Railfanning Horseshoe Curve with a Drone

Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, Pennsylvania, is one of the best places to watch trains in the country! It is not uncommon for 50 or more Norfolk Southern freight trains to round the Curve each day, as well as Amtrak trains 42 and 43. In addition to the rail park, there is a Virtual Railfan webcam at this location.
Horseshoe Curve is part of Norfolk Southern's Pittsburgh Division. Westbound trains heading out of nearby Altoona, PA, climb the steep grade until they reach the summit of the Allegheny Mountains near the Gallitzin Tunnels. Eastbound trains are on the downward grade as they pass Horseshoe Curve on their way into Altoona.
The trains featured in this video were recorded on June 26, 2018 and July 18, 2018. While Horseshoe Curve is part of Norfolk Southern's Pittsburgh Division, several types of foreign power can often be seen at the Curve such as Union Pacific, BNSF, and even CSX.
This video was recorded in 4K using a DJI Mavic Pro drone, and the audio was recorded separately at ground level using a GoPro HERO Session. For more great railroad drone videos be sure to subscribe!

[@janvanhalteren8120]

This video is so great it could turn anyone into a railfan!

[@DerekDtj]

Many congrats, David for an absolutely stunning video of the curve, even better than the ones taken during the recent freight derailments. Just bought my first ever drone and am looking forward to learning how to fly it properly before attempting anything as expert as the composition in your video. Again, thanks for just a super view of the curve and the areas around it. Just fantastic stuff!!

[@10832894]

Outstanding video, beautiful view !

[@jimlasterni7310]

What a wonderful video I love the way you also get the scenery of the area great job I am glad to be one of your subscribers

[@markwilliams5811]

Great Show!

[@trainwatcher411]

Five Stars great video!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@nathanstrains4365]

Wow! That is amazing.

[@KardosoMedia]

Amazing foortage of those trains 👍🏼

[@johnstafford4304]

nice flying-to be able to see trains from the top going around -the curve- is amazing ---now how about getting footage of a train from Altoona to Galitzin

[@livapininfarina2164]

This is what a German girl wants to see in the USA ... "How to build bigger and better elephants for less money!" Awesome footage. Thank you so much :D

[@jacksonslaterelevatorraila6444]

Amazing

[@taslimchaudhary2541]

Great Video 🇮🇳

[@ohgary]

This is fun so I assume they are working diligently to outlaw it?

[@johnmascitelli2588]

Great video David. I was born and raised in Altoona. Joined the AirForce in 72 and haven't lived there since but family is still there. How can I contact you . I am working on an accoustic guitar album. One of my songs I wrote for my grandsons and Nmed it The Horse Shoe Curve. I need some video. John Mascitelli

[@andrewwardle7634]

How much is the cable car from the car park to the look out? Thanks for this awesome clip.

[@DavidLauback]

The tram going up the hill is free, but it costs $8 to get into the park.

[@andrewwardle7634]

@@DavidLauback per person or per Car? Cheap because wow, what a view! Thanks for letting me know. I am sharing this clip via FB

[@DavidLauback]

It's $8 per person. There are also memberships available, as well as a combo ticket package for $11 that includes admission to a railroad museum in Altoona. Here's a link with more information about admission. www.railroadcity.com/info/admission/

[@dstdrones480]

Great footage! What are you using to get your sound?

[@DavidLauback]

Thanks! I just recorded the audio at ground level using a GoPro HERO Session.

[@dstdrones480]

Cool, it sounds very good. I've thought about trying to record using my iPhone, but I haven't given it a try yet. Maybe next trip up.

[@DavidLauback]

Yeah I've used my phone for audio before and it works pretty well! The main disadvantage to using a GoPro or your phone is that you have a ton of video footage that takes up a bunch of storage space when all you really need is the audio. I've been thinking about getting a microphone that would just record audio. If I got a nice one it would even help to cancel out some of the wind noise that phone cameras or even GoPros pick up.

[@timothystevenhoward]

seems like a good USB mic and laptop with audacity ground level might do the trick, but i'm no expert

[@pressureworks]

A train full of carbon, and another with carbon based units.

[@dexterdog62]

We are mainly bags of water.