Juniata Rail Yard
 Altoona, Pennsylvania
Blair County, Little Juniata River
May 07, 2001.

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Images of the Juniata Rail Yard, Altoona, Pennsylvania, May 07, 2001.

Rail and switchs leading south into the Altoona Rail Yard.

Viewed from the 7th Street Bridge facing south, the yard leads into the heart of Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Early Monday morning, and not a bee hive of activity at the Altoona Rail Yard.

Conrail engines work the yard as the sun rises above the Brush Mountain.

No steam whistle echos the morning air as morning comes to the Altoona Rail Yard.

From the north end of the Juniata Shops, the sound of heavy metal dropped onto the floor, rings of the ponderous scale of the activity inside the red brick building.  Not only heard, the steel hitting the floor, is also felt through the soles of my shoes, declaring that the foundations of the red brick building sit firm on the bed rock of Altoona.

Ghosts crowd the rails of the east end of the Altoona Yard.

At the east end of the yard, the rusting rail cars sit on wheels that have no silver shine where they meet the  rusted rails.  From rail yard to graveyard, a slow death encroaches, leaving in its path, abandonment, decay and loss.

Stop, look, and listen for trains before crossing.

 

James E. Frizzell
Post Office Box 595
Kimberton, Pennsylvania 19442

e-mail: jimmy@jim-frizzell.com

date posted: May 22, 2001.
last revised: August 21, 2007 .