Author Archive
Ohio river tugs
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As one may recall, were you to have visited this site last week, your humble narrator was recently scuttling along an Ohio River hugging ‘Rail Trail’ here on Pittsburgh’s North Side.
Pictured is the tug Emma Z, which is about 55 feet from bow to stern and is flagged in the USA. It was operating as a vehicle shuttle between Brunot’s Island and the north shore of the Ohio River where I was scuttling. There’s a peaker power plant on the island, and the only other way to get there is by a pedestrian bridge on the south shore of the Ohio. A concrete ramp rises out of the river on the north shore, and that’s where it was heading to drop off a company vehicle.
I was pretty happy about getting a shot of a tugboat, which isn’t necessarily guaranteed around these parts. Imagine my surprise…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
About a quarter to a half mile later on the walk, the Tug Tracy Fedkoe appeared, heading in a westerly direction on the Ohio River. A 1,500 HP, 1969 vintage tug built in Louisiana, it’s currently operated out of Pennsylvania’s Elizabeth. Read all about it at tugboatinformation.com.
Both tugs were set up as ‘push boats,’ an observation about typology based around their prows. Neat!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the peaker plant, mentioned above, behind the tug, above. Peaker plants kick on when the electrical grid is experiencing low voltages, usually during the summer months when demand is high.
Back tomorrow.
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Good gander
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Continuing with observations and photos from a scuttle along the Ohio River, here in Pittsburgh. Along the waterfront trail, I encountered this jerk. All Canada Geese are jerks.
One decided to sit and cool his heels for a few minutes, and take a good look around. A series of broken cement plinths line the shore here, and there was a guy about 200 feet away that was fishing.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Across the water from my location is Brunot’s Island, which is off limits to the normal humans who don’t work for a power company which maintains a peaker power plant there.
It felt like something was about to happen, and I was keeping an eye on a few different spots in hope of something to focus in on.
A lovely summer like day at any rate, and it was a real pleasure just sitting alongside the Ohio River, tbh.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A wider view of my situation. That’s Brunot’s Island on the right, and you can see the peaker plant right at the water. The bridge in the distance (specifically the Ohio Connecting Railroad Bridge) is a rail bridge, which is used by the Norfolk Southern railroading outfit.
That bridge was one of the things I was watching, an effort which sort of paid off.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A train appeared, and started transiting over the span. In the foreground was a tugboat with a peculiar barge attached to it. More on that later.
Wonders, I tell you… wonders.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Upon reaching the other side of the river, Norfolk Southern’s tracks branch out both east and west after passing through a wye. There’s a pretty large NS yards both north and south of here which I haven’t visited yet, but are on my list.
I’ve only been consciously shooting trains for a little bit, as in ‘I’m going out in pursuit of getting shots of trains,’ but one thing I’ve learned is to look for the choke points where all the trackways converge.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As to why the barge that the tugboat was towing was ‘peculiar,’ it’s because it was a landing craft. It seems that the power company which controls access to Brunot’s Island maintains this system for vehicular access to the landform in lieu of building a bridge. Seems financially untenable, until you consider what building a vehicle bridge would cost.
Back next week with more – 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.
The big house
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After walking out from under a few bridges on Pittsburgh’s North Side, your humble narrator headed for the Ohio River while on a recent scuttle.
One of the many rail trails which I’ve been frequenting, this one follows the shoreline of the waterbody, but first you need to get to it. Large industrial sites, and the skeletal remains of a prison, stand in your way.
I’ve mentioned and described Western State Penitentiary before, in this 2024 post. It’s got a real ‘Gotham City’ vibe to it, and you half expect Killer Croc or the Riddler to be locked up within. Of course, there’s no one in there these days except for security guards and the asbestos remediation people. Dreams of avarice in the real estate world have placed a target on this property, whose footprint is enormous.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As is my habit, a quick heel spin was executed. Sometimes I’m just checking to see if anyone’s following me (which happens occasionally), but it’s mainly to see if there’s something I missed while looking in the opposite direction. The guard tower caught my eye.
Unfortunately, I didn’t notice a cool bit of architectural detail while in the field. If I did, I would have zoomed in right on it and got a proper shot.
Notice the parapet, with the fencing, and the iron thingies sticking out?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is a cropped version, which is at a terribly low resolution… but check out that attention to detail which was applied to something superficial on something as ugly as a prison.
Looks like part of a lighting setup, to me? Whatcha think?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Word has it that a deal has been struck with a real estate group to annihilate this entire ‘zone’ and replace it, with what would basically be a shopping mall that offers affordable housing, and a giant Ferris Wheel.
Wow. Where have I heard that one before? Staten Island, maybe?
One rounded the bend, stepped off of the street, and onto the rail trail.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Officially, I was walking on the Ohio River Water Trail.
Y’know, when I moved out here, I knew there were plenty of waterfont trails. It’s one of the things that sold me on Pittsburgh, to be honest. Saying that, I had no idea about how many of these rail trails actually exist. I’m still finding ones I didn’t even know about, and am training up for a walk to West Virginia next year. (No way I can do 30 miles on foot right now)
Awesome!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I love this guard tower, which looks like it wad cobbled together from odds and ends. In the midst of all the stolid masonry and thick walls of the prison, you’ve got this hodge podge lumber construction, which would probably be familiar to the Romans (except for the razor wire and chain link, of course).
Back tomorrow with more.
“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.
California, here I come
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A recent ‘longish’ walk began on Pittsburgh’s north side, at the convergence of McClure Avenue and Eckert Street – right about here, if you want to nose around on Google maps.
There’s two vehicle bridges which overfly this spot; the California Avenue Bridge and the Ohio River Boulevard Eckert Street Bridge. There’s also a complex of Norfolk Southern rail trestles, and elevated trackways, moving through this spot.
The goal for the day was to walk about five to six miles along the Ohio River, then over the T light rail for a ride back to HQ.
A Lyft rideshare was utilized to get from ‘a’ to ‘b,’ which deposited me on this corner, and after sorting out my gear and slotting the knapsack on, a scuttling did I go.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s Don’s Diner, which kind of demanded me to take a picture of it. The two bridges which frame it are in fairly disastrous condition. The folks from this diner have had to raise the alarm about their spot, as debris has been falling off the vintage bridges, and concrete and steel have rained down on the building and its parking lot. It made the news.
They didn’t seem to be open, but I’d like to check this place out sometime. Love me a ‘greasy spoon’ diner. Always the best coffee.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Looking back towards the California Avenue Bridge from beneath the Ohio River Blvd. Eckert Street span. The former is of the steel truss type, and is incredibly rusty. Looks like it hasn’t been painted in decades. That’s the diner in bottom right center, and we’re looking away from the direction of the Ohio River back up towards the (more or less) north.
I’ve found utility of late in the addition of a cheap compass to my camera bag’s coterie of wonders and carryable tools. Really comes in handy, given that I can no longer navigate using the Empire State/Freedom Tower/432 Park to triangulate my position, as I used to back in NYC.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Just as I was getting out of the hired car, there was a freight train transiting over these tracks, so they’re definitely active tracks.
It was a pleasant day, with temperatures in the low 70’s and a steady breeze. The area I was heading for is basically a treeless industrial zone, so the urban heat island effect is definitely something that happens in this area, meaning that a summertime walk here will require precautions – water bottle and a big floppy sun hat, for instance.
The rail infrastructure was similarly in need of an application of paint and basic rust related maintenance.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Two rail trestle bridges and two high volume road bridges, all stacked up in the shot above. Yay.
I’ve been working on my camera bag’s organizational scheme, and have included a few things which weigh nothing but I’d rather have with me than not – just in case. A few Band-aids, for instance. a short length of paracord, and one of those Mylar safety blankets (which also makes a great reflector). I’ve also got basic tools with me, hex wrench’s and the like, in case I need to repair or adjust anything camera related.
Essentially, I need my camera bag’s innards to be able to sustain my aspirations for often long distances. I don’t carry snacks or water, generally, but that really depends on the ‘when,’ ‘where,’ and so on. Back when I was riding on boats a lot, for instance, I’d pack a sandwich.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The path was a pretty easy one, chosen for its flatness, and that water tower in the shot above was one of my pole stars for the walk. My toes were pointed in a generally southern direction and like Lewis and Clark, I headed for the Ohio River.
Yes, it’s time to mention the ankle again. The ‘flat’ terrain was conducive to the particular exercise which the ankle requires as part of recovery from this endless nightmare of an injury. This was an ‘endurance walk,’ meant to fully flex and strengthen the affected area.
Back tomorrow with more.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
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Ole Faithful
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A serious state of ‘faklempt’ had set in during the second half of a ‘longish’ walk, detailed in last week’s postings, and in order to satiate this lack of internal humidity your humble narrator decided to quaff a strictly medicinal pint of lager, attained at Pittsburgh’s Sly Fox Brewery.
Your humble narrator settled down at an outdoor table, which is directly neighbored by CSX’s Pittsburgh Subdivision track. One grew giddy when the alarm bells of the trackage’s signal arms began to chime. Train horns were activated, the rumbling and the rhythmic sounds of the locomotive were felt as well as heard. Choo-Choo.
CSX #4723 then appeared, heading westwards. ‘Hey Now.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The locomotive itself seems to be one of the variants of the EMD SD70 model, or so I’m told.
It’s funny, the people here in Pittsburgh are so used to seeing this sort of thing they find my enthusiasm about the matter somewhat curious. It was the same way back in NYC, where people were so used to seeing tugboats moving about the harbor they barely noticed them, and certainly didn’t comment about it. Since I used to be the guy who took pictures of subway trains coming and going while commuting… Sorry, but – to me – locomotives passing by within twenty to thirty feet of the lens, while I’m having a beer – is pure awesome sauce.
It’s the little things I love, which admittedly are sometimes quite gigantic.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After the train passed, a concrete truck which had been trapped by the signals crossed over the tracks. Couldn’t resist.
This walk felt particularly good. The ankle performed well and there was little in the way of pain, but alternately it was a bit stiff, so I returned the glass to the bar and limped away back to HQ.
Back tomorrow with something 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.
The Newtown Pentacle 