I have family from the Altoona area and there is not much happening there, its not on anyone's bucket list as a destination.

However the big attraction back in the day was Horseshoe curve. Kind of a big train boomerang.

It was ompleted in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a way to reduce the westbound grade to the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. In other words it sped up that last and toughest leg of the journey over the mountains.

Comms anyone?