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Pennsylvania Railroad Articles

"PRR" Diesel Runs Through to the Left Coast

NS Heritage engine #8102 makes it to California.

48th Annual Meeting Report

The 48th Annual Meeting of the PRRT&HS was held May 19-21, 2016 at the Radisson Hotel, Camp Hill, Pa. Includes many photos taken at the meeting, including of contest models.

70 of My Best

The author took many personal photos of aspects of the PRR. This article shows 70 of his photos that include lots of steam locomotives, a few diesel and electric engines, a Doodlebug, and passenger and M.O.W. cars. Also photographed are the Preston, MD and Harrington, DE passenger depots.

A More Complete History of the Chartiers Branch Part 1

This installment starts by covering the history prior to the branch receiving its name, and then starts the description from Carnegie west to Bridgeville. Includes lots of photos and diagrams.

A More Complete History of the Chartiers Branch Part 2

This installment continues with the Bridgeville area, covering historically-interesting topics, and including photos of the area, both modern and old. Then, onward toward Canonsburg, with information and photos of Mayview, Boyce, and Hills. It also covers the Bell (PRR) and Greer (Montour) tunnels, with a map indicating their location. Finally, the article reaches Canonsburg, with photos of the area, including one of the Pittsburgh Railways crossing over the Chartiers branch track near Richfol. Includes a design diagram of the Richfol passenger shelter as built in 1918.

Airway Limited Postscript

A follow-up article on the Summer 2003 issue's article, sharing more info.

Birthday Photograph of the Curve

A reprint of "The Pennsy" Volume 3 No. 11, December 1954 issue reporting on the 100th anniversary of the Horseshoe Curve. Includes many photos, including the 6,000-lightbulb night-time photo lighting up the entire Curve.

Duffy's Cut Marker Dedication

The author and his brother set out to have a marker made and a book written about the tragedy that killed 57 Irish immigrant workers employed by a contractor named Duffy who was building for the PRR.

Duffy's Cut Marker Dedication

A transcript of the speech Bill Watson gave that the marker dedication ceremony.

Duffy's Cut Marker Dedication

A transcript of the speech PRRT&HS president Al Buchan gave that the marker dedication ceremony.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Last Ride on the PRR, 70 Years Ago

Detailed information about FDR's last days, and the funeral train. Includes photos and a map of where the train went.

Horseshoe

Describes the famous Horseshoe curve near Altoona, PA, and includes several prototype photos and a drawing of the relative location of the curve.

Horseshoe Curve 150th Anniversary Celebration, July 4, 2004

Fireworks and light-show were held at the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona, PA. Includes many photos, followed by several pages of the Curve over time.

Joe Gallino Jr.

The author interviews the son of Joe Gallino Sr, who was a PRR fireman, engineman, road foreman, trainmaster, superintendent, and chief engineer. Both Joes worked for the railroad at the same time for a while.

Kicks in a Pennsy Tower

The author enjoyed time with Bill Smith, a relief operator at the PRR's Latrobe tower. The story captures his impressions of all the activity.

Port Columbus Celebrates its 75th Anniversary

Report about the weekend of July 8-11, 2004, Port Columbus Airport Terminal celebrated the 75th anniversary of the joint PRR-TAT train-airplane venture for travel between New York and the West Coast. Includes many current-day and historical photos.

Prototype Info

When Norfolk Southern and CSX divided Conrail, they established two holding companies: NS set up Pennsylvania Lines LLC (hence the initials "PRR" on newer engines), while CSX set up New York Central Lines LLC (NYC).

PRR Locomotive Assignment Symbols

This article is a duplication of the two-part article published in The Keystone in 1973. Symbols were painted on the pilot beam starting in 1920. This article covers the history of the symbols and what they mean. Prototype photos are included, which were not part of the original article.

PRR Menus

Copies of actual PRR menus from various named trains.

PRR Shops and Yards at Dennison, Ohio Part 2

This last part of the article covers the new Dennison engine facility, the 1922 strike. Includes photos and track arrangements, and engineering drawings of the roundhouse.

PRR System Class vs. AAR Mechanical Designation

Runaway GG1 #4876 Crashes Into Washington Union Station

This is an account of the runaway train wreck at Washington, D.C.'s Union Station on January 15, 1953. Includes many photos, and copies of newspaper articles, as well as a color photo of the rebuilt engine in November 1953.

Station "FK", Franklin City, Virginia

Photos of the station, the Chincoteague Bay railroad traffic, PRR #1611 day coach, railyards at Georgetown, Delaware, current day photographs of the remains, many timetables, and a cornfield meet in the early 1920s.

The Co-ordination of Rail and Highway Transportation

The PRR Vice-President's testimony before the ICC on March 4, 1931. Has photos of PRR C-class containers being loaded onto PRR FM class flat cars.

The Doak Family and PX5444

The author recollects his memories of his family's involvement with the PRR. The family lived in Carnegie, PA.

The East Wind

The East Wind train ran from Philadelphia and Washington to New England, a service that was started in 1940. The train itself was carried by several railroads. The article includes the complete history of the train, many photos of the train in action, a map of its routes, PRR press releases, the 1940 schedule, and brochures. The last half of the article includes diagrams and photos of the passenger cars that made up the train, including interior photos.

The Great Dynamite Wreck

On the night of May 11, 1905 near Harrisburg, PA, an eastbound train's box car, filled with dynamite, derailed and was subsequently clipped by a westbound train, causing the content of the box car to explode. This short article includes three photos.

The L&T, Lewistown-to-Sunbury Branch

A history of this branch. Includes several photos.

The Landscapes of the PRR Part 4-2A

This part of the Natural Regions and Terrain covers the Coastal Plain Province.

The Landscapes of the PRR Part 4-2B

Discusses and shows the topography of the state of Pennsylvania with an emphasis on The Piedmont.

The Landscapes of the PRR Part 5-1

This installment covers the PRR stonework masonry. It discusses in great length the idea and application of casting your own masonry for bridges, including individual bricks. Includes lots of prototype and model photos.

The Landscapes of the PRR Part 5-1

This installment of the PRR stoneworks masonry (this being part 2), covers bridge piers, stone arch bridges, and tunnel portals. Includes lots of prototype and model photos. Also includes a discussion on how to cast your own stone work.

The Landscapes of the PRR Part 5-1

A duplication of the March 2006 TKM article.

The Pennsylvania Railroad and the Civil War

The PRR was 15 years old at the start of the U.S. Civil War. The article describes the PRR's involvement in the Civil War. Photos and artists' renditions include: May's Bridge by Lewistown, Logan House in Altoona, Horseshoe Curve in the 1860s, Harrisburg train station, U.S. Military R.R., Potomac Creek wooden trestle bridge in Virginia, testing a prefabricated Herman Haupt truss bridge, design diagram of PRR Rockville bridge, Calvert Street Station in Baltimore, Angel's Cut on the Cumberland Valley Railroad near Hagerstown, Maryland, 1864 photo of Northern Central's 4-6-0 #78, Cumberland Valley RR's locomotive #14, Harrisburg viewed from across the Susquehanna River, replacement bridge near Hanover Junction, Hanover Junction rail traffic (Civil War and today), U.S. Army hospital in York, PA, Lincoln Funeral Train in West Philadelphia, and bridge over Sherman's Creek near Duncannon.

The PRR in Juniata County, PA Part 1

Many photos and history of the county, covering Durward, Thompsontown, Vandyke, Tuscarora, Mexico, and Perrysville/Port Royal.

The PRR in Juniata County, PA Part 2

This final installment covers Patterson/Mifflin, Denholm, and Lewistown Narrows/Hawstone.

Timeframes

A photo of a Pennsy YB class scale test car 490395.

To The Racetrack by Rail: PRR Race Train Service in Maryland

A detailed history of how people were transported to the horse racing tracks at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. Includes many photos, track plans, and period advertisements. Also covers the tracks at the city of Havre de Grace, Delaware Park, Monmouth Park, Atlantic City Racetrack, and Bowie.

Two Civil War Railroaders

Article talks about Thomas A. Scott, Vice President of the PRR, and Herman Haupt, Chief Engineer of the PRR. Haupt later took over the engineering challenge in Virginia