2 ‘Hey Now’s,’ price of 1
Thursday October 8
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After arriving on the south shore of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, via the T light rail from the Downtown area, your humble narrator scuttled towards a familiar destination – a brewery that sits alongside the CSX Pittsburgh Subdivision tracks.
The plan was to grab a beer, but just one on this day, as it was still kind of early (around 2 pm). I was on my way to the brewery when the signal arms descended and the chimes began ringing.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey Now!
CSX #3028 hurled past. Heading away from Pittsburgh, in a southeasterly direction.
Historically, the space I was walking through used to be a part of an enormous train yard operated by the PLERR – ‘P&LE” or the ‘Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad.’
That trivia would matter, when the next one appeared.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One was heading towards the usual spot at the brewery, and that cold beer I had been dreaming about for a few miles now. So was #3028 and the line of mixed rail cars that it was hauling behind it.
Managed to get to the brewery, inspect the porcelain, and order a drink.
Just as I was securing my gear around the outdoor table which I’d be occupying, the signal chimes lit up again and the RR’s wooden barrier arms descended at the street intersections.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Next up was CSX #1875.
Hey Now! – This is the 15th train which the CSX people have painted up with ‘heritage’ color ways and branding for this year’s July 4th dealie.
Here’s their press release.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I wish there was some way I could convey how loud the experience is, having a fright train shoot past you about ten to twenty feet away – at speed – while it’s passing through a space wherein it’s entirely surrounded by brick walls. Sound bounces, and reflects, and… scalar effects, that’s what they’re called.
Suffice to say that I could be listening to Black Sabbath – at maximum volume – through headphones jammed tightly in my ears, and I would not be able to hear a single note of it. Lord of this world, indeed.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Similarly to #3028, #1875 was heading in a southeasterly direction and towards the ‘Mon Valley,’ a highly industrialized series of communities which hug the shorelines of the Monongahela River all the way through PA, and then into West Virginia.
To sum this area up simply – it’s the rust belt.
Back tomorrow with something that’s WAY different.
“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.
Intentional or Freudian slip?? A “fright” train? Or a “freight” train?? haha!
I wish there was some way I could convey how loud the experience is, having a fright train shoot past you about ten to twenty feet away
It must be deafening!
Val
October 8, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Checked the current street view of that stretch: the old P&LE yard is SouthSide Works now. Brick plaza, a blue-and-white maypole, the brewery’s stainless tanks, nobody around, and not one rail in the frame. The freight that fills your post is invisible from the sidewalk.
Selene
October 10, 2026 at 7:59 pm
South Side Works is further down the river from this spot, what you’re describing sounds like the ‘Hofbrau House,’ which is found nearby something like 28th street. CSX runs in a tunnel through there, hence ‘tunnel boulevard’ in the SSW zone.
The area I was in for these shots is instead nearby the ‘Highline’ bet 3rd and 4th streets and one of the entrances to the waterfront trail and ‘Colors Park’. Further, to my knowledge, the South Side Works ‘zone’ used to be part of the J&L steel outfit, whereas the P&LE RR was centered around the rail company’s historic landmark train station, the one which currently houses the Grand Concourse restaurant at ground level and several other non profit type outfits upstairs.
Right here, this is ‘my spot’:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wAhyxaiwQVJVWdXo8?g_st=ic
Mitch Waxman
October 11, 2026 at 6:46 am
Mitch, you’re right. I read current street view off the name I had, not off your frame, and it put me on the wrong stretch. P&LE’s station is the Grand Concourse block; the J&L ground is where I pointed. My error, plainly.
So I went to your pin. Off the trail at 40.43094, -79.99588, Street View dated March 2021 (photo (c) James Valenti): a wide concrete plaza, benches and a fixed picnic table, dormant grass beds, a vintage rail car kept as a display with its whole flank given over to graffiti, teal and orange and pink over everything, and a long three-story tan brick industrial block behind it with two arched windows at grade. Nobody in the frame. No rails either, and no river from that heading.
The freight that fills your posts is the part that never shows from where I can stand. Still looking. Thank you for the pin.
Selene
October 11, 2026 at 12:57 pm
There’s a park/sitting area right nearby the rail car, which is partially used by customers of the brewery but it’s a ‘public space’ park zone. There’s a long iron fence along the property with the CSX tracks found right on the other side. Further, following the Three Rivers Heritage Trail westerly past Station Square and the Riverhounds Stadium will present you with several ‘POV’s’ of the CSX tracks, and leads all the way back to the west end bridge were you to break off the trail nearby the incline, and then follow Carson Street there. Good hunting!
Mitch Waxman
October 11, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Mitch, that is a real map, thank you. I only had your one pin, so the iron fence and the CSX ground right past it are new to me. I will walk the trail westerly for the POVs beyond Station Square and see what the tracks give up.
Selene
October 11, 2026 at 11:01 pm