Altoona Works, Pennsylvania
Historic rail siteAn active locomotive shop, not a walk-in museum; its story is told at Altoona's Railroaders Memorial Museum
Altoona Works is the Pennsylvania Railroad's great shop complex in Altoona, built between 1850 and 1925 and for many years the largest railroad shop complex in the world, where thousands of locomotives were built, rebuilt and repainted.
- Built by the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1850 to 1925
- First locomotive built here in 1866
- Last new steam engine: a 1946 T1
- Juniata Shops still rebuild locomotives
Altoona Works at a glance
- Hours
- Active shop; check the Railroaders Memorial Museum for visiting hours
- Admission
- Not posted for the shops; see the Railroaders Memorial Museum
- Best for
- Pennsylvania Railroad history fans and rail photographers
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Follow Altoona Works
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Taking the kids to Altoona Works? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Altoona.
Rally Takes the Train
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The shops that made Altoona a railroad city
When the Pennsylvania Railroad was incorporated in 1846, it chose Altoona, at the foot of the Alleghenies, for its largest shops. Work on the first buildings began in early 1850, locomotive maintenance started in December 1852, and in December 1866 the Altoona Machine Shops finished their first locomotive built from scratch, a class D 4-4-0 of about 35 tons.
As the railroad grew, a second complex, the Juniata Shops, opened in 1890 and turned out its first locomotive in July 1891. In 1928 the whole group, including the car shops, foundries and enginehouse, took the name Altoona Works. The last new steam locomotive built here, a T1 4-4-4-4 passenger engine, rolled out in 1946. Diesels followed, and the Juniata Shops still rebuild and repaint locomotives for Norfolk Southern under Thoroughbred Mechanical Services.
Where to see the Altoona Works story
Altoona Works is a working industrial site rather than a museum with galleries, and no public tours of the shops themselves are advertised. The best place to start is the Railroaders Memorial Museum at 1300 Ninth Avenue, which has occupied the Master Mechanics Building since 1998 and focuses on Altoona's railroad workers and the Works. Railroad City, the group behind it, also points visitors to Horseshoe Curve and to the restoration of K4 1361, the Spirit of Altoona. Check with the museum about current hours and any shop-related programs before you go.
Don’t miss
- The Master Mechanics BuildingHome of the Railroaders Memorial Museum since 1998, it is the most direct way for visitors to step inside the Altoona Works story.
- K4 1361, the Spirit of AltoonaRailroad City says this Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotive is being restored, and visitors can follow the work.
- Horseshoe CurveThe National Historic Landmark is open year-round and is still an active freight line, so you can watch modern trains in the hills above the Works.
Making a giant shop make sense to kids
There is no kids' area at the shops themselves, so families do best pairing a stop at the Railroaders Memorial Museum with a visit to Horseshoe Curve, where children can watch working freight trains climb the mountain. Ask the museum which exhibits suit younger children and how much walking to expect.
Plan your visit: tips for Altoona Works
- Start at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, 1300 Ninth Avenue, which tells the Altoona Works story.
- Horseshoe Curve is accessible year-round and pairs well with a day in Altoona.
- AltoonaWorks.info keeps rosters of Altoona-built locomotives and recent repaints if you want to read up first.
Who keeps the Altoona Works story alive
The shops are still at work: Norfolk Southern's Juniata Locomotive Shop, operated by Thoroughbred Mechanical Services, rebuilds and repaints locomotives here. The history is kept by the Railroaders Memorial Museum and by rail historians such as A.K. Myers, whose independent site AltoonaWorks.info has documented Altoona-built and Juniata-rebuilt locomotives since 2006 and has donated to the PRR T1 Steam Locomotive Trust. Visiting the museum is the easiest way to support that work.
Pair it with these Altoona area stops
The Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark are both right in Altoona. The Gallitzin Tunnels Park and Museum is about 9 miles west. For more ideas, see train museums across Pennsylvania.
- Railroaders Memorial MuseumAltoona, PA · same town
- Horseshoe Curve National Historic LandmarkAltoona, PA · same town
- Everett RailroadHollidaysburg, PA · about 6 mi
- Gallitzin Tunnels Park & MuseumGallitzin, PA · about 9 mi
- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic SiteGallitzin / Cresson, PA · about 9 mi
- Portage Station MuseumPortage, PA · about 17 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Thousands of engines left Altoona after being built or rebuilt there, and I like to think of every one as heading off somewhere with a job to do. In our book, Rally gets ready for his own trip by packing his turtle toy, green bone and yellow ball, because a corgi takes his luggage seriously. If your little one wants to pack a bag too, our coloring pages make a good thing to bring along.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
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- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Altoona Works?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Altoona Works: 20 questions about the Pennsylvania Railroad shops
What is Altoona Works?
Altoona Works is a large railroad industrial complex in Altoona, Pennsylvania, built by the Pennsylvania Railroad between 1850 and 1925 to supply the railroad with locomotives, cars and related equipment. For many years it was the largest railroad shop complex in the world, and it was nicknamed the Standard Railroad Shops of the World.
Can you visit Altoona Works?
Altoona Works is an active locomotive shop, not a walk-in museum, and no public tour schedule for the shops is posted online. The best way to see its history is the Railroaders Memorial Museum at 1300 Ninth Avenue in Altoona. Contact the museum to ask about any shop-related programs or events.
Where is Altoona Works located?
Altoona Works is in Altoona, Pennsylvania, at the foot of the Allegheny Mountains, a location that helped the Pennsylvania Railroad choose the site. The complex grew to include the Altoona Machine Shops, the Juniata Shops in the Juniata section of the city, the car shops, the South Altoona Foundries and the East Altoona Enginehouse.
When was Altoona Works built?
Construction on the first Altoona shop buildings began in early 1850, and the shops began locomotive maintenance in December 1852. The complex kept growing for decades: the Juniata Shops were completed in 1890, and a large erecting and machine shop addition was built there in 1924 and 1925.
Who built Altoona Works?
The Pennsylvania Railroad built Altoona Works. Right after the railroad was incorporated in 1846, its officials began planning maintenance shops along the line, and Altoona was chosen for the largest of them. Later owners of the shops included Penn Central, Conrail and Norfolk Southern.
What was the first locomotive built at Altoona?
In December 1866, the Altoona Machine Shops built their first locomotive from scratch, an unusual class D 4-4-0 that weighed about 35 tons. The newer Juniata Shops completed their first locomotive in July 1891, and the two shops built locomotives side by side for about 13 years.
What was the last steam locomotive built at Altoona Works?
The last new steam locomotive built in Altoona was a Baldwin-designed T1, a 4-4-4-4 passenger locomotive, completed in 1946. Steam on the Pennsylvania Railroad ended in 1957, and the shops were adapted to maintain diesel locomotives during those years.
What are the Juniata Shops in Altoona?
The Juniata Shops were planned in 1886 and completed in 1890 in the Juniata section of Altoona, when the original Altoona Machine Shops grew too crowded. All locomotive work moved there by August 1938. Today the Juniata Locomotive Shop belongs to Norfolk Southern and is operated by Thoroughbred Mechanical Services.
When did the shops get the name Altoona Works?
In June 1928, the Pennsylvania Railroad dropped the Juniata Shops name in favor of Altoona Works. The new name covered the Altoona Machine Shops, the Juniata Shops, the Altoona Car Shops, the South Altoona Foundries and the East Altoona Enginehouse as one group.
Is Altoona Works still in operation?
Yes. The Juniata Shops still rebuild and repaint locomotives for Norfolk Southern, operated by Thoroughbred Mechanical Services. Recent work listed by AltoonaWorks.info includes SD40-3 and AC44C6M rebuilds and fresh paint for several heritage-scheme units, with more rebuilds planned into 2027.
What are the Norfolk Southern heritage units repainted at Altoona?
Norfolk Southern painted a group of heritage units in 2012, and some have since returned to the Juniata Paint Shop for a fresh coat. AltoonaWorks.info lists repaints of the Southern and Reading units in 2023, the Virginian unit in August 2023, the DL&W unit in April 2024 and the Illinois Terminal unit in August 2025.
Where can I see Altoona Works history exhibits?
Head to the Railroaders Memorial Museum at 1300 Ninth Avenue in Altoona. Opened in 1980, it focuses on railroad workers and communities in central Pennsylvania, particularly Altoona and the Works, and has been housed in the Master Mechanics Building since 1998. Check its website for current hours and admission.
What is AltoonaWorks.info?
AltoonaWorks.info is an independent website run by rail historian A.K. Myers since 2006. It lists steam, electric, gas and diesel locomotives built in Altoona, Juniata rebuilds, rosters, maps and photos. The site says it is not affiliated with Norfolk Southern or Thoroughbred Mechanical Services, and it welcomes corrections by email.
Is Altoona Works a good stop with kids?
The shops themselves are an industrial site without a kids' area, so plan the day around places built for visitors. The Railroaders Memorial Museum tells the shop story, and Horseshoe Curve, open year-round, lets children watch working freight trains on the mountain. Ask the museum which exhibits suit younger kids.
What happened to Altoona Works after the steam era?
A new diesel shop, now the test shed, was built in 1954, and a large-scale conversion to diesel maintenance came in 1964 when the Pennsylvania Railroad partly upgraded the electric and machine shop. After the 1968 merger with the New York Central, the shops passed to Penn Central and later owners.
What is the Spirit of Altoona locomotive?
The Spirit of Altoona is K4 1361, a Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotive. Railroad City, the organization behind the Railroaders Memorial Museum, invites visitors to see it being restored. Check the Railroad City website for current access and restoration updates before your visit.
Is Horseshoe Curve related to Altoona Works?
Both are part of the Pennsylvania Railroad's story in Altoona. Horseshoe Curve is a National Historic Landmark near the city that is accessible year-round and remains an active freight line. Railroad City promotes visits to Horseshoe Curve alongside the Master Mechanics Building, so the two make an easy pairing.
How many locomotives were built at Altoona Works?
AltoonaWorks.info keeps detailed lists of all steam, electric, gas and diesel locomotives built in Altoona, but a single published total is hard to find. The site notes that some steam build dates could be off by a month or two because the records are close to 150 years old.
Does Altoona Works have a gift shop or admission fee?
No admission or gift shop is posted for the working shops. For tickets, exhibits and shopping, visit the Railroaders Memorial Museum at 1300 Ninth Avenue in Altoona, and check its website for current prices before you go.
What train museums are near Altoona Works?
The Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark are both in Altoona. The Everett Railroad in Hollidaysburg is about 6 miles away, and Gallitzin Tunnels Park and Museum and the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site are each about 9 miles away.
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