[Verse 1] In the valley where the Alleghenies rise, Steel tracks cut through the open skies. Workers came with hammer and fire, Building a city from grit and desire. From farmland fields to streets aligned, Altoona was born with the railroad in mind. [Verse 2] Horseshoe Curve carved its winding path, Defying the mountains, defying the math. Steam engines labored, wheels turning fast, Carving a legacy destined to last. The shops hummed with metal and flame, Every bolt and rivet knew every name. [Chorus] City of rails, where the engines roam, Where iron and sweat built a place called home. From the Curve to the valley, hear the whistle call, Through smoke and fire, she outlasted them all. And though the diesels now take the line, The heartbeat of steam still echoes in time. [Verse 3] Townsfolk thrived on the work and the trade, Families lived in the shadows the workers made. Innovation and testing kept the railroad strong, Every train that passed sang the city’s song. The K-4 1361 rolled through, A fleeting whisper of what the old shops knew. [Bridge / Instrumental Feel] Listen to the hammer, the anvil, the sparks, Steam and diesel echo through the dark. The rails remember each mile they ran, Every story of the men who shaped the land. [Chorus] (Repeat) City of rails, where the engines roam, Where iron and sweat built a place called home. From the Curve to the valley, hear the whistle call, Through smoke and fire, she outlasted them all. And though the diesels now take the line, The heartbeat of steam still echoes in time. [Outro] The town stands proud that the Pennsylvania Railroad made, A monument to the hands that never swayed. Through every mile and every bend, Altoona's rails will never end.
