Altoona and the Pennsylvania Railroad...tells
the story of Altoona's birth, the place chosen by the PRR to begin its
operations. In this wilderness appeared makeshift shops and ribbons of
steel rails. Men, hungry for work, rushed to the scene. Families
followed. Up sprang houses, schools and churches along both sides of the
tracks. In words and pictures, this book traces the growth of the
railroad until Altoona housed the largest car shops in the world.
Together, the city and the PRR became famous. The fame was due in part
to the dedication of the men who spent most of their lives with the
railroad; also the women who shouldered the men's jobs during times of
war. Nothing--not rigid work rules, dangerous and demanding jobs, low
pay, or few benefits dampened the devotion they held for the Pennsy.
