Visiting Pittsburgh

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Goober

Greetings from Pittsburgh, I should have mentioned that I took Amtrak from Milwaukee to Pittsburgh. And if I am correct Nora, I came through the Conway Yard or at least along side of it??

Yes, that's right!

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

--Nora

[Goober]

Greetings from Pittsburgh, I should have mentioned that I took Amtrak from Milwaukee to Pittsburgh. And if I am correct Nora, I came through the Conway Yard or at least along side of it?? I happen to be staying in the Holiday Inn @ Greentree and on the way to the training center on Monday happened to see a Wheeling & Lake Erie engine with a string of hoppers. I have been to Horseshoe curve and Gallitzin. Wonderfull sites to see. Again thanks for all the info.
Jared

[Goober]

I would like to thank you all for your information concerning Pittsburgh. I will let you know how my trip turned out.

thanks again
Jared

[espeefoamer]

There is a 1 hour cruise called the 3 river cruise.The boat is constantly going under railroad bridges. I saw 8 trains in 1 hour.[:D]

[citidude]

The Top of the Triangle closed in Fall 2001. I am not aware that another restaurant has moved in to take its place.

Pandle mentioned the Wheeling & Lake Erie and Union Railroads. If you can "catch" the Wheeling & Lake Erie, more power to you as it only runs 1-2 trains per day in each direction out of Rook Yard which is located in Greentree along the Parkway West (the major highway linking downtown Pittsburgh with the Airport).

The Union Railroad is difficult to find for someone not familiar with the roads in the Monongahela Valley. Additionally, since its function is to serve US Steel facilities, much of its trackage is within industrial areas not accessible to train watchers and photographers.

Dave

[Blackstone]

If you have an interest in watching the train traffic, you've got to see it from the "Top of the Triangle." This is a restaurant on the 69th floor (or something like that) near the "Point" where the 2 rivers come together to form the Ohio. It looks like N scale from up there, but man, what a traffic nightmare (at least for a dispatcher). It's a VERY busy area for trains. This place might be in the top 4 or 5 busiest rairoad areas in the US, and you can see it all (10 miles in any of 360 degrees, depending on the weather) from up there!
Go for lunch to get the most daylight. It's also a cheaper meal, in a high end place. It's really not that bad for prices, and on Saturday, there's not much of a lunch crowd. It's a $5 hamburger kind of place, but eat slow and walk around. You'll love it!
I have heard rumors about this place closing, however they are still listed on the Pittsburgh web site, and even if this place is not there, there has to be something else up there.
Not much there for photo ops, but it is sure a trip to watch for a while!
Chuck Rheutan
Salem, Ohio

[Anonymous]

Hearing someone ask about a streetcar line that's been gone for over 40 years seems kinda interesting. Almost like Rip van Winkle in that the next time someone sees a certain place it's changed radically. It reminds me of when my grandpa came from the east coast to visit my family in San Diego about 3 years ago. The last time he had been there was during WW2 when he boarded his ship there. Obviously the city has changed a LOT since then.

[Anonymous]

The Wheeling and Lake Erie, and the Union RR, are also in the area.

[citidude]

The "Flying Fraction" line has been gone for 40 years (or more). However, Port Authority's 54C route which replaced much of this trolley line is one of the most interesting bus routes in Pittsburgh.

You can ride the light rail system to and from Downtown to Station Square and on to the City of Pittsburgh's southern neighborhoods and suburbs south of the City. A short portion of the line uses a former PRR Tunnel and the Panhandle Bridge. The 52 route is very infrequent, but it has a lot of interesting street running and a nice view of Downtown Pittsburgh from Mt. Washington. For schedule and fare information, go to www.portauthority.org

To watch trains on CSX's former P & LE Line, I go to 18th street in Pittsburgh's South Side (take East Carson Street east of Station Square to 18th St and turn left until you get to the tracks). There is a riverfront park and a bike/hiking path.
Even on Sundays, I've seen 2-3 trains per hour on this line. You can also try 10th Street to frame the trains with an attractive briedge structure if you are taking photos.

Another location is the Waterfront, a shopping center on the site of the former US Steel Homestead Works. At this location both the CSX and Norfolk Southern's Mon Line pass through. From Station Square, continue south and east on East Carson Street which turns into Rt 837 and take it all of the way into Homestead. Do not take any photos from the shopping center itself. Instead, walk to the Homestead High Level Bridge ( you cannot park on the bridge) and you can get good photos of both lines). A former train station (it is now the office of the District Attorney) located between both of these railroads may also be a good location during the weekend

Hope the weather is good for your visit!

Dave

[csxengineer98]

ok,
station SQ ...the inclines... on one of the gateway river boats.... the waterfront in homestead....(both NS and CSX on that one)....that is the best i can come with off the top of my head..im sure someone else will help fill in the holes with more
csxengineer

[Nora]

Yes, the Monongahela and Duquesne inclines are both still running up Mt. Washington.

Goober, I'm more familiar with places to see trains in Beaver County (I'm 35 miles northwest of Pittsburgh), but I have seen trains pretty frequently on my occasional trips to Station Square (an old station which is now a mall, but nicely done). It's just on the south side of downtown (across the river) and a CSX line that seems reasonably busy passes right by.

If you're going to be more up my way, towards the NS Conway Yard etc. let me know and I can give you some info on other places around here.

--Nora

[daveklepper]

I haven't been there for years, but there used to be a streetcar we called the "flying fraction" becuase it combined two old lines, something like "77/58" and it crossed a bridge east of the downtown area, high above (I think) the Monongahelia River, that had at least one pedestrian path at the time, and the center was a wonderful place to photograph both the B&O on one side and the P&LE on the other side of the River. Is it still there? There are lots of other bridges in Pittsburgh, many close to downtown, and just about all the valleys have rail lines. All used to have plenty of trains. Today? I'll be interested in the other answers you get. I'll also be interested if the inclines are still running that used to go to the top of Mount Washington. Dave

[Goober]

I have never been to Pittsburgh, and will be there Feb 28-March 5 Anyone able to give me some good (legal) train watching spots??