Posts Tagged ‘Allegheny Valley RR’
Hey Now! White Whale edition
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I really have to stop referring to these guys ‘the White Whale,’ as I’ve figured out several places to regularly catch their comings and goings at this stage of my residency in Pittsburgh. Melville references can only be used when something is an extraordinarily rare sight.
Allegheny Valley Rail Road is the name of the service’s corporate owner, and their branding on the Pittsburgh section is ‘Carload Express.’ Basically, the ‘big guys’ like CSX or Norfolk Southern handle the long distance transport of a rail car, whereas AVRR handles the ‘last mile’ of travel to the end customer.
Seriously though, that shot above is one of the top five rail shots which I’ve gathered since living out here in Pittsburgh. Zoom in on those wheels. You can see just how little of the wheel touches the rail, which is a very cool thing. NERD! NERD! NERD!
Yeah… but how often do you get to see a creep shot of a freight train, looking up a locomotive’s skirt, gaddammit?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The berm which their tracks ride upon was around 8-10 feet high relative to the level of the street I was standing on, and it continued on towards downtown, paralleling a major vehicle thoroughfare and local street called ‘Penn Avenue’ for a spell.
Me? I just stood there, shooting and shooting.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Surprisingly, I’ve seen this sort of thing multiple times in the last few weeks, specifically that the locomotive engines were running without a train of cargo cars attached to them. A violation of the first rule of freight, which is ‘don’t go anywhere empty.’ If you’ve ever had a job at a restaurant, this concept is related to the ‘empty hands do not go into or out of the kitchen’ rule.
As always seems to be the case, while this scene was playing out, a strong desire to urinate manifested.
I enjoy a variety of Doctor’s prescriptions related to my cardiac functions and circulatory health, it should be mentioned, and one of those pills happens to be a blood pressure medication. Said pill offers the label warning that ‘you may experience a sudden and immediate need to urinate.’ I can confirm this side effect.
I’ve realized that an ongoing theme here at Newtown Pentacle has revolved around me mentioning the need to suddenly have a piss while out in the wild, and that pill is why. I always try to describe the existential side of visiting these sorts of places, what I’m thinking or feeling, and so on. Ignoring basic biological function is silly and childish, to me. I’m not the City of Greater New York, after all.
That blood pressure pill does put me into real pickles, sometimes.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After the train had passed, and some of the local plants had been watered, one decided to straighten out the straps for the camera and bag. I was about to enter a populated area again, and didn’t want to look all janky to the passerby. One leaned forward and resumed his herky jerky approximation of human locomotion.
Hey! Forgot to mention this, but I’ve finally regained the spring in my step, post orthopedic incident. I was moving at between 2.8 and 3.4 mph on this scuttle, according to the heath app on my phone. The upper margin is very near what’s considered ‘running’ speed.
Consider that nine months ago I was walking at 1.3 mph, and in the postural manner of the Batman villain Penguin, so that’s some good news right there lords and ladies.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One more shot looking back over my shoulder, at where I had just walked through, under the Bloomfield Avenue Bridge. Neville Street transforms into Sassafras Street nearby, which parallels the fencelines of the old Iron City Brewery – an ‘abandoned’ property which seems to have an owner that’s experiencing a development dilemma.
Don’t know much about its story, but this brewery is a gargantuan former industrial property, plopped right at the edge of a ‘hot’ real estate area called Lawrenceville that seems to be trapped in ‘development hell.’
Think Brooklyn’s Greenpoint, or Williamsburg, around 1995-2000.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The uphill route, out of the Skunk Hollow zone, shadowed.
Again, where is everybody? Maybe I am dead, just a wandering phantom with a camera… an animated but filthy black raincoat with no one inside…
Back tomorrow with more.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
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Hey Now! In Skunk Hollow
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.
“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.
Two Hey Now!’s and a bridge
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
‘Hey Now!’ that’s… that’s… that’s the WHITE WHALE. The WHITE WHALE!
It’s actually called Allegheny Valley RR’s #6004. I use the ‘white whale’ as the service is seldom observed, and when it is – usually it’s far away or occluded form the lens by some sort of intervening scenery.
Bah!
Allegheny Commons Park is Pittsburgh’s oldest, and it happens to sport a rail trench running right through the middle of it. This is the view from ‘Ridge Avenue.’ I’ve been wandering around this ‘zone’ quite a bit recently. Easy to get to by mass transit. A fascinating and lovely historic district surrounds the park, as well.
Check out this ‘zone’ in Google Maps, it’s neat.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Believe it or not, I actually managed to run across the street to get this shot! Me, Mr Busted Ankle Boo-Hoo-Hoo guy… running! Running…
The white whale was heading towards the same Merchant Street Bridge tracks which Norfolk Southern #7001 was shown transiting along just yesterday. I felt rather full of myself at this moment, but my day of serendipitous rail photography in Pittsburgh was just getting started.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another Norfolk Southern train was spotted just a few blocks away, riding upon the concretized berm which carries their tracks. There’s a construction project underway, one which sees crews of laborers chipping at and working on that berm, which is no doubt why the train was ‘on hold.’
An expectation that some sort of movement might occur caused me to adopt a linear path under the highway ramps to try and get a decent POV if any action started to occur. I really wanted to get the puff of exhaust when they gunned the engine to break inertia and start moving.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One lingered about, walking block after block and stalking the train like a middle aged cheetah, until I was more or less across the street from the thing but they were just sitting there idling. I’ve instituted a rule for this sort of situation, no more hanging around and waiting for something to happen after about twenty minutes or so.
I headed south, and back into the sunlight. Hiss!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the Rachel Carson bridge, one of the ‘Three Sisters’ bridges over the Allegheny River which connects local traffic to Downtown Pittsburgh and ‘The Strip.’
Gaze…
These are actually great bridges for pedestrians and bikes, I’d mention. Wide side paths, which are completely separated from the vehicle traffic.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The plan from here would involve getting through and out of Downtown Pittsburgh with a minimum of fuss by hopping onto the T light Rail – this area is within the service’s ‘free zone,’ after all – and heading over to more familiar territory on the South Side of the Monongahela River.
The T path was decided upon as I had walked this route multiple times in recent weeks, and didn’t want to ‘spend’ my energy rehashing it.
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.
Tē pudeat, tē pudeat, tē pudeat!
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
See that pathway through the snow? That’s a fantastic and completed job of snow removal by a commercial business building, by the standards of Pittsburgh, in the tourist areas surrounding the stadiums.
Shame. Shame. Shame.
I think that shame gets a bad rap these days. Look in the mirror every now and then, huh?
‘Aren’t you ashamed of yourself’ doesn’t seem to be something people consider these days. As I’ve mentioned several times over the years, the specific way that my own brain operates involves sloughing off successes and victories – that’s what was supposed to happen – and hard coding failure, embarrassment, and shame into active memory.
Keeps me honest, and up at night, this.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey Now! That’s the ‘white whale,’ an Allegheny Valley Railroad unit moving along a Norfolk Southern trestle. Sweet serendipitous victory! Already forgotten, that.
Almost slipping on a patch of wet ice? I’ll remember that one forever.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The path I was following was a bit of a loop. I’d be roaming around in the end for a little over 90 minutes, then heading back to the T. It was about twenty degrees out, and a bit windy. One was warmly dressed, but…
There’s a lot on my mind these days. No better time to think through things than when walking. Something biochemical goes on. There’s studies which suggest that some of the neurological decline of aging can be attenuated by taking long walks. Maybe it’s the meditative solitude.
As I always say: if I stop moving, I’ll stop moving…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I underexposed this one a bit to bring the sky closer into accord with the broader range of human vision. You can just see the sun peeking through, slightly above the center point of the shot.
Couldn’t feel its warmth, at all.
Things got weird here. Long blocks surrounding Allegheny Commons Park, nearby the National Aviary and several schools, had zero attention paid to their cross walks. I had to walk around a half mile before encountering a safe place to cross the street. This was annoying.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The plows had more or less cleared the roads, but they left behind ice walls of up to three and change feet high along the curbs. Pedestrians can go jump in a lake, I guess. Thankfully, the bike lanes were clear because – let’s face it – that’s the number one priority for urban planning.
Notice any bicycles in the shot above? Didn’t see one rider the whole time I was out. Lots of people walking about, though. As long as the bike lanes are available, life can persist and the Republic continues, I guess.
Watch words and phrases to listen for inclusion of, if you think your politician is going all bike laney are ‘Strong Towns,’ ‘War on Cars,’ Safe Streets,’ and ‘traffic calming.’ Should your politician start using these words, an intervention is called for. Treat this sort of thing in the same manner you would after finding drugs in your kid’s bedroom, as early intervention during bicycle lobby conversion is critical.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Bah!
I swung by the rail trench in the park, but nothing was happening there, and it was too cold to just stand around and wait for a train. My toes were thereby pointed towards the direction of a T station a couple of miles away where I’d catch my ride home.
Wasn’t done shooting, though.
More on all 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.
Antisummer scuttles
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Continuing with a scuttle along the Allegheny River, here in Pittsburgh, in today’s post.
As mentioned last week, this walk occurred on a fairly chilly day. I was double insulated, with a layer of ‘long john’ thermal underwear under my black sackcloth outer shell. When all done up like this, I actually have to ensure that my body has a place to dump the excess heat generated while walking. To that point, my fingers and hands were toasty warm, even without gloves on. Gotta get that blood pumping, bro.
To my left was the HQ building of ALCOA, or whatever that aluminum giant and market dominar calls itself this week.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The last time that I undertook this particular walk in 2024, it was quite a hot day for early summer and I ended up feeling overheated and weird. Your humble narrator was still operating under his NYC rules, which state that you’re never more than a twenty minute walk from a Bodega where you can buy a Gatorade, so why carry liquids with you?
I was plotzing, and getting light headed. No good. Luckily, I found an open cafe that served me up a glass of Orange Juice and a few glasses of water.
Well, since that incident, my NYC rules have been thrown away and warm weather walks now include a water flask attached to the camera bag when I leave HQ. Lesson learned.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Saying all that, on this day it was under 40 degrees outside, so getting dehydrated wasn’t something I worried about this time around. Usually, if my mouth is feeling dry (if you want to determine if you’re dehydrated or not, force a smile. If your lips drag over the teeth in a sticky fashion, you are. Not medical advice, this, just colloquial experience) a piece of gum is usually all that’s required to get my saliva flowing again. Dentyne Ice peppermint, that’s me.
This shot looks across the river towards the Convention Center in the downtown section of Pittsburgh.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The trail crosses under the Fort Wayne Railroad Bridge, which normally serves Norfolk Southern’s locomotives, but this time around it was the white whale – Allegheny Valley RR. These tracks lead directly into the old PA RR Station, the former home base for the entire Pennsylvania Rail Road empire, and flow past the current home of Amtrak in Pittsburgh.
It’s absolutely ‘gob smacking’ that there’s only one place in Pittsburgh to catch a ride for interstate passenger rail. Pittsburgh… seat of the Pennsy Empire…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One of these days, I’ll drag my butt out of bed early and get over to one of those pedestrian bridges which overfly the rail tracks beyond the Amtrak Station. There’s basically two passenger trains a day to expect, one east bound from Chicago and one west bound from NYC. Both arrive and depart in the dead of night. Again, this city used to be the absolute locus point of railroading in the United States. Bah!
On did I scuttle. Forward, ever forward…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The former Heinz factory, converted to luxury lofts and condos in modernity, appeared before me. There’s a couple of ‘new construction’ office type buildings which adjoin the lofts, which must have been built during the Heinz property’s residential conversion. These structures seem abandoned, which is kind of an odd thing for this ‘zone.’
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 