S. Berliner, III's Z-Scale (1:220) Model Railroad Page,
The BERLINERWERKE (HO) Story, the story of the HO Berlinerwerke pike.
The full prototype story will appear shortly.
The Z-scale Berlinerwerke-Z Saga is on a separate page.
Visit these courtesy and official home pages:
Long Island Sunrise - Trail Chapter
(National Railway Historical Society)
Sunrise Trail Division
(Northeastern Region)
(National Model Railroad Association)
Ztrack Magazine
The Newsletter for Z Scale Model Railroading
Z-Scale is only 1:220 with rails only ¼" apart!
It is about 2½ times smaller than HO!
The Protoype HORSESHOE CURVE Story
(to follow)
HORSESHOE CURVE and ALTOONA-CRESSON AREA DIMENSIONS and FEATURES
Here, at long last (17 Jul 99), after having had to be reformatted from an overly-elaborate MultiMate 4 word processing document to a WordPerfect 6.0 document, with endless details to be adjusted, is my magnum opus, the full stretch of the PRR from Sunnyside Yard in New York City to the Curve and on through to Pittsburgh!
HORSESHOE CURVE and ALTOONA-CRESSON AREA DIMENSIONS Rev.: 18 Jul 99
and FEATURES Orig. Date: 03 Feb 90
PRR terminology (where it differs from USGS terminology) is underlined.
Curve Elevations (U. S. Geological Service contour line track crossings and track chart points)
and Distances [as measured from Philadelphia and also as shown from Baker's (Kittaning) Run].
Grade initiations and ends and features shown in WB order unless otherwise noted.
R x x'and L x x' = Right and Left curvature in degrees and minutes of arc (R'=50/sin ½θ).
u. g. br. = under-grade bridge (crossing under the tracks) and o. g. br. = over-grade bridge.
Mileage specified (x,xxx') is from immediate preceeding (or in some cases from next) milepost.
Track information is from undated PRR track charts in "Horseshoe Curve" and from "Pennsylvania
Railroad 1950 Track Charts", both by Rails Northeast, Box 135, East McKeesport, PA 15035.
In disputed matters, data from the former is marked with an asterisk (*). Other elevations
and benchmarks (BM) from USGS 7.5 Minute Series Topographic Maps (Altoona, Bellwood, Cresson,
and Hollidysburg Quadrangles, plus extensive on-site examination. Note that many of the
features listed have long since disappeared or even been changed beyond easy recognition.
NOTE: The HO scale dimensions which follow were calculated with a scale factor of 87.1,
NOT with the more exact 87.08571428571-- (25.4÷3.5×12)!
- I have been told there are some serious errors here; I'm working on it.
(03 Sep 02)
MILEAGE HO DIST.
from from GEOGRAPHIC ELEV. HO
Phila. Baker's FEATURES TRACK and TRACK-RELATED FEATURES in Ft. ELEV.
~-89 3¾ real miles! New York City, Pennsylvania Station (ref.) 7.8' -18.5'
[LI Sunnyside Yard loop ~11 , radius 528' (73" HO)]
0 2¾ real miles! Philadelphia, PRR Station (ref.) ~100' -17.5'
56½ 21/8 real miles Leaman Place (Strasburg RR interchange) ~375' -14.3'
104½ 1½+ mi. Harrisburg, PRR Station (ref.) ~320' -14.9'
110½ 1½ mi. Susquehanna River Rockville Bridge [Enola Yard access track 351' -14.6'
10 50', radius 546.4' (75¼" HO)]
202½ ½- mi. Huntingdon (East Broad Top RR interchange) 621' -11.5'
213 1/3 mi. Spruce Creek Tunnel (one of oldest active RR tunnels in U.S.) ~750' -10'
222 ¼- mi. Tyrone (Bald Eagle Branch interchange) ~900' -8.3'
ALTOONA to HORSESHOE CURVE:
~234 473.4' E. Altoona yd BM N end, {Pinecroft} 1,079' -74.5"
~234.5 443.1' E. Altoona yard BM 18th St. {Juniata} (Homer Gap Run) 1,101' -71.5"
~235 412.8' E. Altoona yard BM S end, 13-14th Streets {Juniata} 1,115' -69.6"
~236.4 329.0' just N of Bridge Street, initiation of 1.22%, Altoona station 1,178.9' -60.8"
~236.5 321.9' 16th-17th/Bridge Street, o. g. br.
~236.6 315.8' 18th Street/Union Avenue, o. g. br.
~236.7 309.8' Altoona yard BM S end (7th Street ) 1,170' -62.0"
~236.8 303.7' Altoona yard BM S end (13th Street) 1,182' -54.1"
~237 291.6' 20th Street 1,200' -57.9"
~237.3 273.4' 24th St., end of 1.22%, initiation of 0.12% 1,230.9' -53.6"
237.3 273.4' "Slope" tower, Middle/Pittsburgh Divs.
~237.6 255.2' end of 0.12%, initiation of 1.47% 1,233.9' -53.2"
~237.8 243.1' "Mill Run" curve, L 1°30'
/238.25/215.8' /(1320')
237.84 240.7' Mill Run/Creek 31st Street / Mill Run Road, u. g. br. 1,260' -49.6"
~237.9 237.0' end of 1.47%, initiation of 1.85% 1,256.4' -50.1"
~238.2 218.8' Coburn kilns/Blair Clay Products' Ladle Brick Yard (track) 1,280' -46.8"
238.4 206.7' signal bridge {2384S/2383N skew*},
shown on 1950 plan as if at 238.7
~238.45 203.7' end of 1.85%, initiation of 1.75% 1,310.0' -42.7"
N of Lake Altoona 1,500' -16.5"
238.6 194.6' (3370') "Wikes" curve, R 6°
/239 / 172.3' /(5113')
239.3 151.4' (1650') "E of 'GY'" curve, R 2°45'
/239.5 /139.8' /(2660')
239.56 138.2' stream used as public road, u. g. br.
239.3 151.4' (1650') "E of 'GY'" curve, R 2°45'
/239.5 /139.8' /(2660')
239.56 138.2' stream used as public road, u. g. br.
239.7 127.9' "Old 'GY'" tower
239.7 126.7' (3800') "McGarveys" curve, L 6°30'
/239.9 /117.0' /(4650')
239.8 121.8' signal bridge 2398
239.85 118.8' McGarvey(')s Run
109.1' ( 55') "Millers" curve, 6°
/240.4 / 83.8' /(2260')
240.5 81.5' (2460') "Scotch Run" curve, L 7°30'
/241.3 / 77.2' /(2830')
240.69 67.9' Scotch Run, u. g. br.
240.7 67.3' signal bridge 2407 (1950) {2406S/2407N skew*}
~241 49.1' lower spillway
241.0+ 48.3' ( 730') "W. of Scotch Run" curve, L 1°
/241.3 / 32.5' /(1450?')
~241.4 24.9' giant abandoned water tank (for old Kittaning coaling bridge) 1,640' +2.8"
241.5 21.5' (2400') "E. of 'KN'" curve, R 2°45'/3°30'
/241.7 / 6.7' (3620')
N of upper spillway 1,590' -4.1"
~241.5 18.8' N of ½-way point between reservoirs 1,580' -5.5"
~241.55 15.8' Kittaning Point station
241.6 12.7' signal bridge 2416
241.7 6.4' (3720') end of 1.75%, initiation of 1.45% 1,617.2' -0.4"
241.7 6.4' (3720') lower portion of "Horseshoe" curve @ 9°
(Radius = 637.3', 87.8" HO)
/241.9 / 6.7' /(~4860') (~1,140' out of 2,510' total)
241.81 0 Baker's/Kittaning triangular contour line due N of curve, 1,600' -2.8"
Run u. g. br. - MODEL HORIZONTAL REFERENCE
N of upper reservoir 1,600' -2.8"
track level above Kittaning Run 1,620' 0.0"
241.9 6.7' /(~4860') upper portion of "Horseshoe" curve @ 9°25'
(Radius = 604.7', 83.3" HO)
/242.2 / 22.4' /( 950') (~1,370' out of 2,510' total)
~242 11.5' Kittaning Point 2,249' +86.7"
major contour line at crest of rock face above curve 1,700' +11.0"
lower park parking lot 1,520' -13.8"
parking lot BM 1,530' -12.4"
upper park plateau MODEL ELEVATION REFERENCE 1,620' 0.0"
242.04 13.9' Burgoon/Glenwhite triangular contour line SW of curve, 1,600' -2.8"
Run u. g. br.
due S of W end of upper reservoir 1,640' +2.8"
SUGAR RUN to TUNNEL HILL / GALLITZIN:
242.2 22.4' ( 950') end of 1.45%, initiation of 1.74% 1,640.5' +2.8"
242.2 23.6' (1050') "W. of Horseshoe" curve, R 2
/242.3 / 28.5' /(1480')
242.4 34.8' (2030') various unnamed R curves, @ 5 , 1 , 6 30',
/242.9 / 63.9' /(4560?') and ending with "McGinleys" @ 5 30'
~242.9 66.1' {or ~242.6??) end of 1.74%, initiation of 1.73% 1,679.6' +8.2"
242.7 47.9' signal bridge 2427 (1950) {2426S/2427N skew*}
243.2 86.7' (1270') "McCanns" curve, L 2
/243.4 / 94.0' /(1900) due S of upper spillway 1,660' +5.5"
due S of W end of lower reservoir 1,680' +8.3"
S of lower reservoir and directly N of
abandoned rectangular reservoir 1,700' +11.0"
northern "Twin Peak" 2,241' +85.6"
~243.6 102.4' "MG" tower, with unnumbered signal bridges
at ~ 2434* and ~ 2438* {2433/35/37}
southern "Twin Peak" 2,242' +85.7"
SE of Southern "Twin Peak" 1,800' +24.8"
243.7 114.7' (3710') unnamed curve, R 2 /4 30'
/244.0 /132.8' /(5280') BM SW of Southern "Twin Peak" 1,852' +32.0"
244.0 132.8' ( 0') "AG" curve, R 4 45'/1 45'
/244.2 /147.5' /(1280')
244.3 152.0' (1679') two "Greenough" curves, R @ 2 /1 30' and 5 30
/244.7 /175.6' /(3729')
244.5 157.0' signal bridge 2445 (1950) {2444S/2425N skew*}
244.7 176.3' (3796') "Brandimarte" curve, L 9 15(?)'
/244.9 /180.0' /(4900')
~245 193.4' BM possibly at MP245 1,922' +41.6"
244.9 190.2' (5000') "MP245 / Williamson" curves
/245.1 /200.8' /( 650') 4 15'/1 15'/4 30'
245.1 202.0' ( 750') "Allegrippus" curve, L 8
/245.3 /213.2 /(1730')
245.5 221.2' (2420') "Cold" curve, R 7 /7 30'
/245.7 /236.7' /(3770?')
245.5 223.7' signal bridge 2455 (1950) {2454S/2455N skew*}
245.9 246.4' (4620?') "MP246" curve, R 2 30'/3?
/246.0 /256.3' /( 200') E end of "Bennington" curve 2,000' +52.4"
246.1 258.1' ( 360') "Bennington" curve, L 8 45' 2,020' +55.1"
/246.3 /274.2' /(1760')
~246.3 320.7' end of 1.73%, initiation of 2.36% WB, 2,036.0' +57.3"
1.73% EB, beginning of grade separation.
~246.3 320.7' "Benny" tower, with unnumbered signal
bridges at ~ 2462 and ~ 2464
246.4 278.2' (2110') "W. of Bennington" curve, EB, L 0 30'
/246.5 /282.2' /(2460')
246.56 small stream u. g. br. (Sugar Run?)
~246.6 338.9' end of 1.73% EB, initiation of 1.81% EB 2,052.7' +59.6"
246.7 296.6' (3715') "MP247" curves, WB & EB, R 1 30'
/247.1 /323.6' /( 780')
247 314.6' "SF" tower, just E of flying crossover 2,100' +66.1"
E of E portals (Sugar Run Gap)
~247.1 320.7' signal bridge
247.1 323.6' ( 780') unnamed curve, WB, R 2 40?'
/247.3 /330.3' /(1362?')
247.2 324.6' ( 868') unnamed curve, EB, L 2 30'
/247.3 /330.3' /(1362?')
247.21 327.3' BM at flying crossover E of E portals, 2,109' +67.4"
u. g. br. (New Portage Sec. br.)
~247.3 332.8' end of 2.36% WB, initiation of 1.89% WB 2,153.8' +73.5"
~247.3 332.8' WB tunnel E portal (N track = 3,605')
~247.4 338.9' WB tunnel E portal (S track = 3,605')
~247.4 338.9' end of 1.81% EB, initiation of 1.00% EB 2,120.9' +69.0"
~247.5 344.9' EB tunnel E portal (track = 1,630')
Tunnel Hill plateau above tunnels 2,320' +96.4"
old U. S. Route 53 above WB tunnel at Blair Gap / Coupon Road 2,340' +99.2"
Gallitzin church and school on U. S. Route 53 2,380' +104.7"
peak just N of Tunnel Hill 2,426' +111.0"
~247.6 351.0' top of W portal of EB tunnel 2,240' +110.2"
at W end of W portal of WB tunnel 2,180' +77.2"
E end of wye (on EB main) 2,180' +77.2"
~247.95 372.2' top of W portal of WB tunnel 2,200' +79.9"
~248.05 378.3' ALLEGHENY CREST WB - end of 1.89% WB, initiation of -0.61% WB 2,194.6 +79.2"
248.0+ 378.1' ( 248') unnamed curve in EB tunnel, R 3
/248.2 /384.5' /( 805')
248.2 388.1' (1120') "UN" curve, WB, L 6 45'
/248.4 /402.4' /(2362')
248.19 386.8' BM under Jackson Street road bridge
W of W WB portals, o. g. br. 2,167' +75.4"
~248.2 387.4' ALLEGHENY CREST EB - end of 1.00% EB, initiation of V. C. EB 2,160.8' +74.5"
Main Street bridge W of EB portal, o. g. br.
248.32 394.6' Chestnut Street (old U. S. Route 53) bridge
over WB, o. g. br.
~248.5 405.5' "AR" tower, with unnumbered signal bridges
at ~ 2483 and ~ 2487, on EB
248.55 408.6' small stream bridge under EB, u. g. br.
~248.6 411.6' end of V.C. EB, initiation of -1.00% EB, 2,157.7' +74.1"
beginning of 5th track (EB)
~248.6 411.6' "UN" tower, with unnumbered signal bridges
at ~ 2484 and ~ 2486, on WB
~248.6 411.6' BM at N end of wye 2,154' +73.6"
~248.7 417.7' end of -0.61% WB, initiation of -1.13% WB 2,183.8' +77.7"
248.7 417.0' (3638?') unnamed curve, WB, R 2
/249.2 /448.5' /(1101')
248.8 423.7' stream bridge under WB, u. g. br.
high school and reservoir in E leg of wye 2,220' +82.7"
knoll between HS and reservoir 2,230' +84.1"
high point just W of Union Cemetery 2,248' +86.5"
~248.8 423.7' end of -1.00% EB, initiation of -0.78% EB 2,140.7 +71.7"
~248.85 426.8' end of -1.13% WB, initiation of -1.44% WB 2,154.3 +73.6"
~248.9 429.8' signal bridge 2488?
249.0- 433.8' (5102') unnamed curve, R 3
/249.2 /448.5' /(1101')
knoll 1 mile W of central Gallitzin (2,167' BM) 2,200' +77.9"
249.5 463.4' (2400') "Helmans" curve (½-way between Gallitzin 2,100' +66.1"
/249.8 /485.8' /(4350') and Cresson), L 5 15', elev. at S end
~249.05 438.9' end of -0.73% EB, initiation of -0.96% EB 2,182.6' +77.5"
249.20 448.0' stream u. g. br. (Bradley Run?)
249.3 454.0' WB signal bridge 2493
~249.3 454.0' end of -1.44% WB, initiation of -0.87% WB 2,129.9' +70.3"
~249.35 457.1' end of -0.96% EB, initiation of -0.56% EB 2,121.1' +69.0"
249.4 460.1' high bridge, U. S. Route 53, o. g. br.
~249.5 466.2' end of -0.56% EB, initiation of -1.00% EB 2,115.5' +68.3"
~249.55 469.2' end of -0.87% WB, initiation of -1.01% WB 2,121.2' +69.1"
~249.8 484.4' end of -1.01% WB, initiation of -1.26% WB 2,099.4' +66.0"
~250.2 508.6' end of -1.26% WB & -1.00% EB, 2,076.9' +62.9"
end of grade separation.
CRESSON:
250.4 520.7' "MO" tower and yard, with unnumbered signal
bridges at ~ 2501 and ~ 2506
~250.5 526.8' end of 5th track EB, beginning of Track 5
WB, Irvona Br. from NW
250.64 535.3' U. S. Route 53, West/Wood Street, u.g. br.
BM at N end of wye (main line) 2,072' +62.3"
250.68? 537.7' signal and jump-over bridges, Cresson Br.
from SW (W leg of wye), "Cresson"
tower, BM at tail of wye (W end) 2,067' +61.6"
~250.8 545.0' Cresson MOW yard
~250.9 599.5' end of -1.00%, initiation of -0.62% 2,037.5' +57.5"
250.98 555.9' subway, u. g. br.
251.2 569.2' U. S. Route 22 bridge, u. g. br.,
BM at Route 22 underpass 2,030 +56.5"
~251.45 584.4' end of -0.62%, initiation of -0.61% 2,024.7' +55.8"
251.4 582.7' (2230') "Cresson" curve, R 0 30'
/251.8 /604.1' /(4090')
~252.2 629.8' end of -0.61%, initiation of -0.59% 2,018.6' +54.9"
~252.4 642.0' end of Track 5
252.5 648.0' signal bridge 2525 {2526S/2525N skew*}
252.58 652.9' stream u. g. br. (Little Conemaugh River) 2,000' +52.4"
~252.2 678.3' end of -0.59%, initiation of -0.99% to Lily 1,998.5' +52.1"
340.88 1-1/8 real miles! East Pittsburgh (ref.) ~754' -103.9"
"PH" tower & PRR station, Pittsburgh (ref.) 742.2'-120.9"
Well, the formatting didn't come out quite right in HTML (using <pre> - </pre>) but you probably get the picture. I am learning HTML Tables and will reformat this properly as soon as I get the method under my belt.
The foregoing compilation was made in preparation to model the Horseshoe Curve
in true HO scale (nominally 85½" radius) and the tunnels (shortened) by:
S. Berliner, III
BERLINERWERKE
Glen Head, New York
© Copyright S. Berliner, III 1990, 1999 - All rights are reserved to the author.
The foregoing table shows prototype and equivalent HO scale (1:87.1) dimensions; what follows will be a conversion table which will also list N (1:160) and Z (1:220) scales. For other scales, use the Scale Conversion Table on my Model RR page 4, although, except perhaps for S (1:64) or TT (1:128) there's not much likelihood anyone will model the full Horseshoe Curve in any larger scale. Of course, Pennsy actually did model it once at a scale of exactly 12" = 1'!
Consider that ½-Z scale (1:440) is exactly half of Z, so the nominal radius of the curve would only be about 45", or less than 8' across from outer track to outer track with room for embankments. Better yet, for the apartment dweller or single-roomer, you could always get a Tiny Trains TY Scale (1:900) layout, for which the curvature would approximate 22" (<4' across)!
The lay of the land is rugged, with the spine of the Alleghenies running SSW-NNE at 2,400', as shown on my 1975 sketch map on my main HSC page, at "Layout Expansion through the Horseshoe Curve", entitled "RR MAP OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA". The runs (ravines) fall ESE away from the crest, and the RoW comes SSE from Altoona, climbs ENE up on the north side of Burgoon Run, crosses over Kittaning Run, slices the face of Kittaning Peak SSW on the HSC, crosses Glenwhite Run, climbs around the two 2,400' peaks, and heads up ENE on the north side of Sugar Run to the tunnels under the crest. Once on the west slope, it's a short ride downhill south through Cresson and then a relatively straight and gradual long downhill drop west to Johnstown and Pittsburgh. If you follow the sketch map, you can readily see how rapidly the old lines climb, on fierce grades and/or tighter curves, compared to the newer one. Don't forget that much of the Old Portage RR was a steep cableway, with with ancient little locos used only on the "levels". Hollidaysburg is at 950', Altoona at 1,170', and the crest inside the tunnels is at around 2,130'!
Tabulation of Prototype Horseshoe Curve Dimensions with N and Z Equivalents.
{see Continuation Page 3}
On my Model Railroad page 4, I added a Railroad Grades chart, with the major Horseshoe Curve grades included.
For tall tales of the BW and its equipment and such,
visit the Berlinerwerke Apocrypha page.
If you like this sort of nonsense, take a gander at Jim Wells' incredible 
and at the AW NUTS Magazine site, "A Publication of the A.W. N.U.T.S. Garden Railway Society".
THUMBS UP!
THUMBS UP! - Support your local police, fire, and emergency personnel!
S. Berliner, III
To contact S. Berliner, III, please click here.
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of this series of Horseshoe Curve pages.
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