Railroad fans flock to Cambria County corridor
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Gathering his equipment, D.J. Miller, of Gallitzin, Pa., heads out for a morning hunt with enthusiasm.
He has checked Facebook feeds and websites for vital information. Once he’s behind the wheel or on foot, he will switch to a scanner to track down his quarry.
Mr. Miller is trying to intercept a 215-ton beast, and there may even be more than one. Once in position, he waits. Soon, a distinct rumble fills the air, and the ground begins to shake. As the behemoth bears down on him, it lets out a deafening wail that reverberates throughout his body. Remaining steady, Mr. Miller composes himself and takes the shot.
Got it! Another quality photo of a diesel locomotive pulling a long line of cars along the main line of the Norfolk Southern Railway.
Mr. Miller is a rail fan who can’t quite explain his fascination with trains, but he’s certainly not alone.
Websites such as Heritage Units, PT 242 and Virtual Railfan reveal train locations and destinations for people such as Mr. Miller, who pursues his passion a few times a week in Summerhill, Cassandra and other communities.
“There’s times I’ll be out all day,” he said.
Keith Burkey, of Richland Township, also loves taking photos of trains and has been a lifelong rail fan.
“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t,” the 43-yearold Vinco native said. “From the youngest point of my childhood, I was interested in trains. ... There is no reason for the draw. It’s a cultural thing, I would suggest.”
‘A glorious racket’
Capturing images of trains and sharing them is Mr. Burkey’s passion. There’s an emotional reaction to a train being in a photo. Even the sound of an oncoming train, especially at night, rouses something insideof him.
“It is a glorious racket that you won’t hear anywhere else,” he said.
For him, there’s nothing quite like the physical and emotional response the experience elicits.
“It’s pretty neat,” Mr. Burkey said. “I wouldn’t trade the hobby for anything in the world.”
Although he cites Summerhill as a favorite spot, he
devotes more time to capturing trains in locations off the beaten path, checking websites for specific information before leaving home.
“It’s a pursuit” that could involve a long drive or arduous hike, he said. Checking weather conditions and sun angles also affects his hunt for optimal settings that add context to his photos.
Situated exactly halfway by rail between Johnstown and Altoona, Cassandra has become a required stop for
train enthusiasts, and Cassandra native John Shuniak figured that out one day in the late 1990s.
While sitting in front of his building, which housed his used car dealership and auto body shop, Mr. Shuniak said, “three or four cars went by, and I noticed that they were all out-of-state plates.” He said the cars were headed up to an old pedestrian bridge that crosses over the railroad.
“I was just curious and went up to the bridge,” he said, “and these people were standing on the bridge with cameras, and I just asked them what they were doing, and they said, ‘We’re just here to photograph trains.’ ”
It wasn’t long before Mr. Shuniak converted this business into the Cassandra Railroad Overlook Motel. Starting with just two rooms, Mr. Shuniak said the trains drummed up enough business for him to expand to six.
The town’s bridge offers a rare view of a lengthy triple rail straight-away on one side, a picturesque curve on the other and a close encounter as trains pass directly beneath.
The stop also offers rail fans an opportunity to get photos and videos of trains after sunset with The Cassandra AllNighter. A section of tracks at the bridge, illuminated by powerful shop lights, provides a band of light for trains to roll through.
Mr. Shuniak said 90% of his patrons drive from locations four to five hours away, but some hail from as far away as Australia.
“I don’t know why they do it,” he said, “but I’m glad they do it.”
‘Trackside’ viewing
In some cases, Cambria
County’s rails have attracted people that have come to stay.
Tom Davis, owner of The Station Inn Bed and Breakfast in Cresson, capitalized on the craze in 1993 while traveling near the railroad tracks ofthe famous rail town.
“I was driving down Front Street and saw this large number of trains, and I thought, ‘Well, there’s a good chance that rail fans would respond to this, and it would be a good spot for them,’ ” he said, “and I hit the jackpot, you might say.”
Cresson’s railroad observation platform was one of the spots that attracted Mr. Davis to relocate from New Jersey and renovate an 1860s-era building across the street. Although the eight rooms he has are vacant during winter, he said, “By the middle of April, we’ll be turning people away.”
The big hit at the establishment is the front porch, where folks relax in comfortable chairs while capturing photos and videos of the 60odd trains that roll by daily.
A rail fan himself, Mr. Davis said many of his guests return annually, spending their money at local restaurants and stores.
“It’s a rail-friendly town.”