Customers boarding the Pennsylvanian at Lewistown, 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. As seen in this image, the train uses tubular Amfleet I cars, which began entering service in 1975. The Pennsylvanian is financed primarily through funds made available by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Conductor Dale Secor (red tie) assists customers at Lewistown, whose depot holds the special distinction as the oldest surviving structure known to have been built by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Originally constructed in 1849 as a freight handling warehouse, it was converted to passenger use in 1868.

Secor’s grandfather had a 50 year career in railroading, including on the Broadway Limited (New York-Chicago), and Secor recalls fondly those moments he spent as a child traveling with him. “Being a conductor with Amtrak is a dream come true,” Secor 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.