Archive for July 2023
Duquesne isn’t pronounced ‘Doo-Kess-Knee’
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It was a rainy sort of middle June day, but the rain was intermittent. Bands of storm clouds were racing about in the vault above, but it was one of the days which I’ve scheduled myself taking a ‘short walk.’ Desirous of taking a picture of something ‘interesting,’ the Mobile Oppression Platform was fired up and one drove about a half hour to the Great Allegheny Passage trail in Duquesne.
As described in the past, the GAP Trail involves a former rail road right of way, one which has been converted over to the usage of bike riders, joggers, and pedestrians. There’s a trail bridge spanning the very active railroad tracks which lead to the Edgar Thomson ‘Mon Valley Works’ steel plant on the opposite side of the nearby Monongahela River, pictured above. Pictured is Norfolk Southern 4234.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This shot actually preceded the first one, but the first one made for a better ‘marquis image’ in todays post, so there you go.
This sort of statement is usually when one of you out there decides to take umbrage about something I did or said or didn’t do or didn’t say. Usually, it’s somebody who doesn’t do much at all who will leave me a mean spirited message, or a cutting comment castigating my points of view, or observations, or whatever. Haters gonna hate.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It started to rain heavily, so I headed back to the car the Mobile Oppression Platform. A quick drive towards where HQ is found saw me hurtling into nearby Homestead, just as the rain blew away. I decided to stop off at the Homestead Pump House to continue my exercise, and wave the camera around at something else.
Luckily, just after arriving a tow boat (which is what I’ve repeatedly been advised to call a riverine tug boat) was passing by. Call sign # WDK2256, Jennifer Ann was built in 1971 and is 42 meters long by 11 meters wide, and if you want to know more about the boat and where it might be at this very moment – check out marinetraffic.com.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s a neat bit of statuary at the Homestead Pumphouse site, honoring the workers who used to occupy the place. The Homestead Works used to occupy both sides of the Monongahela River here, which was discussed in the posts offered a few weeks ago about the Carrie Furnace. This installation is called Yellow Dog.
Neat.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the actual Homestead Pumphouse, which is a preserved ‘historical place.’
A difference of opinion I have with frequent commenter George the Atheist is somewhat political in nature. He has chided me for usage of the ‘commie term Robber Baron’ when discussing Andrew Carnegie and Henry Frick, preferring instead that I use what I would describe as bootlicker talk: ‘Captain of Industry.’ For my part, at least, I enjoy a debate.
Here’s the story of, and the body count of, what these captains of industry did here at Homestead in 1892.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On my way back to HQ, I steered onto a few streets that dead end at a set of rail tracks, hoping to get lucky. In the end I sort of did. At least I got start and end with a Norfolk Southern rail road.
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Tomato makes everything taste better
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The best thing about the shot above is that I was in a bar with outdoor seating, one which adjoins the tracks, and could just sit and quaff beer while waiting for a train to come my way. The other best part was that the tracks involve a couple of street crossings, so I had ample notice to jump up and get into position with the camera, well before the train appeared, since the signal arms would go down and warning bells start to ring when it’s approaching the spot. Awesome!
The brewery has pretty ok burgers too. It’s called Sly Fox Brewing Co., and I can endorse it as place to drink beer and take pictures of trains.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The bar is also right next door to a concrete factory which I’ve found myself pointing the camera at more than once.
A ‘T’ light rail station is also nearby, so I also didn’t have to worry about getting back home after pouring alcoholic beverage into my maw.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A short walk from the position of the first shot allows one access to a point of elevation, where views of the train tracks are available as well.
Back next week with more from Pittsburgh, at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Garlic is good for the heart
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another day, another doctor’s appointment. There’s nothing ‘new’ wrong with me, in case you’re wondering. Instead, after literal decades of ignoring my health, I’m taking advantage of Pittsburgh’s amazing Medical Industrial Complex to do some catch up. My new Doctor here has had me running around the area for various tests and probes. I’ve been magnetized, and irradiated, and punctured multiple times in pursuance of removing the ichor within for testing. Luckily, nothing terribly concerning has materialized from this inspection, and instead the Doc is busily establishing a base line of readings to work from, once things inevitably hit the fan.
Whilst driving about from place to place, I like to stick the camera up through the Mobile Oppression Platform’s moon roof and crack out the odd photo. This one is from Downtown Pittsburgh.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Over in Homestead, which I was visiting in pursuance of attending a Costco’s sale on men’s hats, and to take advantage of their fantastic pricing on a rotisserie chicken as well as purchasing puppy food for Moe the Dog, I got stuck in traffic for about a half hour while waiting for an endlessly long Norfolk Southern train to pass by.
Me? I love taking a picture of a train, so much so that I didn’t use the moon roof this time around and just shot it over the hood of the Toyota and through the windshield. I had a devil of a time dealing with the window’s tint while developing the shot, by the way.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’m not always driving, of course, and on yet another one of my walks – this time a long one of about 18,000 steps – according to my phone – I found myself in what’s proving to be one of my favorite sections of the City of Pittsburgh, in the South Side Flats section. My kind of spot, with heavy and light rail transiting about, heavy industry at work, and a series of interesting bridges overflying the waters of the Monongahela River.
Back tomorrow with lots of Choo-Choo.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Onions make you cry
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As mentioned earlier in the week, a humble narrator is in the midst of an intractable argument with the guy in the mirror. It’s not fun behind the eyes or between the ears at the moment, but that’s me – I’m like the Kiwi – a fuzzy little fruit with a lot of personality, which doesn’t taste anything like you think it would if you take a bite.
That’s the Heinz factory pictured above, which has been converted over from production of the 57 varieties to housing. I love the aesthetics of the campus, and we actually considered it as a place to land when moving out here. Ultimately, it was too ‘urban,’ and one of the things we wanted, when moving from NYC, was to not share walls with random madmen anymore.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The 16th street bridge, which I walked back and forth over a few times on my constitutional short walk – on it and a section of the adjoining Great Allegheny Passage trail (about 8,000 steps, according to my phone) – offers some pretty nice views of the center of Pittsburgh. That’s ‘Downtown’ or ‘D’ahn-tahn’ as the local idiom would call it.
Translating from NYC Brooklynese to Pittsburgh Yinzer – Youse is Yinz. Being nosey is ‘being nebby’ and so on. The Yinz slang thing is commonly embraced here, and there’s a range of products available which embrace the linguistic stylings thereof. It’s odd. Rubber bands are called ‘gum bands’ in Pittsburgh, and they also put french fries in salads.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While scuttling back to the Mobile Oppression Platform, parked in one of the Great Allegheny Passage parking lots on the north side, I spotted a Norfolk Southern train set transiting over the Fort Wayne Rail Bridge in the distance. Luckily, I had a zoom lens on the camera and was able to get a long telephoto shot of it.
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Apples are Doctor prophylaxis
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’m only joking with that title, but I actually have been eating a daily apple since I moved to Pittsburgh for some reason. Granny Smith kind. Yummy. As I’ve discovered, my new friend Moe the Dog likes the green apples too, so double win.
That’s the 16th street or David McCullough Bridge pictured above, which spans the Allegheny River. Pittsburgh native McCullough wrote one of my all time favorite NYC history books about the Brooklyn Bridge’s construction – ‘The Great Bridge, the epic story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.’ I can highly recommend the audiobook version available on Amazon’s Audible service, which is free if you’re a ‘Prime’ member. The last time I posted a photo of the 16th street span, interest in the comments section was espoused in seeing a close up of the ornamental metalwork at the top of the bridge towers, so here you go.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On the north side of the river, there’s a bit of heavy industrial activity going on, including a waste transfer/recycling facility called “Warhola Recycling.’ Yes, they are related to Andy Warhol (his nephews), and yes they are scrappers. There’s an Andy Warhol bridge in Pittsburgh, and a museum, not too far from this spot. I’ve been to the bridge, but haven’t been to the museum yet.
I continued on my merry freaking way, while sweating heavily. It was a very humid day, with atmospheric dew points in the high 70’s, as I was taking this walk. Rain, snow, sun… whatever, I’m still obliged to scuttle about every other day.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On the peninsular section of the city, on the Allegheny’s southern shore, is found Pittsburgh’s ‘strip district.’ A cold storage warehouse used to be located where the rubble in the shot above is observed, and oddly enough – given my newness to the area – I’ve somehow managed to document several phases of its demolition. Funny that.
It seems that the bar next door, which is located in the extant red brick building, has been structurally compromised due to the demolition project, which has slowed down the process of building – you guessed it – affordable housing – on the surrounding site. There’s lots of newly constructed housing stock nearby, but I’m told it’s largely occupied by the ‘tech Bros’ from Microsoft and Google who are working on developing self driving automobiles here in Pittsburgh.
There’s someone in Pittsburgh who’s working on what are essentially robot shoes, too. If anyone wants to send me $1,100 to get a pair, I’ll gladly get them and let you know how many bones I ended up breaking.
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 