Milepost 620
For the first time in more than 35 years, steam once again roamed the hills of Pennsylvania and appeared on the near hallowed ground of Horseshoe Curve... and I was fortunate enough to be there for the event! I've mentioned NKP 765 previously and how the Norfolk Southern Corporation has scheduled steam powered trips this year for their employees, families & retirees as part of the celebration of their 30th anniversary.
(Believe it or not but) we had scheduled a trip to Altoona & Horseshoe Curve before the trip schedule was posted. I was indeed fortunate to be there for this very special trip. If it's true that a picture is worth a thousand words, then this will be a very long post as I want to share with you some of the images that we captured of 765 as she mad her way down into Altoona. Enjoy!
Even my wife Janet got into the spirit of things as she joined me trackside and took photos of 765's trip around the Curve.
As a tribute to the various roads that make up today's NS system, 765 has been equipped with various steam whistles from locomotives that roamed the tracks where she is running. So, for the trip around Horseshoe Curve, it was only fitting that she was outfitted with a steam whistle from that classic Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive, the iconic K-4 Pacific. At the apex of the Curve, the engineer let loose with several huge blasts and once again, the sound of steam echoed through the vallley. It was a special day indeed!
dlm
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