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Viewing Album: PRR: "Flaming Foliage Special" ~ 13 OCT 1963 (R)
By:
Thomas C. Ayers
Dates:
10/13/1963 - 10/13/1963
Album Info:
Here are 21 original photos that I took of the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" on 13 October 1963. This "Special" originated at the PRR's Altoona Passenger Station, followed the Hollidaysburg Branch line to the Wye Switches in Duncansville, and then took the New Portage Branch line up the Allegheny Mountains. After rounding the Muleshoe Curve, it merged with the mainline, passed through the Allegheny Tunnel, navigated the wye at Gallitzin, passed through the New Portage Tunnel, took the Horseshoe Curve route down the Mountains to Altoona, and ended at the Altoona Passenger Station. These photos give some sense of Nature's beauty that we experienced during our memorable autumn sojourn. * Repaired Abbum *
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Title:
PRR 8606, APS-24MS, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original (out-of-focus) photo that I took of the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here (L to R) are PRR engines #8606, #8610, and #8608. All are APS-24MS's built by the American Locomotive Company and rated at 2,400 horsepower each. #8606 and #8608 were built in December of 1955, but #8610 was built one month later. They're pulling the empty 12-car "Special" into the Altoona Passenger Station for boarding, after arriving from Pittsburgh where the train was made-up. (#1 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 2:17:23 AM
Location:
Altoona, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Station,Passenger
Locomotives:
PRR 8606(RSD7)
PRR 8610(RSD7)
PRR 8608(RSD7)
Views:
1280
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 8608, APS-24MS, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original (out-of-focus) photo that I took of the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here (L to R) are PRR engines #8606, #8610, and #8608. All are APS-24MS's built by the American Locomotive Company and rated at 2,400 horsepower each. #8606 and #8608 were built in December of 1955, but #8610 was built one month later. They're being uncoupled from one end of the empty 12-car "Special," will run-around to the other end, and then be recoupled to pull the loaded train. Visible in the bright red jacket is my friend Mr. Samuel Walker of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. (#2 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 2:39:52 AM
Location:
Altoona, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Station,Passenger
Locomotives:
PRR 8606(RSD7)
PRR 8610(RSD7)
PRR 8608(RSD7)
Views:
1522
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR WYE Tower, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here (L to R) are the PRR's WYE Tower, the eastern leg of the "Wye Switches" leading to Hollidaysburg, and a string of cars on US Route 22 waiting for the "Special" to clear the western leg of the "Wye." (#3 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 2:41:44 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
486
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR New Portage Branch, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" west of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here is a stretch of track below the Muleshoe Curve. Note the open baggage car two cars ahead of mine. Several intrepid souls stood in the open doorways for the entire trip! (#4 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
8/29/2025 11:38:46 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
42
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR New Portage Branch, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" west of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here is a stretch of track below the Muleshoe Curve. The seeming-space on the left is where the second or eastbound track of the New Portage Branch Line once existed. This was also the right-of-way for the New Portage Railroad that was built by the State of Pennsylvania in 1855, abandoned by the PRR in 1857, rebuilt by the PRR in 1904, and then abandoned forever by the Penn Central in 1981. (#5 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 2:45:58 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
413
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR New Portage Branch, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" around the Muleshoe Curve west of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. (#6 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
8/29/2025 11:39:08 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
45
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR New Portage Branch, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" west of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here is a stretch of track above the Muleshoe Curve. (#7 of 21)
Photo Date:
9/4/2016
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 2:50:32 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
350
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Bennington Curve, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" just east of Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here across Sugar Run are the PRR's mainline tracks at Bennington Curve, site of the wreck of the "Red Arrow" on 18 February 1947. (#8 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 2:52:11 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
407
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Allegheny Tunnel, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an origiial photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. In this photo, the "Special" is leaving the New Portage Branch line, entering the mainline, and going into the East-facing entrance of the Allegheny Tunnel. (#9 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 3:21:07 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Signal,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
382
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Gallitzin Tunnel, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here is the East-facing entrance to the northern or Gallitzin Tunnel with its massive ventilation blowers. (#10 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 3:24:13 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Signal,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
444
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Gallitzin Tunnel Portals, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" through Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here are the West-facing Tunnel entrances (Gallitzin on the left, Allegheny on the right) situated below the town of Gallitzin. Also visible are several PRR Maintenance-of-Way cars parked near the entrances, across the tracks from where the Gallitzin Passenger Station once stood. (#11 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 3:26:10 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Bridge,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
411
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Gallitzin Wye, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" west of Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here (L to R) are AR Tower, our three ALCo locomotives pulling the "Special" around the Gallitzin Wye, and the foundation of what was once a locomotive refueling and sanding facility. Once upon a time, a petroleum tank farm was also located here. (#12 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 3:27:42 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Passenger
Locomotives:
PRR 8608(RSD7)
PRR 8610(RSD7)
PRR 8606(RSD7)
Views:
426
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR AR Tower, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" west of Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1965. Shown here is the PRR's AR Tower, located at the junction of the Gallitzin Wye and the east-west mainline. The pile of coal in the foreground implies that the Tower has a coal-fired furnace. Wave to the Tower Operator! (The train is moving from right to left, so this is a "moving-toward" shot.) (#13 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 3:29:24 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
421
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Gallitzin Tunnel Portals, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here are the East-facing Tunnel entrances (Gallitzin on the right, Allegheny on the left) with their massive ventilation blowers. At this point, the "Special" is actually crossing-over the New Portage Branch line (visible at lower right), the line that we used to surmount the Allegheny Mountains. (#14 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 3:54:41 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Signal,Passenger,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
461
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Bennington Curve, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" east of Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here are our three ALCo locomotives pulling the "Special" around the infamous Bennington Curve toward the Horseshoe Curve. (#15 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 3:56:35 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives:
PRR 8608(RSD7)
PRR 8610(RSD7)
PRR 8606(RSD7)
Views:
707
Comments:
1
Title:
PRR Horseshoe Curve, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" west of Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here is Kittanning Mountain which forms the backdrop for the Horseshoe Curve, as seen from the highest point on the Curve proper. Barely visible in the center are the K-4S (4-6-2) "Pacific" steam locomotive #1361 and the whitewashed rock horseshoe. (#16 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 4:18:33 AM
Location:
ALTOONA (HORSESHOE C, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
323
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Horseshoe Curve, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" west of Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here are our three ALCo locomotives pulling the "Special" around the Horseshoe Curve. Visible on the right is the K-4S (4-6-2) "Pacific" steam locomotive #1361, as well as some folks who have gathered to watch the "Special" navigate the Curve on its way down the Allegheny Mountains to Altoona. (#17 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 4:20:15 AM
Location:
ALTOONA (HORSESHOE C, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
328
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Test Plant, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took while riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here (R to L) are the PRR's Test Plant and X-Ray Laboratory, located adjacent to the 24th Street Bridge. (#18 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 4:37:00 AM
Location:
Altoona, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
677
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR Passenger Station, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took after riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here is the PRR's Altoona Passenger Station, along with some of the people who just detrained from the "Special." This structure was painted white shortly after this photo was taken. (Ever wonder what the third-floor door was used for?) (#19 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 4:38:46 AM
Location:
Altoona, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Station,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
460
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 1055, P-70, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took after riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here are some of the passenger cars that were in the "Special," among them PRR P-70 #1055. Note that the steam heat was on, even though some folks had their windows up! Partially visible in the distance (L to R) are the wrought-iron 12th Street Footbridge and one of the PRR's 12th Street Car Shops. (#20 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 4:39:55 AM
Location:
Altoona, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
RollingStock,Bridge,Station,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
660
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 990, P-70, 1963
Description:
Special. Here is an original photo that I took after riding the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Flaming Foliage Special" in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1963. Shown here is the passenger coach that I rode in: PRR P-70 #990. Note that some of the windows are open . . . wonderful for railfans! Partially visible in the background are some of the PRR's 12th Street Car Shops. After all passengers were off the train, the three ALCo locomotives uncoupled from the train, ran-around to the other end, recoupled to the train and made the return journey ~ around the Horseshoe Curve for the third time ~ to Pittsburgh. (#21 of 21)
Photo Date:
10/13/1963
Upload Date:
9/4/2016 4:41:44 AM
Location:
Altoona, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
RollingStock,Station,Passenger
Locomotives:
Views:
1487
Comments:
0
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