English: A westbound
SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line local on Track #4, westbound
Amtrak Pennsylvanian (New York to Pittsburgh) on Track #3, and eastbound Amtrak
Keystone Service (Harrisburg to New York) on Track #1 all meet at the curve on the four track
Keystone Corridor in
Rosemont, located about eleven miles west of Philadelphia. While normally pulled by GE Genesis
P42DC diesel electric locomotive, on this run the "Pennsylvanian" was being powered by a
AEM-7 electric locomotive (#924) as far as Harrisburg where it would have to change to diesel as the Norfolk Southern owned grade from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh is not electrified. The eastbound "Keystone Service" train is being pushed by a AEM-7 (#950) as well. Built, owned, and operated for more than a century by the
Pennsylvania Railroad, since April 1, 1976, the grade (including all stations) between Philadelphia (
30th Street Station) and
Harrisburg (MP 105.2) has been owned and operated by Amtrak over which SEPTA also has
operating rights for its Philadelphia regional rail commuter service between Zoo Interlocking (MP 1.9) and Cork Interlocking (MP 68.1) although by agreement between SEPTA and
PennDOT, revenue service is prohibited west of Parkesburg (MP 44.2), the last station in Chester County. This portion of the grade was electrified by the PRR in 1915.
Photograph by Bruce C. Cooper (original uploader)