial Museum at (814) 946-0834.

Dr. Andy J. Mulhollen
President
Railroaders Heritage Corporation
Railroaders Memorial Museum
Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark

http://railroadcity.com
prrdoc1@aol.com

Am glad Alexander asked the question. Sounds like the usual over-hyped event to bring in the masses, who are happy with a fire-works show and nothing more. The photographers may get a shot of a train or two from the trackside location, but I suspect the best stuff will be a special viewing area on the hillside as they lightup the whole curve, which won't be viewable to the average Joe. Best images will likely be on an official video, or website later. Too bad, but now at least we know the deal.

> Am glad Alexander asked the question. Sounds
> like the usual over-hyped event to bring in
> the masses, who are happy with a fire-works
> show and nothing more.

I'm amazed at the willingness to throw such brickbats anonymously on the basis of so little evidence. Creativity and reaching out to a different audience with a different kind of event is rewarded with cynicism. At times like these I wonder why we bother.

eledbetter@rypn.org

Maybe they'll finally pull that PRR T-1 that they bricked up inside the Altoona shops to give the foamers their moneys worth. I'm with you, Erik, why bother?

mrwowak@yahoo.com

SApeaking of big steam, what's the latest on C&O 614 possibly going to Altoona? It was reported on this board several months ago that Ross Rowland was negotiating with ARRMM to bring 614 to Altoona--is this still a possibility?

> Maybe they'll finally pull that PRR T-1 that
> they bricked up inside the Altoona shops to
> give the foamers their moneys worth. I'm
> with you, Erik, why bother?

I don't know the whole story, but events like these shows that NS is willing to care and cooperate make me think better about the company. It shows that NS cares, even if a little bit. It even makes me feel better about the ongoing restoration of PRR 1361. Ok, its taking long then it was supposed to, but its going to be on par with restorations of CPR 2816, etc. How many average Joes were there to capture the original event in 1954? Not many I bet. If the Railroaders Heritage Corporation could sell out EVERY spot to a family with a Thomas loving 5 year old or just a family to have a good time and not one single railfan it wouldn't bug me a bit. I have never been to the Altoona Museum or to Horseshoe curve, and can hardly wait for the day when I do.

Kudos to NS and the RHC.

Joshua

joshua@joshuakblay.com

If only NS would bring the 611 back to life again. She was such a beautiful sight. But we all know the chances of that happening are slim to none. I guess the real problem is that all the real railroaders are dead and now NS is run by lawyers and accountants who don't really care about history or good p.r. that a steam locomotive produces. Maybe one day they will see the light.

I don't know the whole story, but events
> like these shows that NS is willing to care
> and cooperate make me think better about the
> company. It shows that NS cares, even if a
> little bit. It even makes me feel better
> about the ongoing restoration of PRR 1361.
> Ok, its taking long then it was supposed to,
> but its going to be on par with restorations
> of CPR 2816, etc. How many average Joes were
> there to capture the original event in 1954?
> Not many I bet. If the Railroaders Heritage
> Corporation could sell out EVERY spot to a
> family with a Thomas loving 5 year old or
> just a family to have a good time and not
> one single railfan it wouldn't bug me a bit.
> I have never been to the Altoona Museum or
> to Horseshoe curve, and can hardly wait for
> the day when I do.

> Kudos to NS and the RHC.

My 2 cents:

As a very proud employee, I was pleasantly surprised to find the press release in my e-mail inbox. It was a welcome relief to the usual "Pay more attention to 215's schedule into JAX" or corporate virus alerts and appointments bulletins. It demonstrates that our up and coming management has some civic-mindedness in their style and I was pleased to see that a fellow railroad preservation group was benefiting financially from the good will of our company yet again. Remember, we are in business to make money, which we do by moving goods (and passengers through Amtrak - and perhaps ourselves if the Atlanta commuter project comes to fruition) and are not here to serve the interest of the FRN's. As much as I love the industry I work in, it never ceases to amaze me at how selfish and, frankly, weird the foamers truly are. GET A LIFE! The Altoona group finally happens on an opportunity for some good fortune by sharing history with the general public, who, by the way, pays the bills that keep museums of all types operating, and the typical self-serving criticism is leveled at their success. Shame on you!

Michael Brown
Dispatcher (previously yardmaster and conductor)
Georgia Division

Engineer, TVRM

newriver400@cs.com

In response to what "611 fan" said and to add to Mr. Brown's comments, it seems to me that while real railroaders no longer run NS that was not the real problem. I think that it was, and is, the result of the immense liability created by foamers tresspassing on railroad property and by doing so creating a HUGE concern. Because as we all now if Mr. Smith were to get run over by a passing excursion train because he just had to get that shot that "required" him to stand on or to close to the track the railroad would get sued and loose. Or, going into a yard to try and catch a glimpse, but having to cross sevral live tracks to do so. Or, climbing a signal tower to get a birds eye view of the passing train, just to name a few. As we all know, with the passing of time peoples IQ's drop daily and our courts reward acts of stupidity.
Who can blame the railroads for not creating situations to loose money through lawsuits?



jasonsobczynski@yahoo.com

I guess the real problem
> is that all the real railroaders are dead
> and now NS is run by lawyers and accountants
> who don't really care about history or good
> p.r. that a steam locomotive produces.

And characterizing the charater and the motivations of a Class 1 railroad's managment in this manner helps our movement how?

In my opnion, the proper response to NS is "thanks for the 30 years of steam, and we look forward to working with you in a friendly and productive way on other issues of mutual interest in the future."

eledbetter@rypn.org

Back in 1954, Sylvania was making the #3 photoflash lamp (medium screw base). O. Winston Link would have used these lamps or the smaller #2 which had "M" synchronisation (#3 had "S" synch) in his N&W work. I believe Sylvania used an armada of #3's to stage the 1954 shoot.

I see they plan to use modern lighting for the 2004 event. That makes sense.



Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Jason,

You've hit a big part of the reason squarely on the head. Reportedly, during one Office Car movement involving 611, some of NS's senior executives gazed out the windows of their business car and out at the railfan activity trackside. After watching some of the antics, one of the senior executives openly questioned as to why they were opening themselves up to so much potential liability. Due to the then growing problem with "attractive nuisance" lawsuits, their observations were the beginning of the end for NS steam...

Fiv4HghStk@aol.com