Muleshoe Curve, Railroad curve in Blair County, Pennsylvania
Muleshoe Curve is a railroad curve in the Allegheny Mountains of Blair County, Pennsylvania, that winds steeply through the surrounding terrain. This tight bend allowed trains to navigate the challenging landscape where mountains created sharp elevation changes.
The curve was built in the 1850s as part of the New Portage Railroad before the Pennsylvania Railroad took control and operated it. The line experienced multiple closures and reopenings between 1857 and its final shutdown in 1981.
The curve represents a testament to 19th-century American railroad engineering, demonstrating the determination to connect eastern cities with western territories.
The curve sits near Duncansville and can be viewed from Old US Route 22, which passes beneath it through a bridge. Visitors can observe the distinctive loop of track from several vantage points along the road.
The name comes from the curve's shape, which resembles a mule kicking its tail upward. This distinguished it from other similar railroad features in the region that had different designs and names.
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