Altoona, PA area?

[ATSF666]

I'm going to be spending a day in the Altoona, PA area towards the end of April. I have Horseshoe Curve, Allegany and Gallitzin tunnels, Cresson Platform and the Cassandra Overlook on my list of possible places to photograph trains.

Anything I should add? Anything I should know including, best times of the day for Railpictures.net approved photos? Any crime issues in any of those areas?

[Speedshot photos]

Been there done it last 4 years in a row. No issues with safety in the areas you have listed. Those are all the areas worth hitting. Use the lightrac app on your phone for sun angle and direction. The app is less than $10 and worth it for any photographer. If you have a drone , visit the Altoona shops to get up in the air for shots around there. The Amtrak station is a good viewing location and decent backdrop for photos as well. I am from Michigan and its worth the trip , but NS paint scheme is the most boring of all locos out there to me. I am done with Altoona for a while.

[Grewup on the CW]

Originally Posted by Speedshot photos

0000 , but NS paint scheme is the most boring of all locos out there to me......

Never washing them doesn't help either, only adds to the drab look.

[ATSF666]

Speedshot, you have some very nice photos from the area. I have Photopills, but really haven't used it much.

Yes, I know the NS locomotives are less than exciting, but I'm from the Pacific Northwest, so something besides BNSF and dirty UP engines will be nice. Maybe I will get a NS Heritage engine leading! I will say as a westerner, I am excited to visit the area. My last visit to the east coast was a walk through the Pot Yard near Washington DC in 1973.

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by ATSF666

Speedshot, you have some very nice photos from the area. I have Photopills, but really haven't used it much.

Yes, I know the NS locomotives are less than exciting, but I'm from the Pacific Northwest, so something besides BNSF and dirty UP engines will be nice. Maybe I will get a NS Heritage engine leading! I will say as a westerner, I am excited to visit the area. My last visit to the east coast was a walk through the Pot Yard near Washington DC in 1973.

BNSF and dirty UP locos >>> NS locos any day of the week.

[Speedshot photos]

Originally Posted by ATSF666

Speedshot, you have some very nice photos from the area. I have Photopills, but really haven't used it much.

Yes, I know the NS locomotives are less than exciting, but I'm from the Pacific Northwest, so something besides BNSF and dirty UP engines will be nice. Maybe I will get a NS Heritage engine leading! I will say as a westerner, I am excited to visit the area. My last visit to the east coast was a walk through the Pot Yard near Washington DC in 1973.

Thank you! I Totally understand and I would highly suggest visiting the Altoona area for sure! Have fun on your trip. It is well worth a trip there

[Milepost 58]

Originally Posted by ATSF666

I'm going to be spending a day in the Altoona, PA area towards the end of April. I have Horseshoe Curve, Allegany and Gallitzin tunnels, Cresson Platform and the Cassandra Overlook on my list of possible places to photograph trains.

Anything I should add? Anything I should know including, best times of the day for Railpictures.net approved photos? Any crime issues in any of those areas?

I used to love the RT 53 overpass bridge between Cresson and Gallitzin, shooting down at the old PRR signals. All of those signals have been torn down now. I also used to like Summerhill, for the same reasons. The Rt. 53 bridge is a nice vantage point but there is not a lot of room for pedestrians. The locals seem to like to play a game of how close can they get to you when they pass. We also still refer to it as needle bridge because on one occasion it was littered with needles.

Carney's crossing and Lilly were also great shots, although I don't know how they look now. Also, there's an overhead foot bridge at the Amtrak station.

[ATSF666]

Thanks MP 58. Too bad about the signals. it looks like many of the photos in the database are of the now departed signals.

[EMTRailfan]

Originally Posted by ATSF666

I'm going to be spending a day in the Altoona, PA area towards the end of April. I have Horseshoe Curve, Allegany and Gallitzin tunnels, Cresson Platform and the Cassandra Overlook on my list of possible places to photograph trains.

Anything I should add? Anything I should know including, best times of the day for Railpictures.net approved photos? Any crime issues in any of those areas?

I'm not familiar with the "new" East Broad Top ops, but that and Rockhill Trolley Museum aren't too far from Altoona. EBT and Rockhill connect and share trackage on the one leg of the wye, so you'll have dual gauge photo ops.

[ATSF666]

Thanks EMT Railfan.

Unfortunately, I have had to scrub my trip to VA and PA this spring, but I hope to reschedule for this fall. Thanks to everyone for responding. Hopeful, I will make use of it in September/October.