Near Altoona in Cambria County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Horseshoe Curve

National Historic Engineering Landmark

By William Fischer, Jr., July 6, 2009

1. Horseshoe Curve NHCEL Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Designed and built under the direction [of] Pennsylvania Railroad chief engineer and, later, company president, J. Edgar Thomson. Horseshoe Curve opened February 15, 1854. It was 366 meters across and 1310 meters long with a 1.8 percent grade. Eliminating the Portage Railroad's 10 incline planes greatly encouraged east-west trade crossing the Allegheny Mountains.

Completed 1854 • Designated 2003

Erected 2004 by American Society of Civil Engineers.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks, and the Pennsylvania Railroad marker series.

Location. 40° 29.858′ N, 78° 29.068′ W. Marker is near Altoona, Pennsylvania, in Cambria County. Marker is on Veterans Memorial Highway / Burgoon Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ashville PA 16613, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Horseshoe Curve (a few steps from this marker); The GP9 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Trackside Buildings

By William Fischer, Jr., July 6, 2009

2. Horseshoe Curve NHCEL Marker

Steps and funicular to viewing area are seen in background

(about 400 feet away); Over the Hill (about 400 feet away); Watching The Curve (about 600 feet away); Blair County War Mothers Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); Blair County Memorial Highway (approx. 3.3 miles away); Endress War Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Altoona.

Also see . . .
1. World Famous Horseshoe Curve. (Submitted on February 11, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Horseshoe Curve at Wikipedia. (Submitted on February 11, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Categories. • Industry & Commerce • Landmarks • Man-Made Features • Railroads & Streetcars •

Norfolk Southern Freight Rounds Horseshoe Curve image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr., July 6, 2009

3. Norfolk Southern Freight Rounds Horseshoe Curve

Westbound

View East From Horseshoe Curve image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr., July 6, 2009

4. View East From Horseshoe Curve

Looking past reservoirs toward Altoona

Orthoimage of the Horseshoe Curve image. Click for full size.

By U.S. Geological Survey, March 1, 2006

5. Orthoimage of the Horseshoe Curve

Wikipedia description: “Trains headed counterclockwise around the curve are ascending. The visitor center and observation park are at the apex of the curve, and a reservoir is located in the valley spanned by it.”

The Horseshoe Curve, Pennsylvania. image. Click for full size.

By H.C. White Co. Stereograph Print, circa 1907

6. The Horseshoe Curve, Pennsylvania.

From the Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic view at the New York Public Library Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, via Wikipedia Commons.

Diesel on Display at Horseshoe Curve image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr., July 6, 2009

7. Diesel on Display at Horseshoe Curve

Replaced iconic PRR K-4 steam engine that had been on display for decades

Funicular Car at Horseshoe Curve image. Click for full size.

By Anton Schwarzmueller, October 14, 1996

8. Funicular Car at Horseshoe Curve

Riding the funicular up to trackside at Horseshoe Curve.

More. Search the internet for Horseshoe Curve.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2019. This page originally submitted on February 11, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 665 times since then and 7 times this year. This page was the Marker of the Week February 17, 2019. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 11, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5, 6. submitted on February 16, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 7. submitted on February 11, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 8. submitted on October 1, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.