Allegheny Portage Railroad Flys Down the Hill

The Allegheny Portage Railroad was the first railroad constructed through the Allegheny Mountains in central Pennsylvania. It operated from 1834 to 1854 as the first transportation infrastructure through the gaps of the Allegheny that connected the midwest to the eastern seaboard across the barrier range of the Allegheny Front. Approximately 36 miles long ov…
The Allegheny Portage Railroad was the first railroad constructed through the Allegheny Mountains in central Pennsylvania. It operated from 1834 to 1854 as the first transportation infrastructure through the gaps of the Allegheny that connected the midwest to the eastern seaboard across the barrier range of the Allegheny Front. Approximately 36 miles long overall, both ends connected to the Pennsylvania Canal, and the system was primarily used as a portage railway, hauling river boats and barges over the divide between the Ohio and the Susquehanna Rivers. Today, the remains of the railroad are preserved within the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service.
  • Location: Blair and Cambria counties, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Nearest city: Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S.
  • Area: 1,296 acres (524 ha)
  • Built: 1831-1834
  • Architectural style: Wood, Stone, Wrought Iron
  • Visitation: 118,931 (2009)
  • Designated NHL: December 29, 1962
Data from: en.wikipedia.org