| Muleshoe. Here is an original photo that I took at the Muleshoe Curve on the New Portage Branch Line west of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 8 April 1962. Shown here are Pennsylvania Railroad engines #5899, #5810, and #5761. All are EP-22's built by GM-EMD and rated at 2,250 horsepower each. #5899 and #5810 were built in 1951, but #5761 was built in 1952. They are pulling a "Railfan Special to the Horseshoe Curve," sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The "Special" departed Philadelphia bright and early on a Sunday morning, following the PRR's mainline through Harrisburg to Huntingdon. There, it switched over to the Petersburg-Hollidaysburg Branch Line and followed the undulating Juniata River to Hollidaysburg ~ where the Railfans were treated to tours of the PRR's Samuel Rea Shop. After leaving Hollidaysburg, the "Special" passed WYE Tower and took the New Portage Branch Line via the Muleshoe Curve up the Allegheny Mountains to Gallitzin. There, it passed through the westbound Allegheny Tunnel, navigated the wye at Gallitzin, and passed through the eastbound New Portage Tunnel on its way down the Alleghenies. At the Horseshoe Curve, the "Special" stopped to allow the Railfans to visit the PRR's K-4S (4-6-2) "Pacific" #1361 enshrined there. After all were safely back on board, the train continued down the Mountains toward Altoona and the return trip to Philadelphia ~ a round trip of over 500 happy miles at $11.50 per person! |