Altoona Works
Juniata Shops at Altoona Works in 1988, during the Conrail era.
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 Location of the Altoona Works railroad shops in Pennsylvania
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| Location | 9th Ave. at 13th St., Altoona, Pennsylvania |
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| Coordinates | 40°30′48″N 78°23′59″W / 40.51321°N 78.39985°W |
| Built/founded | 1850–1925 |
| Governing body/ |
Norfolk Southern Railway |
| PA marker dedicated | October 5, 1996 |
Altoona Works is a large railroad industrial complex in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) to supply the railroad with locomotives, railroad cars and related equipment. For many years it was the largest railroad shop complex in the world.
In 1849, PRR officials developed plans to construct a repair facility at a town newly established for this purpose, Altoona. Construction was started in 1850, and soon a long building was completed in the 12th Street area that housed a machine shop, woodworking shop, blacksmith shop, locomotive repair shop and foundry. This facility was later torn down to make room for continuing expansion. Many additional buildings and facilities were added to the complex up until 1925. For many years it was the largest railroad shop complex in the world.
The 12th Street area facilities were replaced later by the Altoona Machine Shops. The first locomotive was built there in 1866. A total of 6,783 steam, diesel and electric locomotives were manufactured in Altoona between 1866 and 1946.
In time additional PRR repair facilities were located in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Mifflin, and the Altoona Works expanded in adjacent Juniata. Inventor Alexander Graham Bell sent two assistants to the Altoona shops in 1875 to study the feasibility of installing telephone lines.
In 1875 the Altoona Works started a testing department for PRR equipment. In following years, the Pennsylvania Railroad led the nation in the development of research and testing procedures of practical value for the railroad industry. Use of the testing facilities was discontinued in 1968 and many of the structures were demolished.
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