Altoona Railway Museum Club

On March 11, 2022, David W. Seidel, founding member of the Altoona Railway Museum Club, the National Railroad Historical Society's Horseshoe Curve Chapter, the Altoona Railroader's Memorial Museum, and co-creator of/contributor to this website, passed away.
He was a great Uncle and Friend.

David Seidel of Altoona shows a small sampling of the hundreds of local postcards he has collected.

"The Altoona native and local history author is celebrating the recent release of "Altoona" a photo essay book that captures the town's life and past through images of never-before-seen vintage postcards from both private and public collections, a release states. The book not only chronicles Altoona from its infancy, but also the railroad industry which founded the city - namely, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company."

Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec

Circa 1972.....David Seidel, sitting in member Babe Wahl's kitchen (member Mary Jo Wahl no doubt took the picture), whacking out a newsletter [cutting the stencils] for the Horseshoe Curve Chapter's 'Coal Bucket' on Mary Jo's electric Smith Corona portable [plugged into the stove at 1487 Washington Avenue, Altoona]. According to David, "This was a monthly or bi-monthly ritual, accompanied by Babe's percolated coffee and a superb culinary concoction [usually pie or raisin oatmeal cookies]. YUM ! Babe made the VERY BEST pie crust ever!!"

The Altoona Railway Museum Club had its beginnings at the time the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) ceased to exist and when many of the PRR’s historical sites in the Altoona, Pennsylvania, area were being dismantled. Although many local facilities were lost, the Altoona Railway Museum Club strived to preserve the heritage of our fore bearers who settled here.

The Club was an informal organization formed in 1965 through the offices of the Blair County Tourist and Convention Bureau (with the assistance Mr. George Kelchner) following Altoona's loss in being designated the site for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's new railroad museum. The Altoona Railway Museum Club, initially a nucleus of approximately a half-dozen people, was formed to promote an awareness of Altoona's rich railroad heritage and to seek ways and means to develop a railroad museum for the greater Altoona area. Subsequently, the group became aware of an organization known as the National Railway Historical Society, and applied for a charter. This charter was granted and the Horseshoe Curve Chapter was officially recognized effective May 11, 1968. Overtime, the Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS, had a significant role in the successful 1973 establishment of the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum.

Today, the Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS, is a tax exempt, non-profit organization which engages in projects to preserve and maintain historical equipment and information relating to the rail transportation industry, particularly as it applies to the Blair County, PA area. The Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS, also plays an instrumental role in local heritage awareness. The Chapter owns and operates rail passenger equipment as well as restores rolling stock, and it supports all preservation projects of the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum.

This site is dedicated to the founders of the "Altoona Railway Museum Club” and the members of the Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS. In the following pages, you will find extensive information regarding the Altoona Railway Museum Club, the Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS (through August 2013), information regarding the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum , Altoona, PA area history, and area Railfan Information.''

We hope you enjoy the site and encourage you to join the NRHS as well as visit the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum.

-- This website contains articles from "The Coal Bucket" as well as additional items. Note: The content of this site was previously found on the Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS website, which was disestablished August 2013. --

-- This site is no longer affiliated with the Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS --

Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS Information

Chapter News

News and Information from the Horseshoe Curve Chapter.

Memorable Moments from the Chapter's Past

Archive - News and Information from the Horseshoe Curve Chapter.

Chapter History

History of the Horseshoe Curve Chapter History of the Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS

Rolling Stock We Own

Photographs and descriptions.

Membership

NRHS membership information.

Chapter Store

Contact the Horseshoe Curve Chapter for current availability.

Hall of Honor

Remembering those that have served the Chapter in the past.

Contact the Chapter

Contact information for the Horseshoe Curve, Chapter, NRHS

Local History

By Chris Behe and David Seidel

Click Here

By Chris Behe and David Seidel

Click Here

Middle Division Transporation Committee

Railroad city : four historic neighborhoods in Altoona, Pennsylvania

by Kim E. Wallace ... [et al.] - (External Link)

Pennsylvania Railroad shops and works, Altoona, Pennsylvania

by John C. Paige" - (External Link)

Long Live Gable's

Long Live Gable's (Department Store, Downtown Altoona, PA) - By Robert Jeschonek (External Link)

Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum Information

History of the Railroaders Memorial Museum

Horseshoe Curve History

PRR K-4s #1361 Restoration

The Herman Haupt Bridge

"The Loretto" Restoration Project

PRR GG1 #4913

Roundhouse and Turntable Project

Official Museum / Horseshoe Curve Homepage

Live Stream Webcams

Cresson, PA

by Railstream; Station Inn (External Link)

Horseshoe Curve

(External Link)

December 2022 Updates

The latest Chapter Newsletters have been added to the Memorable Moments of the Past pages.
If you see any broken links, please email me at seabehe@earthlink.net. Thanks in advance.

NRHS and its logo are trademarks of the National Railway Historical Society.

"Railfest" is a trademark of the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum.

Panoramic photograph of the Horseshoe Curve seen throughout this website is used with permission, copyright: Kirk Leidy, Altoona, PA.

Photograph of Locomotive in collage is by Thomas Lynam & Altoona Archives.

The Horseshoe Curve "Eighth Wonder" Logo is a trademark of the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum, Inc.

Author: Chris Behe
Copyright 1998-2023 All rights reserved.

Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS Business Meetings are held at 7:30 pm, on the fourth Tuesday of the Month at:

The Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum

Social Meetings may be held at a pre-determined location. Contact Horseshoe Curve NRHS Chapter President Francis Givler, Jr. for further details.

You are invited to attend!

Be sure to visit the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum and the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark!

Revised: September 17, 2018

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