12/5/2025
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Viewing Album: PRR: The New Portage Branch ~ 1900-1999 (R)
By:
Thomas C. Ayers
Dates:
3/9/1946 - 1/31/1968
Album Info:
Here are several photos that were taken at various points along the Pennsylvania Railroad's New Portage Branch Line between 1962 and 1966. At the same time that the Pennsylvania Railroad was building the Horseshoe Curve, the State of Pennsylvania was constructing the New Portage Railroad to replace the weather-dependent inclined planes of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The New Portage Railroad was opened in 1855-1856, but the PRR never used it ~ routing all traffic over its own main line. The PRR bought the State-owned Pennsylvania Canal/Allegheny Portage Railroad system in 1857, and promptly abandoned both. In 1904, however, the PRR reactivated the New Portage right-of-way to provide a relief route for extra traffic both up and down the Allegheny Mountains. The New Portage Branch Line was abandoned for the second and final time in 1981. [Before "Blackout" ~> 19 Entries] * Repaired Album * (2 Still Missing)
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Title:
PRR 3700, HC-1S, c. 1925
Description:
New Portage. Here is an original photo by Bruce D. Fales. Shown here is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #3700, the HC-1S (2-8-8-0) "Articulated" built in Juniata during June of 1919 and retired in August of 1929 after just a decade of revenue service. It's serving as a tail end pusher on a westbound freight train heading up the Allegheny Mountains to Gallitzin, where it will be uncoupled and returned to Altoona for further assignment. The Flagman's name is not recorded. (#8,800)
Photo Date:
5/5/1925
Upload Date:
4/20/2022 10:34:01 PM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Steam
Locomotives:
PRR 3700(UNKNOWN)
Views:
1013
Comments:
1
Title:
PRR 3700, HC-1S, c. 1925
Description:
New Portage. Here is an original photo by Bruce D. Fales. Shown here (R to L) is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #3700 and another locomotive whose road number is not recorded. #3700 is the HC-1S (2-8-8-0) "Articulated" built in Juniata during June of 1919 and retired in August of 1929 after just a decade of revenue service. In this context, these locomotives have recently completed westbound helper assignments to Gallitzin and are now heading down the Allegheny Mountains to Altoona for their next jobs.
Photo Date:
5/5/1925
Upload Date:
8/24/2025 11:09:29 PM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Steam
Locomotives:
PRR 3700(UNKNOWN)
Views:
329
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 3481, I-1Sa, 1947
Description:
New Portage. Here is an original photo by Bruce D. Fales that was taken near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, in June of 1947. Shown here is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #3481, an I-1SA (2-10-0) "Decapod" built in Juniata as an I-1S during January of 1919, rebuilt as an I-1SA in October of 1941, and retired in January of 1952 after 33 years of faithful service. In this context, it's just passed through the New Portage Tunnel with a mixed-cargo freight train and is about to enter "The Slide" on its way down the Allegheny Mountains to Altoona. The girder bridge spans the westbound leg of the New Portage Branch line. The name of the person at the right is not recorded.
Photo Date:
6/21/1947
Upload Date:
4/23/2022 11:05:09 PM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Bridge,Steam
Locomotives:
PRR 3481(2-10-0)
Views:
884
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 6173, J-1, 1947
Description:
New Portage. Here is an original photo by Bruce D. Fales that was taken near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, in June of 1947. Shown here is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #6173, a J-1 (2-10-4) "Texas" built in Juniata during October of 1944 and retired in October of 1957 after just 13 years of revenue service. In this context, this westbound train is about to pass under "The Slide" and enter one of the Gallitzin Tunnels after a successful climb up the Allegheny Mountains via the New Portage Branch line. Note the middle part of the train rounding the curve at the left, just above the J-1's tender. Wave to the Fireman!
Photo Date:
6/21/1947
Upload Date:
4/20/2022 10:32:40 PM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Steam
Locomotives:
PRR 6173(2-10-4)
Views:
864
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR "Hippo Pushers," 1947
Description:
New Portage. Here is an original photo by Bruce D. Fales that was taken near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, in June of 1947. Shown here is a pair of unidentified Pennsylvania Railroad Class I-1SA (2-10-0) "Decapods" serving as "pushers" on a westbound train that's already part way through one of the Gallitzin Tunnels after a successful climb up the Allegheny Mountains via the New Portage Branch line. The "pushers" will uncouple on the other side of the Tunnel and return to Altoona for their next runs.
Photo Date:
6/22/1947
Upload Date:
1/20/2022 6:10:53 PM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
RollingStock,Steam
Locomotives:
Views:
715
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 5899, EP-22, 1962
Description:
New Portage. Here is an original photo that I took at the Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch Line near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 8 April 1962. Shown here is the "Railfan Special to the Horseshoe Curve" ~ sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society ~ as it rounds the heart of the Muleshoe Curve. In the lead is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #5899, an EP-22 built by GM-EMD in March of 1951 and rated at 2,250 horsepower.
Photo Date:
4/8/1962
Upload Date:
9/28/2017 4:21:07 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Passenger
Locomotives:
PRR 5899(E8A)
Views:
1439
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR "Gallitzin Tunnels," #1 of 3, 1965
Description:
New Portage. Here is the first of three photos by John M. Prophet III that were taken near the tunnels under Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 11 June 1965. It was published originally in his (2009) book entitled "Prophet's Pennsy," page 57. Photo Caption: "EP22 #5708 and two others on a westbound [mail and express] train at 'SF,' approaches the summit of the grade, just east of Gallitzin, Pa., June 11, 1965." Shown here (L to R) are PRR engines #5708 and two more units whose road numbers are not recorded. All are EP-22's built by GM-EMD and rated at 2,250 horsepower each. #5708 was built in September of 1952. Visible in the foreground is the westbound connecting track from the New Portage Branch; it passes under the two eastbound tracks ~ often called "The Slide" ~ which pass through the New Portage Tunnel.
Photo Date:
6/11/1965
Upload Date:
11/14/2021 7:27:28 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Signal
Locomotives:
PRR 5708(E8A)
Views:
911
Comments:
1
Title:
PRR "Gallitzin Tunnels," #2 of 3, 1965
Description:
New Portage. Here is the second of three photos by John M. Prophet III that were taken near the tunnels under Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 11 June 1965. It was published originally in his (2009) book entitled "Prophet's Pennsy," page 47. Partial Caption: "AF27 #6309 'helper' on the rear of Train #9, mail and express, at 'SF,' just east of the tunnels at Gallitzin, Pa., June 11, 1965." #6309 is an AF-27 built by the American Locomotive Company in April of 1965 and rated at 2,700 horsepower. Immediately in front of it (R to L) are two of the "Railway Express" cabin cars: N-5 #5025 and N-5C #5033. In the foreground is PRR 70-ton hopper car #275226 carrying iron ore.
Photo Date:
6/11/1965
Upload Date:
11/13/2021 8:14:47 PM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
RollingStock,Tunnel,Signal
Locomotives:
PRR 6309(C628)
Views:
1064
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR "Gallitzin Tunnels," #3 of 3, 1965
Description:
New Portage. Here is the third of three photos by John M. Prophet III that were taken near the tunnels under Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 11 June 1965. It was published originally in his (2009) book entitled "Prophet's Pennsy," page 47. Partial Caption: "AF27 #6300 'helper' on the rear of ore train, at 'SF,' just east of the tunnels at Gallitzin, Pa., June 11, 1965." Pennsylvania Railroad engines #6300 and #6307 are AF-27's built by the American Locomotive Company in March of 1965 and rated at 2,700 horsepower each. Immediately in front of them is PRR N-8 cabin car #478175. Also note the position-light signal at the right for controlling eastbound trains headed toward New Portage Junction in Duncansville.
Photo Date:
6/11/1965
Upload Date:
4/12/2025 6:58:35 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Signal
Locomotives:
PRR 6300(C628)
PRR 6307(C628)
Views:
610
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 6111, EF-36, 1966
Description:
New Portage. Here is a photo by Robert Hatch that was taken near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 21 October 1966. It was published originally in David R. Sweetland's (2000) book entitled "Pennsylvania Railroad Color Pictorial: Volume Two," page 40. Partial Caption: "On the east side of Tunnel Hill, EF-36 #6111 plus a GF-25a and EF-30a pushed an ore train off the New Portage Branch through the Allegheny Tunnel on October 21, 1966." Shown here (R to L) is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #6111 and two more units whose road numbers are not recorded. #6111 is an EF-36 built by GM-EMD in October of 1966 and rated at 3,600 horsepower. In this context, they're serving as tail end pushers for an iron ore train that's passing through the Tunnel on its way to the steel mills of Western Pennsylvania. On the other side of the Tunnel, the three pushers will be uncoupled and returned to East Altoona for further assignment. Note that both Tunnel Blower assemblies are still intact.
Photo Date:
10/21/1966
Upload Date:
12/1/2025 6:31:02 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Signal
Locomotives:
PRR 6111(SD45)
Views:
18
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 4230, EP-20, 1966
Description:
New Portage. Here is a duplicate 35mm color slide of a photo by Robert Hatch that was taken near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 21 October 1966. Shown here (R to L) is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #4230 and three more units whose road numbers are not recorded. All were built by GM-EMD. #4230 is an EP-20 built in April of 1949 as number "5870," rated at 2,000 horsepower, and renumbered "4230" in preparation for the PRR-NYC merger. This A-B-B-A set has just emerged from the New Portage Tunnel with an eastbound passenger train, and is now on its way down the Allegheny Mountains to Altoona and points East. Note that the girder bridge the train is crossing passes over the westbound New Portage Branch line just before the latter merges with the mainline.
Photo Date:
10/21/1966
Upload Date:
7/7/2018 9:58:26 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Bridge,Passenger
Locomotives:
PRR 4230(E7A)
Views:
783
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 6131, EF-36, c. 1967
Description:
New Portage. Here is a duplicate 35mm color slide of a photo by Allan H. Roberts that was taken in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 27 July 1967. Shown here (L to R) are Pennsylvania Railroad engines #6131 and #6507. #6131 is an EF-36 built by GM-EMD in November of 1966 and rated at 3,600 horsepower. #6507 is a GF-25A built by General Electric in April of 1965 and rated at 2,500 horsepower. They're pulling a freight train through the Gallitzin Tunnel to Conway and points West.
Photo Date:
7/27/1967
Upload Date:
9/21/2024 6:49:48 PM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
PRR 6131(SD45)
PRR 6507(U25C)
Views:
641
Comments:
1
Title:
PRR 4248, EP-22, c. 1967
Description:
New Portage. Here is a duplicate 35mm color slide via Al Chione that was taken near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, c. 1967. The photographer is not identified. Shown here (L to R) is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #4248 and two more units whose road numbers are not recorded. All were built by GM-EMD. #4248 was built as number "5788" in May of 1952, rated at 2,250 horsepower, and renumbered "4248" in preparation for the PRR-NYC merger. In this context, this A-B-A set is about to pass through one of the tunnels under Gallitzin on its way from Altoona to Johnstown and points West. Wave to the Fireman!
Photo Date:
11/14/1967
Upload Date:
11/10/2025 7:54:58 PM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Passenger
Locomotives:
PRR 4248(E8A)
Views:
54
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR New Portage Line Overpass, c. 1967
Description:
New Portage. Here is an image of a photo by Samuel Walker that was taken near the tunnels under Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, c. 1967. Shown here are four unidentified Pennsylvania Railroad diesel-electric locomotives pulling an eastbound train over the westbound leg of the New Portage Branch line at "SF" interlocking.
Photo Date:
11/14/1967
Upload Date:
8/20/2024 8:06:41 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,Bridge
Locomotives:
Views:
405
Comments:
0
Title:
CR Gallitzin Tunnels, 1978
Description:
New Portage. Here is an original 35mm color slide (converted to B&W) by A.J. Reinschmidt that was taken at the tunnels under Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, on 28 April 1978. This is a Fireman's side view from a moving Conrail GM-EMD GP40-2 diesel-electric locomotive about to pass under a signal bridge and through the Allegheny Tunnel on its way West to the Conway Yards. Note that the Gallitzin Tunnel no longer has smoke-blower machines.
Photo Date:
4/28/1978
Upload Date:
7/20/2022 8:01:50 AM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel,InCab,Signal
Locomotives:
Views:
657
Comments:
0
Title:
CR Allegheny Tunnel, Builder's Plate, 1985
Description:
New Portage. Here is an original 35mm color slide by John S. Murray that was taken in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, in May of 1985. Shown here is the builder's plate for the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Allegheny Mountain Tunnel." Line 3: "July 1902-May 1904 ~ Length 3605 Feet." Lines 4 & 5: "Wm. H. Brown, Chief Engineer. Wm. A. Pratt, Ass't. Chief Engineer." Lines 6 & 7: "C.S. d'Invilliers, Eng'r of Construction. P.F. Brendlinger, Contractor."
Photo Date:
5/5/1985
Upload Date:
6/14/2024 3:58:22 PM
Location:
Gallitzin, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Tunnel
Locomotives:
Views:
462
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR New Portage Railroad Right-of-Way, c. 1903
Description:
New Portage. Here is a portion of an unidentified map that depicts a small part of western Blair County, Pennsylvania. Shown here is the upper part of the New Portage Railroad's right-of-way. At the bottom is the Muleshoe Curve and at the top is the New Portage Tunnel near Gallitzin. The New Portage Line was constructed to replace the Allegheny Portage Railroad with its ten inclined planes, but was paid for by Pennsylvania taxpayers. Construction of the Line began in 1852 and was completed in 1855. It was then purchased by the privately-owned Pennsylvania Railroad in 1857 and promptly abandoned. It was later rebuilt and double-tracked by the PRR in 1903. The second or eastbound track was torn up by the PRR in 1955, while the remaining track was torn up by Conrail and the line abandoned once again during 1981.
Photo Date:
8/15/1903
Upload Date:
1/23/2020 8:14:49 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
699
Comments:
0
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