Amtrak's Eastbound 'Pennsylvanian' passes by now-shuttered ALTO Tower as it approaches its station stop in Altoona, PA.
===== Operations =====
Train 42 is Amtrak's daily New York City - Pittsburgh day train, with conventional coach seating and a cafe car, though baggage service has more recently been reinstated. This train is now the only passenger service over the Pittsburgh Line, after consolidation with the New York - Chicago 'Three Rivers' in 2004. Through service west of Pittsburgh was terminated in 2005.
===== History =====
ALTO Tower was built in 1915 as one of a series of towers controlling movement over the PRR's Pittsburgh Line as it ran from Harrisburg up and over the mighty Alleghenies. Over the decades these towers slowly closed, with all Altoona operations being slowly consolidated into ALTO Tower. For a while ALTO soldiered on as the last tower active on the line, but that would come to an end as Norfolk Southern worked to rebuild the interlockings in the area. In 2012 the work would be completed, and after 97 years of service ALTO would close forever. Today the tower still stands, though its fate is uncertain. Many towers have faced arson, or collapsed due to neglect, or even during an attempted move. Hopefully ALTO tower will remain for many more years as a silent guardian of the East Slope.
===== Consist =====
AMTK 42 Pennsylvanian
AMTK 119 P42DC
Taking a look at the same train and scene as captured by different photographers. The best way to view will be to sort by photo date so the photos are grouped together.
