hey everyone,
dwil-OC that's cool that you were able to meet up and enjoy the sites !
Well,here's my wrap-up:
Sat. Rutherford,NJ- As I approached the crossing by my home station to catch NJ Transit out to Newark, the gates went down,lights flashing, bells ringing. Had a feeling it might be a buddy of mine who usually works a local Sat. run. Sure enough he rumbled by with 2 GP-38-2's complete with exchanged waves and extra hornblasts ! Great start !
Newark,NJ- Boarded a soldout Pennsylvanian and settled in for the long journey.
Phila-Harrisburg-after a 40 min layover cellphone calls to loved ones and 2 quick smokes we headed out to Harrisburg. What was this ? A huge intermodal yard & NS fueling station??? ...Wow, what a surprise ! As we crossed the bridge over the Susquehanna, I caught my first sight of a mixed freight awaiting green and for us to pass. Freights continued to whizz by ever so often afterwards....that was it. I was in train country !
Altoona-Too dark to make out Juniata shops but I kinda"felt" where it was as we slowed down.
We arrived in Altoona late, who cared? I was finally here !
Caught a cab out to the Super 8, had a "real " philly cheesesteak (which I was craving) and called it a night.
Sun. -hopped a cab out to the Curve. Got there a few mins. before opening. but was that ....??? Yes it was, a sprinking of snow and ice all around ! I climbed the stairs to the top, was the first one there, luckily bought a 36 pack of AA batteries for the trip and started snapping away. I took it all in......finally I was here !
It was absolutely beautiful and so serene. And then...there it was....an eastbound coming around the curve. If heaven is like the time I had at the Curve, I hope God lets me in ! lol
After about almost 5 hours of SD40's (caught a UP in there too) horn blasts, squealing wheels and trucks, meeting other fans, taking vids clips and numerous pics with my digital camera, up and down the steps to warm up in the giftshop, I wanted to make the museum. I caught one more set of helpers and hopped in the cab.
I made the museum but I was the only one there. I had the place to myself...kinda spooky actually, cloudy,damp out there with all the old classics, but then again this was mid-Nov. I caught one last eastbound coal drag (under the ATC's pedestrian bridge) that seemed to last until darkness finally fell !
Mon.-had cabbie drop me off at 17th St. to get a few shots of ALTO. After a few mins, a eastbound came rolling by. Got a great vid clip of it. 2 westbound helpers stood at the signal just east, snapped off a few pics.
Basically hung out under the ATC pedestrain bridge for the most part of the morning. more pics/vids. Was tempted to make the hike to Juniata, but it started to look like rain and got cold. I hung around for a long eastbound that went slowly by due to track maintnance vehicles around ALTO.Good vid, and surprsingly caught yet another westbound in the shot...Said "How ya doin'? to a police officer on bike (NS or Altoona police ? ) didn't notice. Back to Super 8.
Tues. (this morning)- time to go home.
took cab to ATC. got there early. but elevator/stairs locked. Went outside to the pedi-bridge by Steel & Pipe. Got another westbound vid. and more pics. 9:35am. As I waited for the tsin home, of course here came 2 more helpers ! Great vid from platform.
As we headed east, finally got a glimpse of Juniata works. I will definitely visit it next time ! I plan on going to Altoona every year from now on until God allows me to.
I will post up links here as soon as I get everything downloaded.
Thanks all for your help, answers to my questions, advice,etc. since starting this thread. See you again soon ! Peace,
Phil
bkt31