Conductor checking his watch, 2016.

The daily Pennsylvanian covers a 444-mile route that passes through the Appalachian Mountains and Pennsylvania Dutch Country and crosses over the famed Horseshoe Curve and Rockville Bridge, the oldest stone masonry arch railroad viaduct in the world. The train is financed primarily through funds made available by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The modern Altoona Transportation Center is located in the middle of town and near the popular Railroaders Memorial Museum. In 1849, the Pennsylvania Railroad established Altoona as a base for its rail operations over the Alleghenies. By the end of the 19th century, the Altoona rail yard and shop complex was one of the largest railroad repair and construction facilities in the world, and widely admired for its efficiency and scale of production.

Conductor Dale Secor, shown here, likes to provide commentary on historic sites along the railroad. Intrigued passengers often stop to chat with him about the history afterwards. “Being a conductor with Amtrak is a dream come true,” he says. “I love the history on this route and knowing that we are a vital source of transportation for the communities along this route.”

Photographer: Chuck Gomez for Amtrak. From the Amtrak Corporate Collection.