The famous Horseshoe Curve is one of the railroad community’s top railfan destinations. With its rich history and unbeatable railroad photography vantage points, the Curve has become one of Altoona’s top attractions.
But its fame has also led to a common question for new railfans: What is the typical Altoona Curve train? In other words: What should I expect to see?
While the Horseshoe Curve train log can start to give you a better idea, we’ve outlined some of the most common NS Pittsburgh Line train types in this article.
Table of Contents
A Typical Altoona Curve Train: 8 Trains to Watch For
Watch the Altoona Curve Trains Pass By (Online)
Stay Near the Horseshoe Curve
A Typical Altoona Curve Train: 8 Trains to Watch For
We’re lucky enough to sit only a few miles down the NS mainline from the Horseshoe Curve, so we have an intimate familiarity with the trains that pass by the Curve every day.
Here are the types of trains you can expect to see on your next visit:
Automotive Trains – Many automobiles travel to dealerships and buyers around the country on trains, but don’t expect to get a good look! Cars and trucks are loaded into enclosed cars called “trilevels” or “bilevels,” and are informally known as “auto racks.”
Coal Trains – The Horseshoe Curve is in the heart of Pennsylvania’s once great mining industry. Although the industry has shrunk considerably in the 21st century, you’ll still see many coal trains hauling coal from the mines to power plants or export terminals.
Crude Oil Trains – Crude oil trains transport unrefined petroleum from production fields to refineries using long strings of black tank cars. Their impressive length and weight make them a memorable sight along the Horseshoe Curve.
Ethanol Trains – Ethanol trains haul renewable fuel produced primarily from corn to blending terminals and refineries. Like crude oil trains, they’re made up almost entirely of tank cars stretching across the Pennsylvania mountains.
High & Wide Trains – High and wide trains carry oversized equipment that exceeds standard railroad dimensions. From giant transformers to industrial machinery, every trip offers something different for curious railfans to photograph and admire. Look for these on weekends or Monday, late at night or early in the morning.
Intermodal Trains – Intermodal trains transport shipping containers and truck trailers between ports, rail terminals, and distribution centers. Their distinctive double-stacked containers make them one of the easiest—and fastest—types of trains to identify.
Local Trains – Local trains serve businesses throughout the region by delivering and picking up freight cars along nearby branch lines. Their shorter consists, older locomotive power, and slower speeds make switching operations especially interesting to watch.
Manifest Trains – Manifest trains haul a wide variety of freight in a single consist, including boxcars, tank cars, hoppers, gondolas, and flatcars. No two manifest trains are exactly alike, making each one unique for railfans.
Watch the Altoona Curve Trains Pass By (Online)
You don’t necessarily need to travel to Altoona to track each Altoona Curve train. Instead, check out Virtual Railfan’s livestream camera, available 24/7 to the entire railfan community:
You can also see those same trains pass by The Station Inn!
Stay Near the Horseshoe Curve
The Horseshoe Curve is a popular railfan destination, and we have the perfect rail-themed location for an overnight stay: The Station Inn! Bonus: The trains that pass by the Curve pass by our porch!
Located about 15 minutes from the Curve, The Station Inn traces its history back to the 1800s and overlooks the busy three-track Norfolk Southern mainline—the same line that traverses the Horseshoe Curve!
Book a room today to enjoy your next trip to the Horseshoe Curve (and don’t forget to check out a few other Pennsylvania road trip ideas).