Hollidaysburg, PA: NS/Pennsy Railyard, Roundhouse and Samuel Ray Shops

Railyard: (Satellite)

Curry Rail Services: (Satellite)

This yard was on a Pennsy branch south of the mainline that went through Altoona.

First photo in an album of 39 photos of this railyard   (source)
East End of Hollidaysburg, Blair County with the Pennsylvania Railroad Car Shops around the mid-1950's.
(Photo from Daniel Stephen Sheterom via https://www.facebook.com/groups/AncestralHollidaysburg/)
[The long white building was the Samuel Ray Shops that replaced the steam engine facilities in 1954. It manufactured, as well as rehabilitated, freight cars.]

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted

Pennsylvania Railroad Round House in the town of Hollidaysburg, Blair County in November of 1911. The Powerhouse can be seen at the left.

(Photo from Thomas C. Ayers)

 

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted

Pennsylvania Railroad Roundhouse in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. This was ;pcated at the East end of Sam Reigh Shops. The hill in the background is where the East Loop Rd. came out of Hollidaysburg.

(Photo from Jack Eichenlaub via https://www.facebook.com/groups/Altoonahashustle/)

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted

Pennsylvania Railroad Sam Rea Shops in the town of Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Originally built by the Pennsylvania Railroad at a cost of $14 million and opened in 1956, the (then) state-of-the-art Samuel Rea Car Shops employed over 1400 people and could produce 50 new freight cars each day.

(Photo from Daniel Stephen Sheterom via https://www.facebook.com/groups/AncestralHollidaysburg/)

This topo is after the roundhouse was removed, and the previous topo that is available is 1903. According  to the 1903 map, nothing was built here back then.

1963/65 Holidaysburg and Frankstown Quads @ 24,000

Another photo from the photo album
Interior of the Pennsylvania Railroad Samuel Rea Shops in Hollidaysburg, Blair County in May of 1957.
(Photo from Thomas C. Ayres via https://www.facebook.com/groups/AncestralHollidaysburg/)
Thomas C. Ayers This is a production line view of H-36 Hopper Cars taken in May of 1957.
Bert Veldhuizen I had no idea fluorescent lights were around back then?
Ralph Ciccone They've been around at least since the 1930's.

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted

Here is an aerial photo of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Yards in Hollidaysburg, Blair County, that was taken by Thomas Hollyman around 1953. Looking East towards Frankstown, the Westbound Classification Yard is on the left and the Eastbound Receiving Yard is on the right. The Roundhouse has been demolished and preparations are being made to construct the half-mile long Samuel Rea Shop. All that remains from the "Age of Steam" is the wooden water tower in the center of the photo.

(Photo from Thomas C. Ayers)

The facility is now used by the Curry Rail Services.

Curry Rail Services

Curry Rail Services

Curry Rail Services

It looks like they do more than freight cars.

Curry Rail Services

Back when the photos in the album were taken, Pennsy had a branch east of Hollidaysburg that met its mainline in Petersburg.

AJ Grigg's Abandoned Railroad Map

There was also a north/south branch that went from Altoona down through Hollidaysburg and Bedford and met the B&O at Hyndman, PA. Norfolk Southern has retained the branch from Altoona to Hollidaysburg and Curry Rail Services. A couple of shortlines operate some of the remnants south of Hollidaysburg.

NS System Map