Altoona Action. Here is a duplicate 35mm color slide by an unidentified photographer that was taken from the 12th Street Footbridge in Altoona, Pennsylvania, c. 1958. Shown here (L to R) are Pennsylvania Railroad engines #8671, #8672, and another unit whose road number is not recorded. All are AS-18AM road switchers built by the American Locomotive Company and rated at 1,800 horsepower each. #8671 and #8672 were constructed in March of 1958. In this context, they're serving as tail-end pushers on a freight train that's heading up the Allegheny Mountains to Gallitzin, where they'll be uncoupled and returned to East Altoona for further assignments. Visible across the tracks are some of the PRR's (now largely dormant) 12th Street Car Shops. Partially visible at the far right is the Passenger Station's venerable trainshed. |