Jeez, I hope not. I personally hate hearing a chopper in those videos, as opposed to the beautiful sounds of steam approaching. The whistle is about the only thing that can drown out a chopper.

Excerpted from this moment's version of http://www.railroadcity.com/news_altoona_railroaders_museum/article.php?id=43Does this mean that paying $20 still doesn't get you admitted to the top?

As I'm to understand it, "trackside" means "at the park up beside the tracks up where 7048 is on display"--meaning, yeah, "up there," not "in the parking lot." They're asking $10 to be down in the lot, but with the trees growing back up, unless they're busy trimming trees now, that's going to result in a LOT of angry folks.........

Regardless of personal opinions as to whether helicopter photography is appropriate or not, everyone should assume that there will be at least one helicopter in the air during an event like this. When I last participated in a serious aerial shoot, 614 Moodna Viaduct in 1996, there were three plus two fixed wing aircraft on one of the trips all in the same area at the same time.

Below is a two minute video of the 614 Moodna event which shows all three of the helicopters which showed up that day. The third one stands off a bit more than the others, but can be seen in the upper left portion of the frame just prior to the 1:30 mark. The chopper I was shooting from appears just after the 1:30 mark and yielded, amongst others, the following image:



Full Sized View: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=123104

The two minute video clip, produced by Mark I Video, may be seen on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJkwkOVpNuo

In as much as Horseshoe Curve has not seen steam for a lot longer than was the case in 1996 at Moodna, I believe the odds are high for one or more helicopters. Anyone planning on attending may find that nothing appears in the air, but were I a betting man, I'd say it's almost a sure thing, at least on August 20th.

Finally, if a helicopter does appear on either of the dates in question, it will not be yours truly this time around.

deleted

Grade? Hahahahaha.......

The options for "public viewing" are seriously limited. The "best bet" for 95% or more of the public is just to line the shores of the Susquehanna River at Rockville and watch 765 cross both ways. Pennsylvania hasn't been suffering as much drought as the nation's heartland, but the river is down somewhat; it's not impossible that a very ambitious photographer or videographer might be able to wade, or even rock-hop, a substantial distance from shore, perhaps even hundreds of feet, without need of a boat. (If you see a guy in a high-visibility vest out there, wave and say "hi"--that might be me, if everything goes right.)

The only overpasses are Linglestown Road/Rt. 39 (bound to be horribly overcrowded if police look the other way about people lining it), the two Interstate 81 overpasses (don't even THINK about them--far too dangerous for anything more than a quick dash-and-grab spot, if that), the famous "Iron Bridge" River Road overpass at the north end of Enola (I wonder if anyone has staked out the "camera ports"--no, seriously, it has them--in the side fencing yet...), and the Maclay Street (high concrete walls--bring a stepladder) and State Street Bridges in Harrisburg (the latter bound to be overcrowded).

Most of the apparent route of the weekend's trains passes through various former PRR and current NS yards--Enola, Lucknow (major intermodal yard/terminal, just off I-81), and former Harrisburg yards on what used to be the "seedy" part of town. Honestly, there just ain't NO WAY to get a good spot trackside on MOST of the run. "Secret" locations I might have chanced for a weekday office car special or circus train movement I wouldn't dare suggest with the heavy scrutiny the right-of-way will get for a "public" spectacle like this.

Harrisburg, unlike Altoona, also has major TV network affiliates for all three/four major networks; count on news choppers if the weather's favorable.

One last "Hail Mary" possibility: The top of the mountain on the east end of Rockville Bridge, high above U.S. 22/322. There's a convoluted way to get way up there; I've never done it, and you're NOT going to be the only one with that hare-brained idea. Nice view when the light's right.

If there's enough interest and response, however, I'm threatening to convene a RyPN gathering at one of two "watering holes" in the area on Friday and/or Saturday night. Let me make that a separate thread......

I stopped by the Curve last Saturday with my wife and 3yr old son while in Altoona for a family gathering. I was really surprised how much the tree growth has restricted the view since my last visit in 2008. Basically, the only area visible is between Kittanning Run and Glen White Run (directly in front of the fenced portion of the viewing area). All other areas are either partly or completely obstructed by trees. No shots were possible toward the signal bridge and to the west wasn't much better. From the parking lot, you could barely see the top of the engines. Although it would be an awesome show to see from a nostalgic and sound standpoint, IMHO, it would be tough to get "a good shot"......unless a MAJOR tree trimming party is planned or in process.

Also checked out the view from the 4-lane up to Gallitzin (overlooking Sugar Run) and that view is almost fully obscured as well. My personal choice would be to head for the Gallitzin tunnels and secure a spot near the "cabin" (caboose) at Tunnel Park or the Route 22 crossing south of Cresson.

As for me, I'm planning to stake out a spot east of Pittsburgh to take in the show. If anyone has recommendations for good locations, I'd appreciate it! Thanks

Can any One from the area suggest a chase route from Enola to at least Cresson for the westbound move. I looked on map quest but not knowing the roads wasn't sure which would be the best route of travel.


thanks

Joe

Chasing westbound? I don't think so. You and a hundred other folks might try to chase on Route 11/15 from Marysville to Duncannon, but that's about it. The railroad is on the opposite side of the Juniata River from Route 22/322 beyond there, and local roads, some of which do parallel parts of the Middle Division, do not lend themselves to high-speed foolishness. Even if the 40 mph speed limit for steam locomotives is observed, there are few opportunities to run ahead to set up a photo. Your only chance of keeping up with the train is if it is held at a signal.

What Brother Laepple said.

One time in the late 1980s, I chased the RBBB Circus Train all day from Reading to Johnstown. I got shots that day that appeared in several publications, BUT I only managed to get her at Hershey, Rockville Bridge (fuel/crew stop), a grab shot only at Millerstown, Lewistown, and lots of fun paralleling the train neck-and-neck on "Pacers' Paradise" east of Huntingdon. I then cut straight from there to Horse Shoe Curve, knowing the train had to stop for animal water at Altoona, and 22/322 cuts across the bend to Tyrone. I waited about two hours at the Curve for her (hiding from the Conrail police in the hills), got the "money shots," and took off west. I tried in vain to duplicate the time I won a $100 bet beating the Pennsylvanian from the Curve to Johnstown; the length of the train, combined with twisting Rt. 53, was my undoing; I gave up a few miles east of Johnstown. Now, granted, RBBX was running at 50+ MPH, and 765 is supposed to be held to 40, but.....

The ONLY thing I see that can be of assistance is the fact that "I-99" now exists from Tyrone to Duncansville allowing you a faster way to bypass Altoona to Gallitzin. But having chased NS excursions in SR and NS turf in Virginia, Ohio, and northwest Pa., and hailing from central Pa. myself, I am under NO pretensions that I can "chase" 765 in the same fashion as the excursions on SR territory. If you want quantity, you will most likely be jumping 25-40 miles between photo locations, unless you know the territory AND hear on the scanner (or follow their GPS tracker) just where they might be taking sidings. And given extremely heavy foliage along tracks in the Northeast these days, I'm not optimistic the quality will be there.

No, your better bet will be to stake out ONE do-or-die location and wait. And not be disappointed when the NS "mixed train" of 765, 8100, several coal hoppers, and passenger cars appears.....

Thanks for all the good tips!

Have the trip depart times been set for Sat/Sun Enola to Harrisburg trips?

One preliminary report I saw said 9 AM, noon, and 3 PM for Saturday, and 10 and 2 for Sunday.

Gallitzin reached eastbound by 765 and train at 2 PM on August 13th, and train stopped for the moment. At least one member of this forum besides the Ft. Wayne crew is on board the train.

Seen passing the webcam at The Station Inn, Cresson...

We have but ONE WEEK to get busy with the chainsaws when they're not looking.......

And here's how it looks from the train, shot by a lurker on this forum, looking pretty much straight at the middle of the Curve from an open Dutch door.

Chain saws? More likely, Agent Orange. Or salted earth.