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4/23/2024
 
 
 
 
 
By:Thomas C. Ayers
Dates:6/24/1972 - 6/24/1972
Album Info:Here are eight original photos that I took in the wake of Hurricane Agnes on Saturday, 24 June 1972. The first six show the virtual cessation of Penn Central Railroad operations in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while the last two show the height of the Juniata River's flood waters in Hollidaysburg.
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Hurricane Agnes, 1972
Title:  Hurricane Agnes, 1972
Description:  Agnes. Here is an original photo that I took of Penn Central Railroad property in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 24 June 1972. Shown here are the puddle-filled PC tracks along the soon-to-be-developed 10th Avenue. The soon-to-be-demolished Railroad Station is visible on the left. The eventual home of the Railroaders Memorial Museum is on the right. Rain clouds fill the sky. But there are no trains since almost all rail traffic has been halted in the wake of Hurricane Agnes. This photo was taken from the 17th Street Bridge.
Photo Date:  6/24/1972  Upload Date: 6/23/2016 4:25:32 AM
Location:  Altoona, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives: 
Views:  352   Comments: 0
PC 5451, RS3, 1972
Title:  PC 5451, RS3, 1972
Description:  Agnes. Here is an original telephoto view that I took of Penn Central Railroad trains in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 24 June 1972. Shown here (L to R) is PC engine #5451 and two other units whose numbers are not legible. #5451 is an RS3 built by the American Locomotive Company in 1955 and rated at 1,600 horsepower; its original Pennsylvania Railroad number was "8591." They are heading a westbound coal train, but their motors have been turned off. Almost all rail traffic has been halted in the wake of Hurricane Agnes. This photo was taken East of the 4th Street Bridge.
Photo Date:  6/24/1972  Upload Date: 6/23/2016 4:29:33 AM
Location:  Altoona, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  PC 5451(RS3)
Views:  434   Comments: 0
PC 7948, GP30-2, 1972
Title:  PC 7948, GP30-2, 1972
Description:  Agnes. Here is an original photo that I took of a Penn Central Railroad train in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 24 June 1972. Shown here (R to L) are PC engines #7948 and #2438. #7948 is a GP38-2 built by EMD in 1972. #2438 is a C425 built by the American Locomotive Company in 1965 and rated at 2,500 horsepower; its original Pennsylvania Railroad number was "2438." The fireman snags orders for this six-car westbound "Extra." Other than this "Extra," almost all rail traffic has been halted in the wake of Hurricane Agnes. This photo was taken under the 4th Street Bridge. WORKS Tower (not visible) is to the left.
Photo Date:  6/24/1972  Upload Date: 6/23/2016 4:31:21 AM
Location:  Altoona, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  PC 7948(GP38-2) PC 2438(C425)
Views:  618   Comments: 1
PC 7948, GP30-2, 1972
Title:  PC 7948, GP30-2, 1972
Description:  Agnes. Here is an original photo that I took of a Penn Central Railroad train in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 24 June 1972. Shown here (R to L) are PC engines #7948 and #2438. #7948 is a GP38-2 built by EMD in 1972. #2438 is a C425 built by the American Locomotive Company in 1965 and rated at 2,500 horsepower; its original Pennsylvania Railroad number was "2438." They are pulling a six-car westbound "Extra," and will soon pass under the 7th Street Bridge. This photo was taken under the 4th Street Bridge.
Photo Date:  6/24/1972  Upload Date: 6/23/2016 4:33:15 AM
Location:  Altoona, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  PC 7948(GP38-2) PC 2438(C425)
Views:  373   Comments: 0
PC 4296, E8A, 1972
Title:  PC 4296, E8A, 1972
Description:  Agnes. Here is an original photo that I took of a Penn Central Railroad train in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 24 June 1972. Shown here (L to R) is PC engine #4296 and four other units whose numbers are not visible. #4296 is an E8A built by EMD in 1951 and rated at 2,250 horsepower; its original Pennsylvania Railroad number was "5896." They are heading an eastbound mail train, but their motors have been turned off. Almost all rail traffic has been halted in the wake of Hurricane Agnes. This photo was taken behind the Juniata E&M Shop.
Photo Date:  6/24/1972  Upload Date: 6/23/2016 4:47:27 AM
Location:  Altoona(Juniata), PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  PC 4296(E8A)
Views:  1374   Comments: 1
Hurricane Agnes, 1972
Title:  Hurricane Agnes, 1972
Description:  Agnes. Here is an original photo that I took of Penn Central Railroad property in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 24 June 1972. Shown here is the usually busy ~ but now strangely silent ~ sanding tower, just West of the 17th Street Bridge in Juniata. Almost all rail traffic has been halted in the wake of Hurricane Agnes. The Juniata E&M Shop is visible in the distance.
Photo Date:  6/24/1972  Upload Date: 6/23/2016 4:48:59 AM
Location:  Altoona(Juniata), PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives: 
Views:  268   Comments: 0
Hurricane Agnes, 1972
Title:  Hurricane Agnes, 1972
Description:  Agnes. Here is an original photo that I took of Penn Central Railroad property in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on 24 June 1972. Shown here (R to L) are PC gondola cars #525625 and #527534. Both of these cars had just been reconditioned at the Samuel Rea Shop, but were immediately filled with scrap and parked on the Juniata River Railroad Bridge ~ the intent being to add stability to the Bridge during the flood. Note how high the surging flood waters are, and how much flotsam and jetsam has piled-up already. This photo was taken from the upstream side of the Bridge, just East of the Bedford Street Crossing.
Photo Date:  6/24/1972  Upload Date: 6/23/2016 4:52:43 AM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  RollingStock,Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  841   Comments: 0
Hurricane Agnes, 1972
Title:  Hurricane Agnes, 1972
Description:  Agnes. Here is an original photo that I took of Penn Central Railroad property in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on 24 June 1972. Shown here (L to R) are PC gondola cars #525625 and #527534. Both of these cars had just been reconditioned at the Samuel Rea Shop, but were immediately filled with scrap and parked on the Juniata River Railroad Bridge ~ the intent being to add stability to the Bridge during the flood. Note how high the surging flood waters are, and how much of the River's bank has been washed away. This photo was taken from the downstream side of the Bridge, just East of the Bedford Street Crossing.
Photo Date:  6/24/1972  Upload Date: 6/23/2016 4:51:08 AM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  RollingStock,Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  467   Comments: 0


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