The Newtown Pentacle

Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi

Seldom Seen Greenway, addendum

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Tuesday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Yesterday, I described the ‘Seldom Seen Greenway’ trail in Pittsburgh’s Beechview section, and mentioned that there was a second level to the place found above the brick lined trestle pictured above. This second level, as I discovered, hosts active rail tracks. I found that out while doing a bit of research on the place after getting back to HQ from the location.

That’s why I found myself back there a day or two later. I had to take a look at what, where, why, how – all that.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

It wasn’t that difficult getting all the way up here, but it was a bit complicated getting back down the steep incline while managing my camera and pack. These are freight tracks, ones which are somewhat infrequently used – once or twice a day, I reckon. I’ve seen video of trains moving along the tracks here, which display the polished steel rails you’d associate with active RR tracks. A Wheeling and Lake Erie train set was moving through in the video I saw, but I couldn’t tell you if this is exclusively their right of way or not.

I hung around up there for about a half hour with my fingers crossed, but then I got bored and slid back down the steep hill to the greenway below. I’ll be back, next time with a sandwich and thermos bottle of water, and just wait it out. Trains are a lot like fishing.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

I shot a few shots down below, with nothing terribly special to show for the effort, frankly. The nearby Saw Mill Run Boulevard, named for this waterway, is a primary arterial roadway that connects to the Liberty Tunnel on one side and the West End Bridge (amongst other destinations in either direction) on the other. It also connects to two other primary arterials called Banksville Road and West Liberty Avenue. These three roadways have secondary and tertiary high volume roads that branch off and lead out into the residential neighborhoods of the South Hills in this part of Pittsburgh.

Back tomorrow with something different at this, your Newtown Pentacle.


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Written by Mitch Waxman

June 27, 2023 at 11:00 am

One Response

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  1. I have to say I have not missed the trash/tire pictures.

    Jaye Haviland's avatar

    Jaye Haviland

    June 27, 2023 at 6:50 pm


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