Built in Altoona in May 1918 and retired from service in 1956 after logging 2.5 million miles. No. 1361 is part of the 425 K4 Pacific Class locomotives built by the PRR and one of 350 built in Altoona PRR Shops. These 150-ton Pacific locomotives with 80-inch drivers could take 10 passenger cars around the Horseshoe Curve and approach 100mph on level ground. No. 1361 would last until the end of steam in 1957 and was gifted to the City of Altoona for display at the Horseshoe Curve. It would remain on the Curve from 1957 until 1985 when the Restoration began to have it run excursions. However, in 1987 it suffered an axle failure which forced it back into the shops for further work. Since then, No. 1361 was in the process of being restored at Steam Town in Scranton in the 1990s and it then moved to the Railroaders Memorial Museum Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse for further restoration where it remains today.

For further information and updates on K4 No. 1361 restoration, please check out the “Support Tab” and click on “K4 1361”. Your support is gratefully appreciated by the Railroaders Memorial Museum!

Note: It can be seen inside the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

To donate to the K4 1361 restoration project, click the button below.

Built in Altoona in January 1942, this was one of 139 such locomotives built for the PRR’s 11,000 volt electrified New York, Washington, and Harrisburg routes, the busiest lines in the United States. No. 4913 saw many miles pulling the Pennsy’s famous “Congressional” passenger train. The GG-1 type, first built in 1934, could handle 20 passenger cars at speeds up to 100 mph and is one of the most successful electric locomotive designs in the world. Some GG-1’s worked in first-line assignments for nearly 50 years. No. 4913, weighing in at 237-ton, was retired in 1980. This is one of only five GG-1’s to be originally painted in PRR Tuscan Red with five gold stripes.

Note: GG-1 No. 4913 is currently stored inside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse in the storage area. This was done to prevent further deterioration of the body and frame from the outside elements. The Railroaders Memorial Museum has plans in place for the restoration of No. 4913. Donations are greatly appreciated!

On the Pennsylvania Railroad, the correct terminology for a caboose was “cabin car”. This is a N5 type, built in Altoona in June 1929 and retired in 1987. The N5 type, first built in 1914, was the first all-steel design. 

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

This was originally a Class 90F82 coal and water tender for a PRR Class I1 2-10-0 steam locomotive. The locomotive was scrapped, but its tender was converted into a fuel oil car for maintenance of way service until retired at Elkhart, In., in 1987.

Note: This can be found in front of the Master Mechanic’s Building next to the stage in the Luther G. Smith Memorial Yard.

This Class R50B ice-cooled car was built in Altona in 1929. It was equipped with steam-heat lines. signal lines, and passenger-car-type brakes for use in passenger trains. It is the only known survivor of its class.

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

Railway Express Agency refrigerator car number 7375, was used to haul perishable freight that required the use of ice blocks for refrigeration. “REA” 7375 is owned by the Horseshoe Curve Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and was restored by Millennium Railcar of Hollidaysburg, Pa.

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

This car was used for the special 150 Anniversary train that hauled special lighting for the 150th Anniversary celebration of the Horseshoe Curve in 2004. This car is currently owned by the Railroaders Memorial Museum.

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

This is on permanent exhibit at the Horseshoe Curve, replacing K4 1361 when it was brought down for restoration in 1985. This diesel was built in December, 1955 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors Corp. Diesel electric locomotives of this and similar types are the ones that pushed the last of the steam locomotives into retirement in the 1950s. No. 7048 was retired in 1985 after having served the Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central, and Conrail for nearly 30 years. It was one of 270, 1750 hp units built for freight services.

Note: This is on display at the top of the viewing area at the Horseshoe Curve site. It is not at the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

Pennsylvania Railroad baggage car Class B-60b. This car could have been seen on most PRR passenger trains. This car was restored by Union Tank Car of Altoona and is currently owned by the Railroaders Memorial Museum.

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

A Class BM-70bn Railway Post Office (RPO) car. RPO cars were a mobile post office where mail was sorted by U.S. Postal clerks while the car was en route. At one time, virtually all U.S. Mail was moved by rail. Mail was delivered and picked up at almost every town in the United States served by rail. This RPO was the former K4 Excursion Tool Car. It is owned by the Railroaders Memorial Museum.

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

Replaced semaphore signal bridge with new position light signals east end of Horseshoe Curve at Kittanning Point was put into service late 1930;s to early 1940’s. It was in service until late 2009. The current plans are for it to be an operational yard exhibit.

Note: It can be seen in front of the Roundhouse over the track that goes through the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse past Altoona Pipe and Steel Building.

This is a Class BM-70n Railway Post Office (RPO) car. What makes this RPO unique is that it was the only one to be named after an individual. Robert E. Hannegan was the United States Postmaster General from 1945 to 1947. It is owned by the Horseshoe Curve Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

Formally painted in a Conrail Blue, this N10 Class cabin car was built for Penn Central and used up through Conrail. Later, this car was donated to the Museum by Dan and Cynthia Moringiello. This cabin car is currently undergoing restoration with a partnership between the Railroaders Memorial Museum and the Penn Central Historical Society to restore it to its original Penn Central configuration. The project is fully funded and currently underway inside the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

Note: This can be seen inside the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse near the K4 restoration project.

This car was built by Pullman Standard for the 1949 Broadway Limited. The Broadway Limited was the Pennsylvania Railroad’s premier train. The Mountain View is one of two blunt-end observation cars used on both sections of the Broadway Limited. Its’ sister car, the Tower View, is on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg. The Mountain View was retired in 1967 when it was taken out of revenue service-. In the 1980s, the car was restored by a private owner and was acquired by the Museum in 2006 with the help of Bennett and Eric Levin of the Juniata Terminal Company in Philadelphia. The Railroaders Memorial Museum is in the process of cosmetically restoring the interior of the car to a 1950s look to it.

Note: This can be seen inside the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse when you enter through the doors on the far side. It is right behind Nancy.

This Ore car was built to haul ore over the PRR lines. This car served under Penn Central to Conrail. The Railroaders Memorial Museum has plans to cosmetically restore it.

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

Originally built in 1910, the car was modernized in 1950 to accommodate 32 passengers. The Dining Car used to sit in front of the Master Mechanic’s Building where the statue of Luther G. Smith is currently placed. 

Note: It is currently stored inside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse in the storage section.

Nicknamed the Queen Mary, No. 766163 was built in 1952 at the Juniata Shops. It was designed to transport turbo-generator sets, transformers, castings for automotive presses, and other heavy objects. 

Note: This car can be found in the Luther G. Smith Memorial Yard

Built by the PRR in 1934 by the Altoona Car Shops, the X29 box car could carry approximately 50 tons of freight. It was used in high speed passenger trains containing express shipments. The special high speed trucks allowed for fast high speed service. 

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

Conrail 80002 was built by the PRR in 19060 in Altoona. It weighs 30,000lbs (15 tons). The weight would be adjusted by adding or removing lead weight. It was used to test the scale on which freight was weighed.

Note: This car can be found in front of the old Museum Building walking towards the covered Amtrak Bridge.

Nicknamed Big Blue, this diesel electric locomotive was built by Conrail in 1995 and then was owned by Norfolk Southern Corporation. Under Conrail it has the Road Number 5582 and under Norfolk Southern it was 6721. It was donated, in 2020, by Norfolk Southern to the Rail Transportation Engineering (RTE) Program of Penn State Altoona to be used as a hands-on lab for the students. It was painted at Curry Rail in Hollidaysburg, Pa into the Penn State Altoona color scheme with RTE Program markings and given the Road Number 2020. This locomotive will be accessible for the RTE students for classes. It is owned by the Railroaders Memorial Museum.

Note: This can be found around the turntable outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

Built in March 1943 by General Electric is a 45-Ton Switcher. It was used at the Appalachian Electric and Power Company. It was donated to the Museum in 2020 and under Museum ownership. It is used for general purpose around the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.

Note: It can be seen in different areas inside or outside of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.