The Newtown Pentacle

Monday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

As described last week, your humble narrator found himself scuttling through a ravine in Pittsburgh that’s called ‘Skunk Hollow.’

Mostly deserted, but I like that, as it makes me wonder whether or not I’m a ghost. This scuttle was originally meant to revolve around just scouting, but I ended up back at HQ with hundreds of shots from the walk.

I knew rail moved through here, but this was a Sunday afternoon and I wasn’t expecting to see anything.

As I’ve stalked the various RR’s, a bit of experiential knowledge has begun to infest the brain box, and discernment of the movements of rail through Pittsburgh has creeped in – just a bit. I’ve found several ‘choke points.’

‘When’ they’re likely on the move, and ‘where’ to look. It’s pretty much the same mentality as hunting and stalking a game animal, really.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Out of nowhere, Norfolk Southern #4012 appeared. Prey!

As intoned in the past, you hear a freight train before you see it. Sometimes you’ll get faked out by a heavy truck’s engine while it’s going up a hill, but there’s an unmistakable shimmer of vibration in the air when a freight train gets close to you.

Given the location, my guess would be that this train is heading straight through the ‘Golden Triangle’ peninsular section of Pittsburgh, and will then be rolling through the Amtrak/former Pennsylvania RR station downtown on its way to points north and west via the Fort Wayne rail bridge, but that’s a surmise and an assumption too. Guess.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The Norfolk Southern unit was hauling mineral cars, presumptively full of coal or coke, but I can’t say for sure.

I’ve been doing no historic research at all here in Pittsburgh, of course, but have been doing some light reading on the coal industry. Fascinating world, that.

I’ll be talking about that subject here in about a month, which should let you know that once again these posts are going to be scheduled well in advance of publication date. I allowed my ‘lead time’ to evaporate a bit to catch the photos up with the seasons so you’re not looking at snow in April, and whereas these photos were captured on the first of March, the words being attached to them are being typed on the 16th of the month.

I’ve had three distinct ‘adventures’ since then.

Lots and lots of cool photos are in the pipeline, and I think I’ll have most of April’s ‘content’ covered pretty soon.

No intention exists for rehashing those routes I was forced into by the ice and snow anytime soon, although I did walk through that ‘north side near Allegheny Commons Park’ side of the city just yesterday. Had to get home via the Light Rail, and that’s where the nearest station is.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

At this bend in the road, Lorrigan Street transmogrifies into Neville Street for a spell. It’s uncommented upon by signage. There’s a contracting company down here, and based on what’s was in their vehicle fleet, I’d guess that they’re in the earth moving business.

One was as happy as I could be, it was all downhill from here, after all. I had just seen a train, which I was hoping for… so ‘win.’

– photo by Mitch Waxman

I had resigned myself to just waving the camera around, when I heard it coming, over my shoulder.

The air started to vibrate, a thrumming sound pulsed into the local vicinity, and a screaming high pitched metal sound echoed.

‘Steel on steel, the worst sound around,’ is another of my little aphorisms.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Hey Now! That’s the White Whale! Allegheny Valley RR in the house!

I should mention, regarding the shots in tomorrow’s post, of this rail unit, that I was very pleased with myself soon after this particular interval.

Back tomorrow.

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