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Cage match
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As described yesterday, a humble narrator was navigating a set of Pittsburgh’s City Steps in the South Side Slopes neighborhood, dubbed as being the ‘Church Route Trestle Steps,’ in pursuance of finding yet another ‘point of view’ or POV of the Norfolk Southern RR’s ‘Mon Line’ trackage and right of way which snakes along the hillside hereabouts.
Say that three times fast, I dare you.
The section of the steps which overflies the RR tracks is contained within a fenced in steel truss, pictured above. It forms a short pedestrian bridge, and offers a pretty neat set of photo opportunities.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Looking north and west across the South Side Flats area towards Pittsburgh’s downtown, that’s how I’d describe the shot above. I’m particularly pleased with myself, regarding this capture. I’ll take the credit, but kind light and the atmospheric conditions should really get the top billing. I just clicked a button or two.
While shooting this one, a conversation was struck up with one of the locals, who was walking back and forth and up and down the steps. He jokingly referred to the bridge and steps as his own 2.8 million dollar municipal stairmaster.
While chatting, a familiar rumble was heard coming from the east.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Norfolk Southern #4675 appeared, hauling a varied series of cargo cars. There were tankers, and cars for cargo boxes, and also car carriers. I’ve been trying to accumulate some knowledge regarding what the many different train cars and containers I observe rolling past are used for. I’ve picked up just a bit of the lore, but this inquest moves me dangerously close to railfanning.
As always – not a railfan, I just like taking pictures of trains.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Luckily, this tenancy of mine on the pedestrian bridge soon saw another subject appear from the west. Two trains in one go?
Well… it was time to tighten my belt and get busy!
The stair climbing fellow I was chatting with lived in the adjoining South Sides Flats area, and we had an amiable chat about what that’s like. He pointed out a few things to me, and we discussed the environmental consequences of a busy train line in your back yard. He asked how I knew the things I know, which is one of the few times since Ive been here that Newtown Creek has been discussed.
He thought I’d be leaning into talking about air pollution, which is a hot button item here in Pittsburgh due to the operations of U.S. Steel downriver, but I pointed out to him that there is no observable vegetation growing on or near the track beds despite it being surrounded by the urban forest.
Defoliants, pesticide, and leachates entering the ground water, sayeth I.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Turns out that the second train was Norfolk Southern #9889, which also hauling a mixed up group of cars behind it. I shot a lot more images than just these three, of course, but these were the ones which seemed to tell my story most efficiently.
I bid my companion adieu, and continued on my way.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The plan for the rest of the early evening was to walk to the waterfront after passing by the 1889 vintage St. Adalbert’s Church (on the left in the the shot above), hang a left at the river, grab a beer at that brewery I like with the CSX tracks alongside it and…
Well, you’ll see all that tomorrow.
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Train, three
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Wow, what a scuttle I was experiencing.
A third CSX train entered the frame while I was walking along, heading westwards, CSX #7504. As mentioned a couple of days ago, I’ve spent as long as two hours waiting for something – anything – to appear on these tracks in Pittsburgh in the past and ‘nada.’
In the interval of about thirty minutes, one observed a Towboat maneuvering fifteen mineral barges, two CSX trains, and then a second Towboat at work. Sometimes you get lucky. Most of the time, I don’t.
There’s a reason I don’t buy lotto tickets.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
# 7504 screamed past me, and in the distance, I saw a plume of exhaust shoot up out of the CSX # 7289 unit, which had been sitting inert while these other two westerly trains passed through.
A shooting position was taken up, and another lens change iniated.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the Fort Pitt bridge framing the shot above, and which I was standing in the shadow of. It was a bright and sunny day, and a bit of cover was required at this point, as I was beginning to feel the effect of having been exposed to the radiates of the Burning Thermonuclear Eye of God itself for several hours at this point.
My day wasn’t actually finished yet, I’ll point out. I was already an hour late in terms of a social engagement later in the evening, but when the universe is sending this much in the way of cool stuff your way – you keep shooting until the show is over.
Back tomorrow with even 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.
Train, too
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While walking a waterfront trail, found along the south bank of the Monongahela River here in Pittsburgh, one had spotted a train sitting entirely still while pointed eastwards (described yesterday). The signal boards which govern the movement of such transportation units indicated that ‘something’ was likely going to be heading westwards shortly.
CSX #1899 ending being one of the somethings, but it ended up not being the only something. Such occurrences bring joy to one such as myself.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On the actual river bank found on the other side of the tracks, a towboat was tying up to a series of mineral barges. Most of the time, nothing happens when passing through here. When something is happening, a lot of other things seem to also be happening. This is sort of ‘the way of things’ when you’re in the habit of following a camera around.
This spot is right about the point where the Three Rivers of Pittsburgh commingle, and form the headwaters of the Ohio River.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
CSX #1899 is what’s known as a heritage unit, painted up all ‘old timey’ special and it’s christened as the ‘Pere Marquette.’ Read all about it here.
Were I a railfan rather than just some ‘icehole who likes taking pictures of trains,’ I’d likely be jumping up and down with joy at this capture, but that would puncture the numbed down and dire outlook on life which I pride myself on. Nothing matters, and nobody cares, after all.
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.
Train, one
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After witnessing a Towboat maneuvering an amazing fifteen mineral barges, while walking over the West End Bridge (discussed yesterday), my scuttling path saw a humble narrator encountering a series of CSX trains along the Monongahela River, here in the heart of Pittsburgh.
I’ve experienced multiple hour long intervals where there isn’t a hint of activity along these tracks, but this time around I got lucky.
CSX #7289 was just idling there, held up by signals, on my left.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On my right, as the Monongahela Incline was rising up towards the summit of Mount Washington, and a Norfolk Southern train was transiting under its cantilevered trackway.
On did a humble narrator scuttle.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
CSX #7289 is a bit of mystery to me, although a bit of googling suggests that it had recently been renumbered from an earlier classification. It was sitting there at a dead standstill, and a glance down the tracks revealed that the signal boards for this track were red in coloration, whereas the second track’s signals revealed a yellow light.
Another lens change ensued, as I guessed that the yellow light meant something was coming my way and heading west.
More on that 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.
Dumberer, and Dumbtastic
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The long walk upon which I ran out of gas, described this week, ended with a cab ride over to a brewery nearby the light rail station which would carry me home. Said brewery is found alongside a fairly busy rail corridor operated by the CSX outfit. While relaxing my sore back and rehydrating with a pint of Pilsner, the signal arms at the grade crossing of the tracks activated, and I painfully stumbled over to get a shot of the passing train.
That’s when I saw one of the most dumbass things I’ve witnessed in the last couple of years occurred. Guys on dirt bikes ignoring the warning bells, the stop lights, and racing across the tracks in front of a moving train.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The trains don’t move terribly fast in this section for obvious reasons, but… Y’know, there’s a lot of ‘physics’ at work when you’re talking about locomotives. Getting hit by a slow moving train (15-20 mph) is somewhat related to getting shot by a fast moving bullet.
Had this kid miscalculated his crossing, hundreds of thousands of tons of mass would have been imparted to his bike and body. Parts of him would have become a red mist as he dismembered, and components of his bike would have gone airborne and landed dozens of feet from the point of impact. If the train operator had to hit the brakes to initiate a full stop, it would have taken the locomotive a good half mile to do so.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
You don’t screw around with trains, I always say. I used to say that about boats and ships in New York Harbor. It’s hard to conceive some of the titanic forces and physics surrounding such enormous machines, but as a reminder just keep saying to yourself ‘speed times mass.’ The reason a tiny bullet can pop a basketball size hole in you is ‘speed times mass,’ and the reason why a slow moving train can dismember you despite its relatively low traveling velocity is ‘speed times mass.’
Dumb, dumber, dumbest. This was some ‘Darwin Award’ shit right here.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The CSX unit was still blowing its horns as it passed through the grade crossing. One of the factors that the motorcyclist’s dumb move accomplished was introducing pure nightmare fuel for the operator of this locomotive. I’ve talked to NYC Subway personnel who experienced the hell of somebody jumping in front of a train they were operating, and have been told that it’s a life changing experience which never – ever – leaves you.
‘Eff you, motorcycle guy.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After getting the shot above, and finishing my pint of beer, a painful but short walk found me waiting for a T Light Rail car to shuttle me back to HQ. I was absolutely ‘out of gas,’ when I got home and prepared an evening meal. I wish I could say it was good, but I soon found myself in urgent physical distress, and didn’t finish it.
All I could think about was sleep, and found myself in bed by 9:30 p.m., a situation which Moe the Dog was highly in favor of. I was quite sore when I woke up the next morning, but had recovered from what was likely a heat and dehydration related physical crisis. Wow.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Lesson is: don’t ‘break the chain’ on regular exercise as it’s an absolute trial to get things started again. Also, I have to start carrying a water bottle with me during the summer. Also – yes, I was wearing a hat.
Back next week with something different 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 Newtown Pentacle 