Artist: Pete Lerro
Commissioned By: Railroaders Memorial Museum
Working Partners is a vibrant, detailed watercolor painting by Pete Lerro that commemorates a historic bridge between railroad eras at the world-famous Horseshoe Curve. The artwork masterfully captures a dramatic, sweeping view of the multi-track curve nestled within the lush, green slopes of the Allegheny Mountains. It highlights a symbolic passing of the torch between two iconic eras of American railroading:
In the foreground: A classic, Tuscan-red Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) E8 diesel locomotive (No. 5809) hugs the inner track, proudly displaying its historic "Keystone" herald.
In the midground: Rounding the apex of the curve is a sleek Norfolk Southern executive train, spearheaded by an F-unit diesel locomotive (No. 4271) adorned with its signature Thoroughbred logo, pulling a long string of matching passenger cars.
In the background, the historic watchtower, park grounds, and gathered onlookers celebrate the timeless allure of this engineering marvel. Lerro’s precise attention to mechanical detail, combined with the soft, organic textures of the surrounding Pennsylvania foliage, makes Working Partners a beautiful tribute to the enduring legacy of the high iron in Altoona.
Click Here To Learn More: Railroaders Memorial Museum