Posts Tagged ‘CSX’
Terere tempus
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After a short walk on a very hot day, one took up his now familiar station at the Sly Fox Brewery found in Pittsburgh’s South Side Flats section.
A couple of enormous terminal buildings there create a puddle of shadow, in which one can shelter from the burning thermonuclear eye of God itself. Also, there’s cold beer and outside seating.
A grade crossing nearby hosts the typical sort of rail signal arms that ring bells and flash lights when activating, so you’ve got a good couple of minutes to get into position and figure out the exposure triangle before a train comes through.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Luckily, this was a busy time of day for CSX , and multiple trains were crossing through the POV. First it was #3316 pictured in the first shot, followed by #5432 above. The T light Rail is out for the summer due to maintenance, and whereas a shuttle bus is being offered in its lieu, I had already decided to splurge on an air conditioned cab to get back to HQ. By splurge, I mean spending about $13 plus tip.
I paid my tab, walked back outside, and summoned a ride.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While waiting, CSX #3254 suddenly appeared. Lucky capture.
Back next week with something different at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
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“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.
Mortuus ambulans
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the Smithfield Street Bridge, here in Pittsburgh, pictured above.
I crossed back over the Monongahela River here, after having walked over the Birmingham Bridge previously. The corridor I was heading for on the other side has become one of my favorites for a photowalk. It’s where my original ‘long walk’ plan would have taken me, just with an extra five miles of scuttling thrown in.
Lots of rail action there, downtown Pittsburgh as a backdrop, and shadowed by the elevations of Mount Washington. Sweet.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While crossing the river, the Towboat Haley Michelle was passing by, couldn’t resist a shot of its passage.
My plan at this point was to head over to the Sly Fox Brewery – as it’s called – and grab a Pilsner, then hang out for an hour or so hoping to catch some passing rail traffic.
I’ve zeroed in on a model of radio scanner which I’m planning on purchasing. It’ll let me know whether or not anything might be heading my way when I’m lurking about – but this purchase is an act which will move me dangerously close to railfanning.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
At the moment, I’m still depending on pure luck, as I was when CSX’s #4050 suddenly appeared and screamed right past me.
More 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.
Solus ambulo
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After a cool experience with the Wings of Victory historic plane tour about 20 miles away, described in prior posts, I drove from Pittsburgh’s West Mifflin section over to the waterfront section of Homestead to execute one of my constitutional walks.
A section of the Great Allegheny Passage trail coils through here, and there’s a local chunk of it which I hadn’t walked yet. Distant, the section I normally frequent is landmarked by the Homestead Pump House, whereas this one is notable for the extant group of soaking stacks from the former Homestead Steel Mill complex.
To see the historical context of these stacks, click here for a Library of Congress page with ‘back in the day’ info and photo.
They’re just for show these days, an architectural curiosity sticking out of the parking lot at a gigantic shopping center complex called ‘The Waterfront.’ Near the Costco and not quite as far as the Sandcastle water park, close to the movie theater multiplex, that’s where you’ll find these.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This was a short walk on what was turning out to be a really warm day, and since there was no tree cover – I was schvitzing heavily. My plan was two miles in and two miles out, and along the way a CSX train came roaring past, so ‘win.’ I had a rail bridge in sight which was my turnaround point and mile marker, although I generally gauge my distance using time.
I’ve started religiously carrying a water bottle on walks, as a note, after my ‘problem’ about a month ago on a different trail.
According to my phone, I walk at 2.3 mph and have a pronounced limp affecting about 20% of stride, associated with my left leg. That’s the one with the smashed toe, broken foot which never healed properly, the sprain prone ankle, the knee that sounds like I’m crushing popcorn in it, and an onset of arthritis through out the entire assembly, so the data is easily interpretable by use of a single phrase.
I’m all ‘effed up.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The aforementioned water park, which is dubbed ‘Sandcastle,’ was quite busy and hundreds of kids were waiting their chance to get shot through a plastic tube, or into a wave pool via an angled ramp.
Above is one of my experiments, wherein 17 different shots were combined as some Yinzer teenager shot through one of the ride/tubes. All 17 were combined into a single shot. The action started at top right and finished bottom left, and that’s the same person you see at every stage.
Back next week with more moaning, and groaning, 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.
Steppin out
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After descending down the South 18th Street Steps, found in Pittsburgh’s South Side Slopes section, one hung around a bit as I was on eye level with a set of train tracks used by the Norfolk Southern outfit and knew that a train was likely to appear. I couldn’t see it coming, due to the heavy vegetation surrounding the tracks, so I popped the headphones out of my ears and listened for the hum of a train approaching.
This shot required some luck, as I started firing the shutter on the camera as soon as the thing entered frame on the left, and I was quick enough to catch the shot above, offering a clean profile of the locomotive. One second before and one second after, the train was obscured by the brush.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Happy with an image or two of the scene ensconced on the camera’s memory card, a humble narrator resumed his endless scuttling and headed towards the Monongahela River frontage, where – entirely coincidentally – that Brewery I’ve been patronizing is found.
Hey, it was 96 degrees and super humid out… what am I supposed to do? Not hydrate? Pfah.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Luckily for me, a CSX freight train appeared while I was… ahem… rehydrating. #837 is apparently a GE ES44AC-H model locomotive.
I’m sure that means a lot to someone, but all I can say is that I really enjoyed getting a few shots of it as it thundered past.
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.
Lucky scuttler
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
At the end of a medium long walk, it was time for me to grab a beer at that brewery in Pittsburgh’s South Side Flats section which I’ve become a once every couple of weeks customer of. Just in the name of hydration, of course.
Just as I got to the intersection of a riverfront trail and the actual streets where it’s located, the rail track’s signal arms activated and CSX #5414 appeared, heading southeast.
After the thing passed by, I went into the brewery and ordered myself a glass of ice cold Pilsner. As is my habit, one gravitated to a table outside.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While quaffing, phone oriented attentions dominated, and I answered emails and returned a phone call. Soon, the signal arms activated again and CSX #3220 thundered past my position. ‘All in all, a pretty lucky day for trains’ thought I.
Satisfied with the refreshing beverage, I paid my tab and used an elevator to get up to the street level offered by the ‘Highline’ development. It’s about thirty to forty feet, I’d reckon, from down here to up there.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
When I got ‘up there,’ I heard the signal arms start chiming again, and was barely able to get into position when CSX#3091 appeared, hauling what appeared to be coal or coke mineral cars to the southeast.
So glad I was able to see all this, and share it with you lords and ladies, here at 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.
