August 8, 2006
Our day started with the sound of trains. Will made us some coffee and we walked up the hundred+ steps to the overlook platform at Horseshoe Bend. It was a quiet morning with birds singing. We heard a tree up in the forested hills above the track yell and give out a creaking crack the echoed through the land. Then we heard the tree fall crushing branches and underbrush on its way. Smack. It hit the ground. As the morning passed we saw several trains.
We stopped at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site near Altoona,Pa. It dates back to the mid 1800s when the Erie Canal was celebrated among merchants in New York. Pennsylvanians were disouraged as they watched trade moved from their city of Philadelphia north. So Pennyslvania legislators authorized the Main Line canal system between Philadelphia and Pittsbugh. They worked from both sides and eventually came to the Allegheny Mountains. To overcome the obstical they build a system of levies and rails to bing the boats up and over the mountains. It was a daring stroke of engineering. From Philadelphia to Columbia freight and passengers traveled by rail. They were loaded on boats and traveled the Juniata River to Holidaysburg where the boats were put on flat cars and hauled up and over the mountains to the Conemaugh River that flows into the Allegheny River that took them to Pittsburgh. This trip took five days instead of the 20 days it would have been by wagon.
Over time hemp ropes were replaced with wire later used on he Brooklyn Bridge. The Main Line never made a major impact, nevertheless, it was important to PA because it quickened trade across the state. During its gusiesst mes, six trains an hour were pulled up each of five inclines and down ive more to get to the otherside.
One of the parks features is the old Lemon House where in 1840 travelers rested and greeted fellow travalers and exchanged news. The reconstructed engine
house includes a life-size model of the statinary steam engine. A small working model was build by the same local craftsman and is in the visitor center. Their hope is to oneday have a life-size boat to show. Yes, Kathy got her Jr. Ranger pin. Speaking with the rangers we suggested they have a pledge to have Jr. Rangers take. One ranger brough out his framed poster of Roy Roger's Cowboy Rules and we disussed using it for a pledge. They are very active here with lots of children's activities scheduled thr!oughout the year.
Our day started with the sound of trains. Will made us some coffee and we walked up the hundred+ steps to the overlook platform at Horseshoe Bend. It was a quiet morning with birds singing. We heard a tree up in the forested hills above the track yell and give out a creaking crack the echoed through the land. Then we heard the tree fall crushing branches and underbrush on its way. Smack. It hit the ground. As the morning passed we saw several trains.
We stopped at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site near Altoona,Pa. It dates back to the mid 1800s when the Erie Canal was celebrated among merchants in New York. Pennsylvanians were disouraged as they watched trade moved from their city of Philadelphia north. So Pennyslvania legislators authorized the Main Line canal system between Philadelphia and Pittsbugh. They worked from both sides and eventually came to the Allegheny Mountains. To overcome the obstical they build a system of levies and rails to bing the boats up and over the mountains. It was a daring stroke of engineering. From Philadelphia to Columbia freight and passengers traveled by rail. They were loaded on boats and traveled the Juniata River to Holidaysburg where the boats were put on flat cars and hauled up and over the mountains to the Conemaugh River that flows into the Allegheny River that took them to Pittsburgh. This trip took five days instead of the 20 days it would have been by wagon.
Over time hemp ropes were replaced with wire later used on he Brooklyn Bridge. The Main Line never made a major impact, nevertheless, it was important to PA because it quickened trade across the state. During its gusiesst mes, six trains an hour were pulled up each of five inclines and down ive more to get to the otherside.
One of the parks features is the old Lemon House where in 1840 travelers rested and greeted fellow travalers and exchanged news. The reconstructed engine
house includes a life-size model of the statinary steam engine. A small working model was build by the same local craftsman and is in the visitor center. Their hope is to oneday have a life-size boat to show. Yes, Kathy got her Jr. Ranger pin. Speaking with the rangers we suggested they have a pledge to have Jr. Rangers take. One ranger brough out his framed poster of Roy Roger's Cowboy Rules and we disussed using it for a pledge. They are very active here with lots of children's activities scheduled thr!oughout the year.
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