From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Altoona Works
Altoona Works
Altoona Works
(Pennsylvania Railroad Shops)
History
In 1849, PRR officials developed plans to construct a re-
Pennsylvania Historical Marker signification
pair facility at Altoona. Construction was started in 1850,
and soon a long building was completed that housed a
machine shop, woodworking shop, blacksmith shop, lo-
comotive repair shop and foundry. This facility was later
torn down to make room for continuing expansion.
The initial portions of the complex were constructed
in 1850, and many additional buildings and facilities were
added to the complex up until 1925. For many years it
was the largest railroad shop complex in the world.
Initial construction of the works was in the 12th
Street area during 1850s. These facilities were replaced
Juniata Shops at Altoona Works in 1988, during the Conrail later by the Altoona Machine Shops. The first locomotive
era. was built there in 1866. A total of 6,783 steam, diesel and
electric locomotives were manufactured in Altoona be-
tween 1866 and 1946.[1]
In time additional PRR repair facilities were located
in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Mifflin, and the Altoona
Works expanded in adjacent Juniata, Pennsylvania. In-
ventor Alexander Graham Bell sent two assistants to the
Altoona shops in 1875 to study the feasibility of installing
telephone lines.
In 1875 the Altoona Works started a testing depart-
ment for PRR equipment. In following years, the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad led the nation in the development of re-
Location of the Altoona Works railroad shops in Pennsylvania search and testing procedures of practical value for the
railroad industry.[2] Use of the testing facilities was dis-
Location: 9th Ave. at 13th St., Altoona, Pennsylvania continued in 1968 and many of the structures were de-
molished.
Coordinates: 40°30′48″N 78°23′59″W / 40.51321°N
78.39985°W / 40.51321;
In May 1877, telephone lines were installed for vari-
-78.39985Coordinates: 40°30′48″N ous departments to communicate with one another.[3]
78°23′59″W / 40.51321°N 78.39985°W / Fort Wayne, Indiana, also held a key position for the
40.51321; -78.39985 railroad. By the turn of the 20th century, its repair shops
Built/ 1850–1925 and locomotive manufacturing facilities became known
Founded: as the "Altoona of the West."
In the 1920s the site consisted of 125 buildings on
Governing Norfolk Southern Railway
218 acres (0.88 km2), and the shops employed over 16,000
body/
Owner: workers.[4][5] Portions of the complex are still in use by
Norfolk Southern Railway (NS).
PA marker October 5, 1996 By 1945 the Altoona Works had grown to be one of the
dedicated:
largest repair and construction facilities for locomotives
and cars in the world.[6] During World War II, PRR facili-
Altoona Works is a large railroad industrial complex in
ties (including the Altoona Shops) were on target lists of
Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was built by the Pennsylvania
German saboteurs. They were caught before they could
Railroad to supply the railroad with locomotives, railroad
complete their missions.[7]
cars and related equipment. For many years it was the
At present, the locomotive shop at Juniata is operated
largest railroad shop complex in the world.
by Thoroughbred Mechanical Services, a subsidiary of NS
with 800 employees.[8]
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Altoona Works
Major facilities (1920s) National Park Service Special History Study. United
States National Park Service. 2004-10-22.
• (renamed 12th St Car Shop in 1938) http://www.nps.gov/history/history/
• Built steam locomotives during 1866-1904 online_books/railroad/shs1d.htm. Retrieved
• Later in 20th century it handled locomotive 2008-03-04.
repair and manufacture of engine parts [3] "History of the Altoona Railroad Shops Chapter 1
• • Built 1869 Heading 7 The Altoona Railroad Shops After The
• Manufactured freight cars and passenger cars Civil War Paragraph 10". National Park Service Special
• • Built 1888-1890; expanded 1924-25 History Study. United States National Park Service.
• Built steam and electric locomotives during 2004-10-22. http://www.nps.gov/history/history/
1891-1946 online_books/railroad/shs1.htm. Retrieved
• Included a paint shop, boiler shop, blacksmith 2007-08-21.
shop, boiler house, erecting shop, two-story [4] Alexander, Edwin P. (1967), The Pennsylvania
machine shop, electric and hydraulic house, two- Railroad: A Pictorial History, New York: Bonanza
story office and storeroom, paint storehouse and Books, p. 133
gas house, and hydraulic transfer table and pit. [5] Paige, John C. (1989), “A Special History Study:
• Repair work only in mid-20th century Pennsylvania Railroad Shops and Works, Altoona,
• Builds and remanufactures locomotives today Pennsylvania,” Washington, DC: United States
• • Manufactured cast iron and brass castings National Park Service.
Map of Altoona Works [6] "Chapter 4: Significance and Recommendations for
Future Research 1. Significance of Altoona Works".
National Park Service Special History Study. United
States National Park Service. 2004-10-22.
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/
online_books/railroad/shs4.htm. Retrieved
2007-08-21.
Map of Altoona Works circa 1931. [7] "Railfan’s Guide to the Altoona Area".
www.trainweb.org. http://www.trainweb.org/
See also horseshoecurve-nrhs/Guide.htm. Retrieved
2007-08-24.
• List of locomotive builders [8] Thoroughbred Mechanical Services
• Railroaders Memorial Museum
External links
References • AltoonaWorks.info – History of Altoona Works,
[1] Norfolk Southern Railway: Timeline. Accessed Maps, Photos, Listing of locomotives built/repaired/
September 5, 2008. completed
[2] "History of the Altoona Railroad Shops National
Park Service Special History Study Chapter 1:
History of the Altoona railroad shops
(continued)13. Changes after World War II".
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Altoona_Works&oldid=447410710"
Categories:
• Pennsylvania state historical marker significations
• Buildings and structures in Altoona, Pennsylvania
• Conrail
• Industrial buildings and structures in the United States
• Locomotive manufacturers of the United States
• Manufacturing plants in the United States
• Norfolk Southern Railway
• Penn Central Transportation
• Pennsylvania Railroad
• Rail transportation in Pennsylvania
• Railway workshops in the United States
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Altoona Works
This page was last modified on 30 August 2011 at 01:06. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-
ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of
the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.Contact us
Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers Mobile view
3