Happy Arborist Appreciation Day! As anyone who has ever visited Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, Pennsylvania, can tell you, there is perhaps no place on a railroad where the viewing experience is more impacted by tree growth. A visit on June 30, 2016, marked the first time after extensive landscaping that I was able to see a train clearly from ground level, and Norfolk Southern Train 534 (Shire Oaks, PA to Washingtonville, PA) was the very first one to appear. The EMD SD60I trio of EMD SD60I trio of NS 6740 (née-CR 5613), NS 6721 (née-CR 5582), and NS 6726 (née-CR 5592) led a loaded coal train past the visitor center in the early morning light. Arborist Appreciation Day "blossoms" every June 16, recognizing the skilled professionals who cultivate, maintain, and manage our urban and wild tree populations, so thank an arborist today!

Full resolution pics and prints:
https://www.riverrailphoto.com/freighttrains/e599c84fc