PHOTO GALLERY | Rail fanning along the Route 53 corridor
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John Rucosky
Photography
Eastbound Norfolk Southern 9941 leads a eastbound train under the pedestrian bridge at Cassandra,PA., Dec.26, 2020. (Phil Andraychak)
Eastbound Norfolk Southern 4208 pulls a train between Cresson and Gallitzin, PA., January 16, 2021. (Phil Andraychak)
Norfolk Southern 6325 exits the western portal of the tunnel in Gallitzin, PA., Dec.21, 2019. (Phil Andraychak)
Norfolk and Western 8103 and Norfolk Southern 9531 lead a train through Lilly, PA., Dec.26, 2020. (Phil Andraychak)
Norfolk and Western 8103 and a Norfolk Southern locomotive pull a train westward through Cresson, PA, Jan.3, 2021. (Phil Andraychak)
Norfolk Southern 4397 rolls eastbound through Lilly, PA., Jan.14, 2021. (Phil Andraychak)
Eastbound Norfolk Southern 4208 and 1159 pull a train between Cresson and Gallitzin, PA., on Jan.16, 2021. (Phil Andraychak)
Morning sunlight bathes Norfolk Southern locomotive 1066 as it passes eastward through Cresson, PA., April 7, 2018. To celebrate the railroad’s 30th anniversary in 2012 the company painted 20 new locomotives in the colors of railroads that became a part of Norfolk Southern. Number 1066 honors the New York Central Railroad. (Keith Burkey)
Norfolk Southern 1097 struggles towards the summit of its climb at Gallitzin., PA., in April, 2020. The structure at left, known on the railroad as AR Tower, was once responsible for controlling train traffic through this area. It has been closed for many years, however, replaced by computer-controlled signals and other modernizations.(Keith Burkey)
Norfolk Southern 9533 and 4002 pull a New Jersey to Chicago intermodal train westbound through Cresson, PA., with on July 9, 2019. Intermodal trains (utilized for long-haul moves of freight-hauling containers or trailers) are very important sources of revenue. (Keith Burkey)
An eastbound a Norfolk Southern coal train moves through the basin of former Lake Conemaugh at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial in South Fork, PA., Feb.29, 2020. With four locomotives in the lead and three in the rear, a train of 110 cars was moved from Windber, PA., over the Allegheny Front to Altoona, PA. (Keith Burkey)
Three Norfolk Southern locomotives work near South Fork, PA., to assemble 110 empties for loading at Rosebud Mining's Portage preparation plant March 24, 2018. The 5000-horsepower locomotives, then 22 years old, were assembled in Altoona by the Conrail’s Juniata Shops. Age and reliability issues eventually caught up with these impressive machines, and they were retired and sold. (Keith Burkey)
A pair of Conrail locomotives and one borrowed from Norfolk Southern lead a double-stack container train eastbound in Summerhill, PA. in the summer of 1997. Conrail, a fixture in the Cambria County area beginning in 1976, would be sold to Norfolk Southern in 1998. (Keith Burkey)
An Amtrak Heritage locomotive exits the westbound portal of the tunnel in Gallitzin, PA.,in July 2013. The train is an evening Pennsylvanian, which terminates in Pittsburgh. (Brad Jones)
Interstate Heritage 8105 makes its way thru the Cassandra,PA., Oct. 2020.Maintenance workers are clearing tree debris for a new slide fence, which detects if debris has fallen onto the tracks.(Brad Jones)
Local rail fans check out the Conrail Heritage unit in Cresson, PA., April, 2020, as the train is pulls loaded coal cars destined for the east coast. (Brad Jones)
The Lehigh Valley and The Monongahela double Heritage unit take an empty tank train westbound in Summerhill, PA., under a signal bridge, Feb., 2014. The tank train terminated in Philadelphia and returns to points west.
A Distributed Power Unit (DPU) pushes an eastbound oil tanker train thru Lilly, PA., in July, 2013. Trains with white and black tank cars would be dubbed ” tuxedo” trains by railfans. (Brad Jones)
Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) Heritage 8102 makes it way under a signal bridge in Summerhill PA, with an intermodal train eastbound, April, 2013. (Brad Jones)
A westbound Virginian heritage unit leading an intermodal train passes a Norfolk and Western Heritage unit, in a siding at Cresson PA., in Sep., 2017.(Brad Jones)
Norfolk Southern 2587 comes around the curve in Lilly, PA., with an intermodal train heading eastbound in Aug., 2012.(Brad Jones) (Aug 2012)
Helpers push a loaded coal train through Portage, PA., Oct., 2012. The helpers were needed to push the train from Johnstown, and to help slow the train down the mountain into Altoona. (Brad Jones)
An original Conrail locomotive moves locomotives eastbound for export under the PRR signal bridge in Summerhill, PA., April, 2013. Conrail, a government owned railroad, was sold and assets split between CSX and Norfolk Southern in 1997. (Brad Jones)
Tom Davis, owner of The Station Inn in Cresson, PA., shows off a vintage locomotive number placard, one of many rail artifacts he’s collected over the years, Monday, Feb.8, 2021.
Bob Elder, owner of the Tunnel Inn Bed & Breakfast in Gallitzin, PA., is shown at his establishment, Monday, Feb.8, 2021.
Bob Elder, owner of the Tunnel Inn Bed & Breakfast in Gallitzin, PA., is shown at his establishment, Monday, Feb.8, 2021.
Norfolk Southern 8089 leads a train out the western portal of the tunnel in Gallitzin, PA., Monday, Feb.8, 2021.
Bob Elder, owner of the Tunnel Inn Bed & Breakfast in Gallitzin, PA., shows off his elaborate model train display in the basement of his establishment, Monday, Feb.8, 2021.
Bob Hughes of West Bloomfield, NY., prepares to photograph Norfolk Southern 7523 as it leads a train westbound towards a scenic curve at South Fork, PA., Thursday, Feb.11, 2021.
Norfolk Southern 4156 leads an eastbound train through South Fork, PA., Thursday, Feb.11, 2021.
Brad Jones of Richland, and his son Ben, 11, capture photos and video of a westbound train in Summerhill, PA., Friday, Feb.12, 2021.
John Rucosky
Photography
As featured on
The popularity of watching trains (known as rail-fanning) along the Route 53 corridor from S…
Gathering his equipment, D.J. Miller, of Gallitzin, heads out for a morning hunt with enthusiasm.
Gathering his equipment, D.J. Miller, of Gallitzin, heads out for a morning hunt with enthusiasm.
