The Newtown Pentacle

Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi

Posts Tagged ‘Cool cars

Squeaky wheel

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Thurs

– photo by Mitch Waxman

A few random shots from the end of a satisfying scuttle. I swear, the working guys have no idea how esthetically pleasing I find these sorts of arrangements they leave behind. They’re artists, and don’t even know it.

I was moving through the area surrounding Allegheny Commons Park, which has a trench running through it for the railroads.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Norfolk Southern #1832 came through, heading north/west. It was hauling short blue cargo boxes, of the type which sewer solids are shipped within. Likely heading towards the sewer plant nearby the McKees Rocks Bridge, or Ohio. A lot of things nobody else wants end up in Ohio. I’ve been there, and really – they pretty much sent their best to Washington in Vance.

Stay out of Ohio, you’re not ready for what you might see there.

Regardless, one haughtily scuttled on.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

This truck caught my eye. I was intrigued by those Doberman silhouettes silk screened on the thing. Also, that’s one crazy truck, yo.

My steps carried me into the ‘ceremonial center’ section of the Coty of Pittsburgh, where the Stadiums are found, and where there’s coincidental opportunities to board the T light rail service and ‘get out of dodge.’

– photo by Mitch Waxman

See that mound on the right side of the shot? Coal mine’s historical entrance, as it turns out.

As I mentioned a few posts ago, this coal thing suddenly brings everything into a place where it makes sense. I’m not ‘smart enough’ to really delve into the topic here yet, but I’ve started reading up on the Pittsburgh Coal Company Trust, and others.

Heck of a story there. Eventually, I’ll know enough of it to point y’all at primary sources on the subject.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The T station came into sight, just as one of the light rail units rose out of the tunnel that it travels under downtown within, and climbed up the truss to the terminal stop opposite Acrisure Stadium.

Most of the Yinzers I meet ‘poo-poo’ the T, but I ride it all the time.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

My chariot arrived, and as soon as those doors opened, I was ensconced in a seat. This was about a six or seven mile walk, all told. I had a nice time, and nobody threw any rotting fruit at me, for a change.

Back tomorrow 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.

Written by Mitch Waxman

April 30, 2026 at 11:00 am

Cool cars: old fire truck edition

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Wednesday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Apparently, there’s a museum dedicated to baseball player Roberto Clemente in an old firehouse on Penn Avenue, and they park an old fire truck outside of it – which must be a lure to bring in passing lookie loos. Here’s their link, btw.

Caught my attention, I’ll tell’s ya. Love me a cool car.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

I grew up idolizing comic book artists and film directors, so the cult surrounding athletes is one I’m not a part of.

Want to talk Jack Kirby? I’m down. Want to discuss an athlete? I get quiet and listen but don’t participate in the conversation as I don’t have anything to offer on the subject. Did Roberto Clemente create the Fantastic Four, or the Avengers? Pfft.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a complete curmudgeon, I’ll go to a baseball or hockey game if you like. Won’t watch one on TV, although I will listen to a baseball game on the radio (the natural broadcast medium for baseball is AM radio) occasionally.

Couldn’t care less about football or basketball, me.

Saying that, sports means the world to a lot of people. Clemente is remembered by Pittsburgh in several conspicuous places. There’s a bridge named for him, as well as a street. A statue of the man greets entrants to PNC Park, where the Pirates compete.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Couldn’t help but pop out a few shots of the thing. My allocation of time for the walk was running down and I needed to keep moving.

Twirling, always twirling towards freedom, that’s me.

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.

Written by Mitch Waxman

September 24, 2025 at 11:00 am

Cool Cars – motorcycle edition

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Thursday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

While walking to the T light rail station at Pittsburgh’s First Avenue, this motorcycle caught my eye. It’s a Royal Enfield, which already makes it remarkable, as you mainly see people here riding either Harley Davidson bikes or one of the many offerings from the East Asian manufacturers.

The Enfield was ‘done up’ in a trim that was reminiscent of how their bikes were finished during the Second World War. It looked modern to me despite it, this bike, but I’m no expert.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

My British father in law actually is an expert on this sort of thing, but I haven’t been able to petition him about it as of this writing.

Regardless, ‘cool bike.’

– photo by Mitch Waxman

I wonder if it’s a movie prop or something? Seems to be a legit street bike, with a license plate and everything, so…

Neat!

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.

Written by Mitch Waxman

September 18, 2025 at 11:00 am

Cool Cars, Van edition

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Tuesday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Longtime readers will recall that the ‘cool cars’ designation for a post used to be fairly common here at Newtown Pentacle, but that was in Western Queens. The tag on post signifies that I wandered past an unexpectedly charismatic vehicle, during a walk, and felt compelled to photograph it. Hence…

Check out this crazy van.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The bonnet, as the British born ‘Our Lady of the Pentacle’ might call it, was festooned with skulls. Wouldn’t want to clear snow off of this one.

I’m guessing that the owner must be in a band. The cargo racks on top… gotta be a vehicle which a band tours out of. Metal band, I’ll wager.

It’s also possible that the devil had simply parked in the South Side Flats area and this is its ride.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Front shot of the thing, and then your humble narrator moved on.

It was still too early in the day for a beer, so despite my proximity to the Sly Fox Brewery and it’s non stop parade of CSX trains, your humble narrator instead ‘leaned into it’ and continued on with his scuttle.

I was determined to use mass transit to get back to HQ, but that’s another story for another day. 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.

Written by Mitch Waxman

September 16, 2025 at 11:00 am

Three from Pittsburgh

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Thursday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

That’s a ‘T’ light rail train set operating at street grade, along Arlington Avenue in Pittsburgh, and sitting at a red light. The transit service is currently rerouted from its normal efficiency to accommodate a construction project rehabilitating a transit only tunnel punched through Mount Washington which it normally uses.

Your humble narrator was car based on this particular day, due to high atmospheric temperatures and a desire to see a lot of things all at once. Luckily, I’ve developed a fairly decent knowledge of how to get around hereabouts in the last three years. Zippy.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

A quick drive over to Etna found me sitting under a bridge to take advantage of the offered shade. I was trying for a railroad trifecta, but Norfolk Southern wasn’t playing ball. I had other stuff to do, and my ‘me time’ interval was coming to an end.

All of the posts you’ve seen this week were captured rapid fire on that particularly hot and sultry morning.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

On my way back to where the car was parked, this truck carrying smaller trucks caught my eye. I asked the trucker if I could grab a couple of shots and he waved me on saying ‘I couldn’t give a flip.’

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.

Written by Mitch Waxman

August 14, 2025 at 11:00 am