| Altoona Action. Here is a photo by Thomas Lynam that was taken in Altoona, Pennsylvania, during February of 1949. It was published originally in Mr. Robert L. Emerson's 1984 book entitled "Allegheny Passage: An Illustrated History Of Blair County," page 75. Photo Caption: "The sight of clouds billowing out of a passing steam engine vanished shortly after these two photos were made, as the newer diesel engine edged its older sister out of commission. Both the J-1a steam engine (not shown) and the EMD diesels (bottom) ~ nicknamed 'covered wagons' ~ were photographed in Altoona's Pennsy yard in 1949." Shown here (L to R) are the 7th Street Bridge, a sanding tower, a vest-pocket coaling tipple, and a watering point ~ the latter two now obsolete with the passing of the "Age of Steam." Also visible on the right is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #9685, an EH-15 built by EMD in February of 1949 and rated at 1,500 horsepower. |