Railfanning Gallitzin Tunnels with a Drone

Located in Gallitzin, PA, the Gallitzin Tunnels are two separate railroad tunnels located about 5 miles by rail to the west of Horseshoe Curve. This video features the west portal of the most famous of the two tunnels, the Allegheny Tunnel, which is 3,612 feet in length and reaches a maximum elevation of 2,167 feet, one of the highest elevations on the Norfolk Southern Railway.

Originally, the Allegheny Tunnel had room for just one track and only 19 feet of clearance for trains. In 1994 the tunnel was enlarged to a height of 21 feet, 5 inches and was widened to add room for a second track. The original "Gallitzin Tunnel" is the abandoned, single-track tunnel you see to the left of the Allegheny Tunnel. The Portage Tunnel is located about half a mile to south of the Allegheny Tunnel. The Portage Tunnel is used strictly for eastbound traffic and is 1,620 feet long. The Allegheny Tunnel services trains running in both directions. As you’re facing the tunnel’s west portal, the right track is used for trains traveling in both directions whereas the left track is used only for westbounds.

The Gallitzin Tunnels Park and Museum make this location a great place for railfans to visit! The Jackson Street overpass provides railfans with a great view of the tunnel. There are even openings in the bridge’s fence for photography. Railfans can also stay at the Tunnel Inn (seen just to the right of the tracks as you’re facing the tunnel). Additionally, since Horseshoe Curve is located only about 5 miles down the line, railfans can monitor the Virtual Railfan webcam located at Horseshoe Curve to know when a westbound is coming up the hill. I’ve found that it generally takes about 10 to 15 minutes from the time a westbound train appears on the Virtual Railfan camera at Horseshoe Curve to the time it reaches the tunnel.

The trains in this video were recorded in July and August of 2018 using a DJI Mavic Pro drone, and the audio was recorded at ground level using a GoPro HERO Session. For more great railroad drone videos be sure to subscribe, and don't forget to turn on notifications to be alerted whenever a new video is posted!