Altoona and the Pennsylvania Railroad Between a Roar and a Whimper

Altoona and the Pennsylvania Railroad...tells the story of Altoona's birth, the place chosen by the PRR to begin its operations. In this wilderness appeared makeshift shops and ribbons of steel rails. Men, hungry for work, rushed to the scene. Families followed. Up sprang houses, schools and churches along both sides of the tracks. In words and pictures, this book traces the growth of the railroad until Altoona housed the largest car shops in the world. Together, the city and the PRR became famous. The fame was due in part to the dedication of the men who spent most of their lives with the railroad; also the women who shouldered the men's jobs during times of war. Nothing--not rigid work rules, dangerous and demanding jobs, low pay, or few benefits dampened the devotion they held for the Pennsy.