Kittanning Point, PA: Lost/(IA) Tower and Lost/Depot

Kittanning Point Mountain: (Satellite)

Tower: (Satellite, the tower got replaced by the 1944 MG Tower.)

Depot: (Satellite)

The tower and depot were at the Horseshoe Curve.

Darren Reynolds posted

PRRs "IA" tower west of the Horseshoe curve

And in the background is Kittanning Point.

Photo by & Date: Unknown

Mike Froio: William H Rau photograph circa 1891-93. He was commissioned to make these photographs for the PRR’s exhibition at the Columbian Exposition. There’s an excellent book featuring a selection of the work called, “Traveling the Pennsylvania” well worth having in the library.

Andy Waite: Something I’ve always been curious about remotely located towers like this - how did tower operators actually get there for their shifts? Did they hitch a ride in a cabin car out of Altoona? It’s not like they could stop a train on the grade.

Bob Johnson: Andy Waite, my grandfather was an operator before he became a dispatcher and decades ago I asked him this question also. He said he would hitch a ride to towers and told me he took an awful fall disembarking once. This was during the depression so he traveled a lot.

Darren Reynolds posted again

The Pennsylvania Railroads 

"IA" tower 

Near World famous Horseshoe and in the background that's Kittanning Point

Photo by: William H. Rau

Between 1891-1893

I consulted this map to confirm that the geographic south side of the Horseshoe Curve is the timecard west side. I include Gallitzin Tunnel near the left side because the summit of the grade is just west of that tunnel. Altoona is on the right side.

1953 Pittsburgh Quad @ 250,000

Altoona Pennsylvania History added three photos with the comment:

Horseshoe Curve Monday: Kittanning Point Station 

The Horseshoe Curve had a station sitting in the shadows of the landscape, the name of the station being Kittanning Point Station, named after the Kittanning Indian Trail that passed through the area centuries before. This station stood for 48 years from 1892-1940. There was a different combination of buildings at this location until this station was built. 

Photo Credit to Thomas C. Ayers

Darren Reynolds shared

Pat McKinney: I can only imagine the risk the few people that got off and on trains here took crossing the two east bound tracks to get to a train on No3 track with all the traffic that was moving eastbound. Would be worse if the waiting train was standing on No. 4 track.

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Hunter Krug commented on the above post
I always liked this shot. Wonder what year it was taken.
Altoona Pennsylvania History: Hunter Krug this is one of the first Kittanning Point stations, I'd say 1870-1890

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
Pennsylvania Railroad train at Kittanning Point Station near the Horseshoe Curve located just west of Altoona in 1937.