| 17th Street. Here is an image of an official photo of the Pennsylvania Railroad's trackage and switch tower facing West at the 17th Street Bridge in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Photo by R.A. Bonine, c. 1875. Shown here is the predecessor to ALTO Tower at the far right, the entrance to Gamble's coal, wood, and lumber yard in the center, and the branch line to Hollidaysburg on the left. Also note the stub switches and the railroad workers up the line waiting for orders as to which way to throw their respective switches. The mainline tracks surmount the Allegheny Mountains on their way to Gallitzin, Pittsburgh, and points West. William E Burket Collection. |