Horseshoe Curve Traffic

This picture of a Norfolk Northern Train was taken on Horseshoe Curve near Altoona, Pennsylvania.  One can travel to this site by taking the Veterans Memorial Highway out of Altoona.  This particular train is ascending from Altoona, Pennsylvania to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a Westward direction.  The diameter of the half-circle formed by the curve is 1300 feet or in engineering terms, 9 degrees, 25 minutes of curvature.  The Curve was opened on February 15,1854 and with very few exceptions has been running every since.  Although overcast, the snow did hold off this time!