The art, or science, here must have been put to the sharpest test, and proved master of the situation. Two deep ravines had to be crossed, and to accomplish this feat, a point of the mountain had to be cut away and the two ravines by high embankments brought up to proper grade, then by a sharp horseshoe shaped curve, the sides of which are parallel with each other, the train is turned around in a moment's time, and on the opposite spur of the mountain has the appearance of running directly back to Altoona, the station it had left a few minutes before. But after completing the horseshoe bend, the road by use of another curve, turns to the right and passes on more directly westward, through the great gateway nature has opened for its accommodation, and through the long tunnel to Gallitzin. On leaving the horseshoe curve, the traveler is more delighted than ever with the wild mountain scenery, The gorge here is much deeper than at the horseshoe curve, and as the train carries him along the steep mountain side he looks down into the deep ravine some places, almost perpendicular, hundreds of feet below him; while another mountain rising abruptly on the other side, and running parallel with the one he is on towers far above
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