Discovering the Allegheny Portage Railroad: A Pathway to Innovation
Welcome back to the Alliance's monthly TrailBlazer series, where each month the Alliance will spotlight one of the various National Parks along the 1,500-mile 9/11 National Memorial Trail. This month we're moving north along the alignment to feature the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site.
Follow the path of the first railroad to cross the Allegheny Mountains at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. This system, part of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal of Public Works, revolutionized travel time across the state. Before the canal, it took about three weeks by wagon to go from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, also known as the Gateway to the West in the 1830s. When the Main Line Canal opened in its entirety in 1834, it now took a mere five days. There was now one, direct route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The Industrial Revolution that was taking place at the same time transformed the production of goods and made them available to people in rural parts of Pennsylvania.
In the early 1830s, when the Allegheny Portage Railroad was being built, railroads were in their infancy and canals were the preferred method of travel. The best solution at the time was to build a 36-mile railroad that connected the Hollidaysburg and Johnstown canal basins on each side of the formidable mountain barrier: the Allegheny Mountains.
To make it work, engineers used ten inclined planes to pull people and goods over the mountains. At the top of each inclined plane, the railroad cars were assisted by stationary engines. On the level sections, horses and locomotives pulled the train cars. It took an average of six to ten hours to complete this part of the journey. Famous travelers included Charles Dickens, Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Clay, Jenny Lind, and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
The Visitor Center offers an orientation film and hands-on exhibits to learn about the canal and railroad. Explore the Engine House No. 6 Exhibit Shelter to see the machinery that was needed to pull several tons of cargo up the inclined planes. The historic Lemon House tavern was a stop along the Allegheny Portage Railroad and served weary travelers. Today, the interior has been restored to an 1840s tavern.
We have many recreational opportunities with over fifteen miles of trails in different sections of the park. Hike or bike to the first railroad tunnel in America, the Staple Bend Tunnel. The Inclines 6-10 Trail roughly follows the path of the railroad down the eastern front of the Allegheny Mountains. Enjoy the season with a picnic in our picnic area.
Park buildings are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Costumed park ranger programs and Evening on the Summit events take place throughout the summer season. The Alliance invites everyone to explore and learn about this unique transportation system via the 9/11 National Memorial Trail!
