New Portage

One of the "features" of the redesigned Tunnel Hill area is the bridge that carries the eastward mains over the New Portage branch. The branch was originally part of the New Portage Railroad constructed in the 1850's by the state of Pennsylvania. At that time the Allegheny Portage Railroad used incline planes with tow ropes to surmount the Alleghenies. The New Portage Railroad bypassed the inclines and provided an rail route over the summit. The Pennsylvania purchased the New Portage and used it until its own route over Horseshoe Curve was completed. The New Portage was abandoned in 1857. The right of way was reopened in 1904 as a bypass for freight traffic. The route had its own 180 degree curve similar to Horseshoe, called Muleshoe. The branch was abandoned for the second time in 1981, this time by Consolidated Rail.

New Portage Branch

Part of the latest revision to the Allegheny Eastern is  the inclusion of the New Portage branch (or at least the suggestion of it). This required the construction of a set of stone arch and girder bridges and a grade to get the eastward trains over the branch. In the photo to the left a class AS16 hauls a MOW car on the branch while a EP22 hauls a local the wrong way on the eastward main. Nothing is running right now, the shot is staged. I was checking clearances under the bridge with the Alco and the boxcar. Vertical tolerance is tight to keep eastward grade down to 1.5%.

Eastward Grade Roadbed

The grade itself is constructed of laminated strips of extruded foam covered with ballast strip. The entire assembly is held together with tacky glue and then weighted and clamped into position until the glue sets. This is the eastward freight main. The ballast strip directly adjacent on the right is the location of the eastward passenger main which is now in place and setting up. The the eastward mains are carried over the branch by two separate but identical stone and steel bridges. The real bridge was a single concrete span and quite a bit different. I used some Atlas viaduct and bridge kits I had on hand and got creative.

Wide View of Tunnel Hill Area

The wide view on the left shows the progress on the revised area. The branch runs under the eastward mains and connects to the westward mains via a wye switch. The second eastward main runs adjacent to the first with a slight separation at the bridges. Beyond the wye switch will be the west portals of the twin tunnels. The curved foam piece just beyond that is a template for the helper loop. It will run uphill to join the eastward mains where the white box sits. Way off to the far left is the future location of the Gallitzin "industrial area". Between the helper loop and the branch will be Tunnel Hill and the town of Gallitzin itself.

As I mentioned earlier the eastward freight main is in place and I'm waiting for the glue to set up. I hope to complete the grade and install the remainder of the ballast strip for the mainline over the next few days. Track will be laid and there is a good chance trains will be moving again later this week.