The Abandoned Railroad Grade to Muleshoe Curve

I take a short hike along the abandoned grade of the New Portage Railroad to Muleshoe Curve in Blair County, PA while explaining the history of the line. The grade, which is part of the Allegheny Portage National Historic Site, was once part of the Pennsylvania Main Line of Public Works, a system of railroads, canals, and inclined plains that connected Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Internet Links:
6 to 10 Trail: www.transalleghenytrails.com/t...
Allegheny Portage National Historic Site: www.nps.gov/alpo/index.htm
My Industrial Heritage Homepage: vagelkeller.com/industrial-he...

[@garbagemanify]

I was with my father, and a friend of his in the early 70s..... We took a trip in a Chevy van to see Horse Shoe Curve, and spend 2 days walking around the whole area, and taking photographs... Carl Grubbs, and my dad Earl Tice "Big earl" were the ones who 'dragged " me along to see everything... ...... Well, after tromping around horse shoe for a full day, taking pictures, and taking a few pieces of memorabilia that were discarded along the right of way, we stumbled onto that Muleshoe curve branch, and walked up that very access ramp as shown... ...... At the time, there was an old semi , just parked in the ramp for some reason, but as we walked to the top where the tracks were, = the TRACKS were still in place.... 'Pleasantly surprised to see they (tracks) were still in place, and even at the time, that branch looked pretty old and "abandoned".... I only remember one track, but we heard a train coming our way, and at first, thought it was from the horse shoe.... So we were being careless, and walking between the rails.... Then, to our surprise, and shear horror for a split second, a train was coming down the Muleshoe!!!.. It had 3 old Alcos and a GM and from what I can remember, I think one was still painted in reading... maybe an EL unit in the mix, but there were 4 units on the front, and mostly shorter railcars... . They couldn't have been doing but 10 MPH..... just chugging, and lugging the tonnage past us as we stood there with our mouths open in absolute surprise and joy that we had actually been so fortunate as to have had just the right timing to see a train pass along in front of us... .. Both Carl and Earl are gone now... I just turned 53 today myself, but I will never forget those memories of my dad, taking the time to take me to see these things as a young boy..... I couldn't have been but 7 or 8..... .. So, THANks for posting that video... It really took me back to a magical time in my life... and in the afternoon of my birthday.. Thanks-Jason Tice

[@historysablast]

Wow! That’s a great story. Thanks for sharing it.

[@stiver__29]

Did you happen to take a picture of the house that was below the Horseshoe Curve in between the Road and Railroad? It might have been there in the early seventies. I am working on a project and wondered if you had a close up picture of it if you had the pictures still.

[@historysablast]

Sorry, no. I don’t recall having ever seen it, and I’ve driven thru there many times.

[@stiver__29]

It was torn down I think in 1970 or 1971

[@historysablast]

Thanks

[@helenritchey2883]

Hi. I live a few miles from this location, but have never stopped and made the walk up the trail. Thanks for showing me what I’ve missed. And yes, this area is gorgeous in the fall!

[@historysablast]

Enjoy!

[@bobkruleski7630]

Thanks for your effort to make this video and the info you've given. Been through here a few times but am still learning the history of the area.

[@historysablast]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@RTEllis]

I've hiked the entire line several times. I highly recommend doing it in the fall. I've biked from Muleshoe up to 22 and back. Much easier coming down!

[@historysablast]

Thanks for the information, and advice. That area must be beautiful in the Fall!

[@anthonybatulis6516]

It was late seventies in May and I actually went swimming with my friends in that reservoir. The water was so cold.

[@historysablast]

Hah! Bet it wuz!! 🥶

[@justanotherghost4589]

I just found out about this while at the Horseshoe Curve museum earlier, I live in Blair county and never knew about this, imagine what a wonder this would be if that line was still there, I never would've guessed there was a separate line that went up the mountains

[@historysablast]

Glad you liked the video!

[@justanotherghost4589]

@@historysablast yeah it was great! Thanks for the look into an underrated part of the local rail history here

[@billconserva1461]

I have seen photos of Mule Shoe curve, where it connected to Horseshoe curve. I was told that the railroad would use it as a back up way of circumventing the curve it there was a problem. Still looking for old photo's on the net of that connection, not many to be found.

[@historysablast]

From what I've read, your information is partially correct. The original muleshoe grade was built by the Commonwealth of PA to bypass the Allegheny Portage RR and was called the New Portage RR. Very shortly thereafter the state sold the whole Main Line of Public Works to the PRR which abandoned it due to the Horseshoe Curve having been opened. Sometime around the Turn of the Century, the PRR rehabilitated and relaid track on the grade (probably that's when the big overpass was built, too) as a bypass around the Horseshoe Curve during periods of high traffic density. I have seen video of a freight train on the grade filmed from above the tunnels.

[@billconserva1461]

@@historysablast I did see one photo of a turnout on Horseshoe curve, heading west, if you were coming down the mountain towards Altoona. It was just as you started into the sharpest part of the curve.

[@historysablast]

Thanks for adding to our knowledge

[@brucesheehe6305]

@@historysablast The New Portage Railway was to be a competitor to The PRR. After the Horseshoe Curve was completed in 1854, the State of PA sold the line to The PRR. This line was another way to get to Gallitzin where it entered The New Portage Tunnel, and then followed the railway to Johnstown - Pittsburgh. It was gifted to The State of PA during the 1980s when the new Route 22 was completed (the railroad bridge to Gallitzin was removed). The old rail bed is now state game lands, and has access opened to hunting in the Spring and Fall. It is quite a hike. The New Portage Railway bypassed the incline planes of The Allegheny Portage Railway. The reservoirs are part of The Altoona Water Authority's drinking water supply. The New Portage Railway ran on the other side of The Sugar Run Valley from the PRR. The incline planes of the Allegheny Portage Railway followed the valley of Blair Gap Run to Cresson. Very good Video!

[@historysablast]

Thank you!

[@nicholasmedovich6729]

Isn’t this near the east broad top rr

[@historysablast]

The EBT is about a 45 minute drive east of here. Checkout our recent videos, “Off the Beaten Path Railroad Heritage” Pt. 1 and Pt. 2