At the crossovers at CP ConPit (MP 290.6), the Conemaugh Line, which trails in from the north, joins in, and then departs northeastward (as "track 3"), as the line continues eastward with three tracks, across the river again, speed 70-60-50-40 (and 40 mph for all trains on the third track, which is across the river), with tracks 1 and 2 heading past detectors at "New Florence" (MP 286.7), northeast past Intermediate Signals at MP 286.x (the four sets are labeled MP.1E, MP.1W, MP.2E and MP.2W, at all such locations along this line, but are not at any indicated tenth of a mile), north past a bridge over a stream, east at Seward (MP 284.6), where there are extra tracks on both north and south sides, south-southeast past a road bridge overhead, Intermediate Signals at MP 283.x, and detectors at "Robindale" (MP 283.0), southeast past Intermediate Signals at MP 280.0 and south past MP 279, where the speed limit falls to 35 mph to Intermediate Signals at MP 277.3, a stretch on embankment bridging over three separate roads, and Sang Hollow Extension Junction (SG Tower), where the Conemaugh Line ("track 3", the Sang Hollow Extension) trails in across the river, with the river and a steel mill to the east/north, and southeast, at full speeds through Johnstown (MP 275.1, elevation 1,181 ft.), where the line crosses the river just west of the passenger station, which has an island platform between Tracks 2 and 3 on a stone viaduct, with the depot below and to the south (but extending up to track level), extra track (Track 1) on the south side, where there was once an additional track and another island platform, and extra track on the north side at a lower level, past the river on the southwest side, a bridge over a road, a road bridge overhead, a road on the southwest side, a bridge over the river, a road on the northeast side, a steel mill to the northeast, east past extra track and a factory on the south side, yard tracks on the south side, an erstwhile bridge over the former B&O line from Rockwood, a road bridge overhead, and CP JW (MP 274.5), where an additional track starts on the south side, with a rock wall on the north side, and northeast past a road bridge overhead, crossovers at C (formerly "Tower") (MP 273.2), where the speed limit falls to 40 mph, and Johnstown Steel on the south side, to Conemaugh, where a bowstring girder bridge carries a road overhead.
The line now climbs the West Slope, turning east and then north past a control box on the south side at MP 272.x, where there are three tracks, AO (formerly "Tower") (MP 271.2), where that additional track on the south side ends, the speed limit falls to 35 mph and a coal branch trails in from the south (via the additional track), and a bridge carrying a rail line (Lehigh Valley Rail Management, ex-Conemaugh & Black Lick) east, bridging over the river twice (with the river far below), surrounding MP 270, past a bridge over a road below, adjacent to detectors at "Mineral Point" (MP 268.1, el. 1,442 ft.), Intermediate Signals at MP 268, the second crossing of teh river on the Conemaugh Viaduct, crossovers at SO (MP 266.1, el. 1,498 ft.), where there is extra track and a tower still standing on the south side and a signal bridge at the east end where the South Fork Secondary heads south, off the extra track, and the speed limit rises to 45-40, and W (MP 264.6), at the east leg of the wye (extra track) with the South Fork Secondary, where the speed limit rises to 70-60-50-40, a town across the river to the north, two road bridges overhead, extra track on the south side extending from W, a bridge over a road, a bridge across the river, Intermediate Signals at MP 263.8, a road below on the north side, Summerhill (el. 1,553 ft.), Intermediate Signals at MP 261.2, a bridge over a dirt road, another bridge across the river, Intermediate Signals at NY (MP 259.0), where a second line leaves on the south side and the line turns east-northeast, Intermediate Signals and detectors at "Portage" (MP 258.8, el. 1,662 ft.), where the town is on both sides of the line.
There are Intermediate Signals at MP 257.2, adjacent to a road bridge overhead, two bridges over roads, a slide fence on the north side, a footbridge overhead at Cassandra (el. 1,804 ft.), Intermediate Signals at BC (MP 256.8), where that second line returns and the line turns northeast with extra track on the south side, Intermediate Signals at MP 254.6, a stream alongside to the north, a road bridge overhead, detectors at "Lilly" (MP 253.1, el. 1,895 ft.), where the village is on the southeast side, Intermediate Signals (Position Lights in 2008) on a signal bridge at MP 252.6, dual road bridges carrying US 22 overhead, a bridge over a road below, the Station Inn across the street alongside to the southeast, Cresson (MP 251.0, el. 2,037 ft.), where there are helper facilities on the west side of the line, two coal lines, now operated by RJ Corman, head west and north, and there is a viewing platform on the east side, between the street and the line, a bridge over a road below, MO (MP 250.5), where the speed limit falls to 60-45-40 (and 35 mph on tracks 3 and 4), there are crossovers, the number of tracks increases to four with a street alongside to the west [and the tower building that was there in 2000 is gone in 2006]. There are detectors at MP 250.4, as the line curves east, Intermediate Signals at MP 249.x, crossovers at AR (MP 248.4), where there is a signal bridge and the line splits into two parallel directional segments, a road bridge overhead, crossovers at UN, where there is a loop track between the segments for returning helpers eastward and the speed limit drops to 30 mph, Gallitzin (MP 248.1), where there is a road bridge overhead, and the tunnels under the crest of the Alleghanies, reaching elevations of 2,161 ft. westbound at the double track (1995) Alleghany Tunnel and 2,194 ft. eastbound at the single track (1971) New Portage Tunnel.
The line now descends the east slope through Horseshoe Curve, with three tracks, a pair on the north side at a lower elevation than the single track on an embankment on the south side, which descends a grade known as the 'slide", passing the location where the New Portage line once headed away east-southeast (with the connector from the westbound tracks on the north side passing beneath the elevated eastbound track on what is now a dirt road), and crossovers at SF (MP 247.2), where the track segments come back together again, and curving along the northern mountainside past Benny and Intermediate Signals at MP 246.x, and Intermediate Signals and detectors at MP 245.5, north along the mountainside to the west, past Intermediate Signals at MP 244.x, crossovers and signal bridges at MG (MP 243.5), where the old tower still stands on the 'north' side, west along the mountainside to the south, past Intermediate Signals at MP 242.6 (signal bridge), detectors at MP 242.2, and a bridge over a road below, clockwise around Horseshoe Curve, where there is a viewing area and a stuffed-and-mounted GP-9 to the east (inside the curve), east along the mountainside (to the north, with the valley to the south) past Intermediate Signals on a signal bridge at MP 241.7, where the speed limit rises to 35 mph, detectors at MP 241.0 (track 3)/240.7 (track 1), on an embankment with much lower ground on both sides, Intermediate Signals at MP 239.8 and 238.x, and a detector at MP 238.2 (track 1), and north-northeast past a road bridge overhead and crossovers at Slope (MP 237.2), where the speed limit drops to 30-25, northeast past a bridge over a road and a road bridge overhead to crossovers with signal bridges at Alto (MP 236.7), where the old tower still stands on the west side of the line, the Cove Secondary trails in from the south-southwest (i.e., the east side of the line) west of the crossovers, the number of tracks reduces to two, a 5,000 ft. siding begins, and the line turns north-northeast, into Altoona (MP 236.1, el. 1,178 ft.), where there is a footbridge over the tracks just "west" of the station, the passenger platform is on the west side of the line and the depot is across the street to the west (with a footbridge across the street), the Altoona Railroaders Museum is in old shop buildings, with outdoor exhibits, on the east side of the line, there is a footbridge just "east" of the station, and two road bridges overhead, to crossovers at CP Works (MP 235.7).
In Altoona, the line passes the former Pennsylvania Railroad's big Juniata shops, on the west side of the line, where almost all the PRR steam locomotives were made, and which subcontracts from the manufacturers for diesel locomotive construction (assembly) even in the 1990s and 2000. At CP Works, west of the works, there is a pedestrian bridge overhead and the speed limit rises to 60-50-40, past a yard on the east side, across from the works, a road bridge overhead at the east end of the words, crossovers at CP Homer (MP 234.0), and two separated pairs of tracks, to crossovers at CP Antis (MP 232.4), where there is a signal bridge, the speed limit rises to 70-50-40, the number of tracks drops from four to two, and a 47,000 ft. siding begins, and a narrow-gauge line once headed northwest, and the line turns northeast past Intermediate Signals at MP 231.x, Bellwood, where a coal line once headed northwest, curves east and then northeast again following the north bank of the Juniata River, past Intermediate Signals on a signal bridge at MP 229, where passenger speeds fall to 60 mph, Intermediate Signals and detectors at "Tipton" (MP 227.0), three bridges over streams, a road bridge overhead, detectors at MP 225.9, a grade crossing, a bridge over a road, crossovers at CP Gray (MP 223.3), where there is a signal bridge, the 47,000 ft. siding ends and speeds revert to 70-50-40, a grade crossing, a road bridge overhead, a bridge over a road, and Tyrone (MP 222.1), where the Nittany & Bald Eagle railroad continues northeast, there are three extra tracks on the northwest side, southwest of the station, a dirt road grade crossing, a passenger station with wood-sheathed old depot and modern shelter on the west side of the line, and the line turns southeast, beneath a highway bridge overhead, crossing the Juniata River as it does so, with speed limit 35 mph, past a grade crossing, Intermediate Signals on a signal bridge at MP 221.x, a bridge over a road on the north side of the river, a bridge over a river, and a bridge over a road.
The line crosses the river twice more, with a bridge over industry between the bridges, past a bridge over a dirt road, Intermediate Signals at MP 218.x, a road bridge overhead, two bridges over one or more rivers, a bridge over a road and river below, Pemberton (MP 217.0), detectors at Union Furnace (MP 216.3), a gravel/rock company on the north side, a grade crossing, MP 216, and a bridge over a road, turns east-southeast past Intermediate Signals at MP 215.x, and southeast again, past MP 214, where speed limits rise to 50-40, through parallel tunnels and past crossovers at CP Tunnel (MP 212.9), where speed limits rise to 70-60-50-40, across the river twice more past a grade crossing, Intermediate Signals at MP 211.x, Barree, east-southeast across the river again, southeast past a dirt road grade crossing Petersburg, MP 209.1, where speed limits fall to 55-50-40, Intermediate Signals at MP 208.x, a road bridge overhead, a bridge over a river so the line is now running on the north side of the river, and Intermediate Signals and detectors at Warrior Ridge (MP 206.7), and south past a dirt road crossing and Intermediate Signals on a signal bridge at Vineyard (MP 204.5).
There is a bridge over a street, extra track on the north side, crossovers at CP Hunt (MP 202.4), an old yard on the north side, an old tower on the north side, and the passenger station at Huntingdon (MP 202.3), with its platform and umbrella shelter, and depot on the north side, a grade crossing east of the station, and east-facing signals east of the station, where the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain once left to the southwest, a bridge over a stream, a road bridge overhead, south-southeast past MP 201, where speed limits rise to 70-60-50-40, Intermediate Signals (Position Lights in 2008) at MP 200.2, a grade crossing, a road alongside to the north, Position Color-Light Intermediate Signals at MP 198.x, a grade crossing, a bridge over a stream, Intermediate Signals and detectors at Mill Creek (MP 196.x), a road alongside to the north, extra track on the north side, south across the river at Bridgeport, past a bridge over a road, east along the south side of the river at Mapleton past MP 195, where passenger speeds fall to 60 mph, Intermediate Signals on a signal bridge at MP 193.x, a bridge over a road, and the crossovers at CP Jacks (MP 191.3), with signal bridges at each end, and at least three extra tracks on the south side, to Mount Union, on the south side of the river, where the East Broad Top narrow gauge line once left to the south, past a bridge over a road in the town, across the river to the north side, past MP 190, where full speeds resume, PCL Intermediate Signals at MP 188.x, and detectors at Newton-Hamilton (MP 186.6), northeast along the north side of the river, past a bridge over a road, Intermediate Signals at MP 186.x, rock walls, Intermediate Signals at MP 184.x, a dirt road grade crossing, PCL Intermediate Signals at MP 182.x, and Ryde (MP 181.6), where passenger speeds fall to 60 mph, across the river to the south side, on a 4-arch stone bridge with a concrete deck, northeast and north along the southeast side of the river, with extra track on the south side and a road alongside to the south, past a grade crossing, crossovers at CP McVey (McVeytown, MP 179.6), a bridge over a stream and a grade crossing, east at Mattawana (MP 177.7) past a dirt road grade crossing, PCL Intermediate Signals at MP 176.x, a grade crossing, Intermediate Signals (Position Lights in 2008) at MP 174.x, a dirt road grade crossing, and Longfellow (MP 173.5) to Intermediate Signals (MP 172.x) and detectors at Anderson (MP 172.3), where there is extra track on the south side full speeds resume, northeast across the river to the north side, north across the river to the south side again, east past two grade crossings, crossovers at CP Long (MP 168.8), a bridge over the river, MP 168, MP 167, a four-arch stone bridge over the river, a grade crossing, five extra tracks on the north side, to the crossovers at CP Lewis and the station at Lewistown, (MP 165.7), where the depot is on the north side, today's line uses the second platform out from the depot, there used to be more tracks on the north side, the east-facing crossover signals (Position Lights, in 2008) are east of the depot, branches head northeast and the main line turns southeast (on a curve with a 35 mph speed limit), with a road bridge overhead and speeds 70-60-50-40, except for reductions on curves.
The line passes detectors at "Shawnee" (MP 162.3), and Intermediate Signals at MP 162.x, and turns east-northeast at the crossovers with a signal bridge (searchlights) at CP Hawstone (MP 160.0), where a 31,600 ft. siding on the north side begins, turning east-southeast, past Intermediate Signals on a signal bridge at MP 157.x, and then south-southeast, following the south bank of the Juniata River, past a dirt road grade crossing, Denholme (MP 155.8), where there are weigh-in-motion (10 mph) scales on the siding, south past Intermediate Signals at MP 155.3, extra track on the north side, an old brick depot on the north side, a signal bridge and crossovers at CP Mifflin (MP 153.7), where the long siding ends, a road bridge overhead, southeast (40 mph on the curve) past a grade crossing and Intermediate Signals at Port Royal (MP 151.x), where a narrow-gauge line once headed southwest, east, southeast across a bridge over a tributary, and east-northeast (55-50-40 on the various curves), past a bridge over a dirt road, detectors at "Mexico" (MP 148.7), a dirt road crossing just east of the detector, Intermediate Signals at MP 148.x, crossovers at CP Thompson (MP 144.4) and detectors at "Thompsontown" (MP 143.0), east past a road bridge overhead (and across the river), Intermediate Signals at MP 142.x, a dirt track grade crossing, Intermediate Signals at MP 139.2, Millerstown, and south past Intermediate Signals at MP 137.x, MP 136, where freight speeds fall to 50-40, a road bridge overhead (and across the river), a bridge over a stream, and Intermediate Signals (still with at least one PRR PL signal in 2008) at MP 135.x, to crossovers at CP Port (Newport, MP 133.5), where speeds resume except on curves, another narrow gauge line once headed west-southwest and the line turns northeast, past a bridge over a road (that also crosses the river), detectors at MP 131.7, and Intermediate Signals at MP 131.x, southeast past Intermediate Signals at MP 128.x and a dirt track grade crossing, east past Intermediate Signals, and just east of south, past Intermediate Signals at MP 126.x, Losh's Run (MP 124.6), Intermediate Signals at MP 124.x, a dirt road grade crossing, and detectors at "Aqueduct" (MP 122.6) as the line, heretofore along the south side of the Juniata River, reaches the west bank of the Susquehanna River, Intermediate Signals at MP 121.x, and a bridge over a road.
A 26,400 ft. siding starts at the crossovers at CP Cannon (Duncannon, MP 118.9), where there is a signal bridge, with extra track on each side, speeds fall to 50-40, a line once headed west, and the line curves southeast (speed 35 mph on the curve), along the west bank of the Susquehanna, with a road alongside to the west, past Intermediate Signals on a signal bridge at MP 116.x, dragging-equipment detectors at "Cove" (MP 116.0), and east (speed 35 mph on the curve) past the crossovers at CP Banks (MP 113.2), where the siding ends, south-southeast past detectors at MP 112.9, Marysville (MP 112.0), where there is a street alongside to the east, and dragging-equipment detectors at "Marysville", which are adjacent to CP Hip (MP 111.4), where there is a track on the east side, the Enola Branch descends and continues south to the Enola freight yard, while the main line edges away on the west side, as it climbs and then turns east (40 and 30 mph for the two tracks on the curve) and bridges a road along the west bank and then the Susquehanna River on the famous 34-stone-arch Rockville Bridge, and bridges a road along the east bank of the river to the crossovers and wye at CP Rockville (MP 109.9) on the east bank of the river, where the Buffalo Line trails in from the north and the main line turns south (30 mph curve), along the east bank of the river, as a single track with a controlled siding, with speed limit 70-50 and a divided highway alongside to the east.
The line passes Lucknow, a detector at MP 108.6 on the controlled siding, another (dragging-equipment") at MP 107.4 on the main line, a road bridge overhead, an on-line fueling facility, Intermediate Signals at MP 107.2, and the twelve-track Harrisburg Yard on the east side of the line (with speed limit 30 mph, on the main line), and a bridge over a street, and turns southeast (with speed limit 30 mph on the curve) at the crossovers at CP Harris (MP 105.1), where there is an old tower on the south side, the Harrisburg Line turns away east-southeast (i.e. on the north side of the line, where it runs parallel for awhile) and Amtrak ownership starts, past a road bridge overhead, and a bridge over a street, into Harrisburg (MP 104.6), where the station has two high-level brick island platforms serving four electrified tracks, with a peaked overall roof, footbridge connecting platforms, and depot on the southwest side of the line.