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Viewing Album: PRR: WYE Tower; Duncansville, PA ~ 1960-2001
By:
Thomas C. Ayers
Dates:
2/1/1960 - 12/31/2001
Album Info:
Here are eight original photos that I took at the Pennsylvania Railroad's WYE Tower that was located at the intersection of US Route 22 and Plank Road in Duncansville, Pennsylvania. The first four were taken on 28 July 1960; the second four were taken on 21 May 1965. Also included are several images from other, more-recent sources. Nowadays, all of this is Everett Railroad territory! Local folk call this place the "Wye Switches" because it features an actual railroad wye with three switches ~ but there is a lot of local history here, too. From 1834 until 1854, this was the right-of-way for the Allegheny Portage Railroad between Hollidaysburg and Johnstown. And from 1850 until 1854, this location was known as "New Portage Junction" since it was the eastern junction of the New Portage Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad's mainline from Altoona. After the Horseshoe Curve was completed and the present main line was opened in 1854, the PRR bought the Pennsylvania Canal-New Portage Railroad package from the State ~ but abandoned both of them in 1857. In the first five years of the 20th Century, the Pennsylvania Railroad engaged in a massive construction project designed to relieve rail traffic congestion both up and down the eastern slope of the Allegheny Mountains. They built the double-tracked Petersburg-Frankstown Secondary Track, which basically followed the path of the old Pennsylvania Canal. In Hollidaysburg, they constructed both west- and eastbound classification yards, as well as a roundhouse and supporting shops. From Duncansville to Gallitzin, they reopened and rebuilt the New Portage Branch Line. And in Gallitzin, they dug the Allegheny Tunnel, which opened in 1904. A century later, though, almost all of it has vanished.
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Title:
PRR, WYE Tower, 1960
Description:
WYE Tower. Here is an original photo that I took of Pennsylvania Railroad property at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 28 July 1960. Shown here is the PRR's WYE Tower. The men who worked here controlled rail traffic on several lines: Hollidaysburg to Altoona, Hollidaysburg to Bedford, Hollidaysburg to Petersburg, plus Hollidaysburg to Gallitzin via the New Portage Branch Line. Before it was demolished, the Tower was located at the intersection of US Route 22 and Plank Road.
Photo Date:
7/28/1960
Upload Date:
6/21/2016 3:50:52 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
269
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR, WYE Tower, 1960
Description:
WYE Tower. Here is an original photo that I took of Pennsylvania Railroad property at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 28 July 1960. Shown here is the PRR's WYE Tower. The men who worked here controlled rail traffic on several lines: Hollidaysburg to Altoona, Hollidaysburg to Bedford, Hollidaysburg to Petersburg, plus Hollidaysburg to Gallitzin via the New Portage Branch Line. Approaching from Altoona is PRR engine #7923, an ES-12 built by EMD in November of 1957 and rated at 1,200 horsepower. With no cars in tow, it's on its way from the Altoona Yards to the Hollidaysburg Yards. Also visible is the railhead facing West, toward Duncansville and the Allegheny Mountains in the hazy distance. From 1834 until 1854, this was the right-of-way for the Allegheny Portage Railroad. And from 1850 until 1854, this location was known as "New Portage Junction" since it was the eastern junction of the New Portage Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad (coming from Altoona to the right).
Photo Date:
7/28/1960
Upload Date:
6/21/2016 3:51:48 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Track
Locomotives:
PRR 7923(SW1200)
Views:
507
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR, WYE Tower, 1960
Description:
WYE Tower. Here is an original photo that I took of Pennsylvania Railroad property at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 28 July 1960. Shown here is the PRR's WYE Tower. The men who worked here controlled rail traffic on several lines: Hollidaysburg to Altoona, Hollidaysburg to Bedford, Hollidaysburg to Petersburg, plus Hollidaysburg to Gallitzin via the New Portage Branch Line. Before it was demolished, the Tower was located at the intersection of US Route 22 and Plank Road.
Photo Date:
7/28/1960
Upload Date:
6/21/2016 3:52:41 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
221
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR, WYE Tower, 1960
Description:
WYE Tower. Here is an original photo that I took of Pennsylvania Railroad property at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 28 July 1960. Shown here is the PRR's WYE Tower. The men who worked here controlled rail traffic on several lines: Hollidaysburg to Altoona, Hollidaysburg to Bedford, Hollidaysburg to Petersburg, plus Hollidaysburg to Gallitzin via the New Portage Branch Line. Before it was demolished, the Tower was located at the intersection of US Route 22 and Plank Road.
Photo Date:
7/27/1960
Upload Date:
6/21/2016 3:53:56 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
270
Comments:
1
Title:
PRR 8619, AS-18M, 1965
Description:
WYE Tower. Here is an original photo that I took of a Pennsylvania Railroad train at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 21 May 1965. Shown here is PRR engine #8619, an AS-18M built by American Locomotive Company in August of 1956 and rated at 1,800 horsepower. It's pulling a mixed-cargo freight train that is still crossing US Route 22 on its way from Altoona to Hollidaysburg. That's WYE Tower on the right. The pipe coming from the Tower to the switch on the left indicate that the switch was opened and closed via compressed air. Duncansville's Third Street is in the photo's center.
Photo Date:
5/21/1965
Upload Date:
6/22/2016 1:35:28 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Action
Locomotives:
PRR 8619(RS11)
Views:
832
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR, WYE Tower, 1965
Description:
Wye Switches. Here is an original photo that I took of Pennsylvania Railroad property at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 21 May 1965. Shown here is the railhead facing East, toward WYE Tower and Hollidaysburg. Note the multi-track signal bridge in the distance, near where a train wreck on 06 November 1916 occurred. From 1834 until 1854, this was the right-of-way for the Allegheny Portage Railroad. And from 1850 until 1854, this location was known as "New Portage Junction" since it was the eastern junction of the New Portage Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad (coming from Altoona to the left).
Photo Date:
5/21/1965
Upload Date:
6/22/2016 1:37:45 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Signal,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
242
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR, WYE Tower, 1965
Description:
WYE Tower. Here is an original photo that I took of Pennsylvania Railroad property at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 21 May 1965. Shown here is the railhead facing West, toward Duncansville and the Allegheny Mountains in the hazy distance. Note the two signals (one high, one low), both of which are in "stop" mode. From 1834 until 1854, this was the right-of-way for the Allegheny Portage Railroad. And from 1850 until 1854, this location was known as "New Portage Junction" since it was the eastern junction of the New Portage Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad (coming from Altoona to the right).
Photo Date:
5/21/1965
Upload Date:
6/22/2016 1:39:34 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Signal,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
190
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR 8618, AS-18M, 1965
Description:
WYE Tower. Here is an original photo that I took of a Pennsylvania Railroad train at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 21 May 1965. Shown here is PRR engine #8618, an AS-18M built by American Locomotive Company during August of 1956 and rated at 1,800 horsepower. It's pulling a mixed-cargo freight train that is still crossing US Route 22 on its way from Hollidaysburg to Altoona. This train will travel on what was the PRR's original main line from Altoona to its connection with the New Portage Railroad from 1850 until 1854. After the Horseshoe Curve was completed and the present main line was opened in 1854, the PRR bought the Pennsylvania Canal-New Portage Railroad package from the State ~ but then abandoned both of them in 1857!
Photo Date:
5/21/1965
Upload Date:
6/22/2016 1:41:39 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Action
Locomotives:
PRR 8618(RS11)
Views:
462
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR, WYE Track Diagram, 1931
Description:
Here is a "track diagram" of WYE Tower's interlocking and signals located in Duncansville, Pennsylvania. Partial Caption: "Middle Division. Diagram of Tracks and Signals, Hollidaysburg, In Service 11:01 A.M., Monday, Dec. 14, 1931." This is the original right-of-way for the eastern terminus of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, 1834-1854.
Photo Date:
12/14/1931
Upload Date:
3/4/2024 5:36:40 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Track
Locomotives:
Views:
33
Comments:
0
Title:
PC, WYE Track Diagram, 1974
Description:
Here is a "track diagram" of WYE Tower's interlocking and signals located in Duncansville, Pennsylvania. It was drawn by Mr. Ed Spodobalski and published originally in the January-February 1974 issue of "PC Railroader" magazine, page 24. There is one small error in the diagram, however. What is labeled as "H&P Branch" in the upper-left quadrant should actually read "Hollidaysburg Branch." During and after the New Portage Railroad era, this location was known as "New Portage Junction."
Photo Date:
1/1/1974
Upload Date:
7/6/2018 3:19:28 PM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Track
Locomotives:
Views:
274
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR, WYE Tower, 1948
Description:
Here is a photo taken inside of WYE Tower that was included in the "Altoona Area Railroad Pictorial History" edited by Linda White and published in 1996 by The Altoona Mirror, page 30. Photo Caption: "Jack H. Weaver of Hollidaysburg, a train dispatcher at the Wye Tower at Wye Switches, Duncansville, operates the first train phone used for communication between the dispatcher and the engine crew in this September 1948 photo." The time is exactly 8:45 A.M.
Photo Date:
1/1/1996
Upload Date:
11/23/2017 5:19:43 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Signal
Locomotives:
Views:
194
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR, WYE Tower, 1962
Description:
Here is a photo from David W. Messer's 2001 book entitled "Triumph IV: Harrisburg to Altoona, 1846-2001," page 257. Partial Caption: "WYE Tower was located at the junction of the Hollidaysburg Branch with the New Portage line and the eastward connection to the Petersburg Branch. We're not sure of the construction date ~ it was rebuilt in 1915, and is portrayed here as it appeared in a 1962 photo" taken by Edward H. Weber.
Photo Date:
1/1/2001
Upload Date:
3/2/2020 8:59:40 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Track
Locomotives:
Views:
91
Comments:
0
Title:
PRR, WYE Tower, 1966
Description:
Here is the front cover of the Summer 1997 issue of "Keystone" magazine that's published by the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society. Cover Caption: "PRR 'Wye' Tower, west of Hollidaysburg, Pa., on the New Portage Branch. View is westward on September 23, 1966. This is a Kodachrome image, 1/60 sec. @ f8. Photo by John Prophet." Also visible is the original right-of-way for the Allegheny Portage Railroad on its way from Hollidaysburg toward Duncansville and the Inclined Planes that surmount the Allegheny Mountains visible in the distance.
Photo Date:
8/15/1997
Upload Date:
1/25/2018 3:04:46 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Signal,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
228
Comments:
0
Title:
PC, WYE Tower, 1974
Description:
Here is an original 35mm color slide by James P. Marcus that was taken in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 11 December 1974. Shown here is Penn Central's WYE Tower. This location is also known as "New Portage Junction" and the through tracks occupy the Allegheny Portage Railroad's original right-of-way. Note the two-track signal bridge beyond the 3rd Street grade crossing.
Photo Date:
12/11/1974
Upload Date:
3/11/2020 3:21:24 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Winter,Signal,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
185
Comments:
1
Title:
CR, WYE Tower, 1983
Description:
Here is an original 35mm color slide by James Conroy that was taken in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, on 15 June 1983. Shown here is Conrail's WYE Tower, still sporting its faded and peeling Penn Central-era livery. Note that HoJo's is open 24/7/365!
Photo Date:
6/15/1983
Upload Date:
7/12/2019 2:28:47 AM
Location:
Duncansville, PA
Author:
Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:
Track
Locomotives:
Views:
197
Comments:
0
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