Pittsburgh Incline Railways (Funiculars) (Washington, Duquesne: mover, neighborhoods, living)

[khyron]

There are some really great photos and footage of the inclines (past and present) in one of those WQED documentaries that Rick Seibak makes. I think it's one of the "stuff that isn't there anymore" or "stuff that's still here" episodes but I forget exactly which one.

I found it particularly amazing that one of them had a curved route, which seemed like an extra crazy engineering marvel...especially when you consider no modern synthetic materials, lubricants, or even computer aided design were available!

[iowegian]

Originally Posted by slamont61

Besides the one in Johnstown, I'm not aware of any other opreational inclined railways anywhere in the United States. We were at one time a hot-bed of them, without this type of research those that are gone would be forgotten.

We have one of the few (if not the only) other operating funicular railway in the US here in Iowa. It's in Dubuque on the bluffs around the Mississippi River, here's the Wikipedia article: Fourth Street Elevator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also, nice work on that map. It's too bad they didn't keep more of these around...

[ditchdigger]

Besides the one in Johnstown, I'm not aware of any other opreational inclined railways anywhere in the United States.

There was one in Chattanooga TN, on Lookout Mountain, that I rode sometime in the late 60's.

The internet says it's still there: Chattanooga Visitors Bureau - Chattanooga's Official Travel Site

[gallacus]

According to this article in Wikipedia, there are about 9 that are still operational in the United States:

Six Flags Magic Mountain Incline, Valencia, CA
Royal Gorge Incline, Canon City, CO
Fourth Street Elevator, Dubuque, IA
Horseshoe Curve Funicular, Altoona, PA
Johnstown Inclined Plane, Johnstown, PA
Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh, PA
Monongahela Incline, Pittsburgh, PA
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, Chattanooga, TN
Huntington Metro Station Funicular, Fairfax County, VA

Pennsylvania is still represented well with 4 of the 9!

[By~Tor]

*Sings*


"Funiculee Funiculaa Funiculee Funiculaaaaaaaaa.....

.....Funiculee Funiculaa Funiculee Funicula!!!!

[prototypepariah]

very nice work...

and somehow from this topic I found myself reading about f.i.s.t. I love the internet!

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by slamont61

Very neat work there. I consider myself one of those incline buffs. I used to walk around the hillside to inspect anything left behind from an era gone by. Thank goodneess someone had the sense to preserve the two remaining inclines.

Besides the one in Johnstown, I'm not aware of any other opreational inclined railways anywhere in the United States. We were at one time a hot-bed of them, without this type of research those that are gone would be forgotten.

When I was up in Quebec City after Christmas, I saw their incline from the bottom of the hill near the St. Lawrence River to the top of the hill into Old Quebec City. Very neat and great place to visit if you ever can.

[ditchdigger]

Originally Posted by gallacus

I'll have to revise my statement about the Market Review Publishing Company building!

Also, if anyone has any pictures of these inclines, please share them!

Gallacus, I happened to pass by that site this morning. The Market Review building is indeed gone, but there is a large stone wall behind where the building stood, which was obvioudsly not part of the building. I wouldn't be surprised if that's left from the incline. I wanted to get you a picture, but I didn't get the red light!

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by slamont61

Very neat work there. I consider myself one of those incline buffs. I used to walk around the hillside to inspect anything left behind from an era gone by. Thank goodneess someone had the sense to preserve the two remaining inclines.

Besides the one in Johnstown, I'm not aware of any other opreational inclined railways anywhere in the United States. We were at one time a hot-bed of them, without this type of research those that are gone would be forgotten.

Yes, nice work. There used to be an incline in Beaver Falls that took people up the hill (west) to Patterson Hts. Somewhere in the depths of my basement, I have an article about it.

[gallacus]

Originally Posted by ditchdigger

Gallacus, I happened to pass by that site this morning. The Market Review building is indeed gone, but there is a large stone wall behind where the building stood, which was obvioudsly not part of the building. I wouldn't be surprised if that's left from the incline. I wanted to get you a picture, but I didn't get the red light!

Oh awesome, thanks for the information and for thinking of me! I'll have to go check that out, I haven't been over to 28 in some time. Its interesting how most of these structures are still intact. There are still stone support walls dotted up the hillside where the Mt. Oliver Incline went in the Southside, you can still see the supports of the one in the Strip District, and I just read an article that claimed the new steps that will be built alongside the Monongahela Incline will be built atop the supports from the Monongahela Frieght Incline. Its interesting how these structures are all still there if you decide to seek them out. I'm happy that this map should help anyone that desires to do so!