Posts Tagged ‘CSX’
End of the line
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Shlepping through Downtown Pittsburgh, after what ended up being a fairly long walk by my current standards. Started on Rialto Street in Troy Hill way on the other side of the Allegheny River, and here I am scuttling south towards the Monongahela River.
This post is being written and scheduled for publication during the week leading up to my trip back to NYC during the first week of June, so hopefully I didn’t get pushed in front of a subway or suffer an aneurism or something while there.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It’s funny, people tell me Downtown Pittsburgh is dangerous. Homeless people, drug addicts, the mentally imbalanced – all that. I don’t feel imperiled at all, but definitely maintain a ‘street posture’ in this zone. Junkies are unpredictable. The last time a junkie came at me, it was in LIC and during the pandemic at night. He didn’t like it at all when I jammed my right thumb into his eye, not one bit. Brooklyn, 1980’s, right here.
Saying all that, you’ve seen worse in NYC and elsewhere. I certainly have.
Anyone remember Larry ‘Wild Man’ Hague from Manhattan’s upper west side in the 90’s. I do. That was a dangerous ‘creature of the streets’ if ever there was one. I can attest to the news article’s reporting that he would set fires under parked cars, for fun, on 96th bet Amsterdam and Broadway.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Nearing the Smithfield Street Bridge over the Monongahela River, and for some reason a truck passing by on the highway below (I-376) caught my eye. This road leads to both the Fort Duquesne Bridge and the Fort Pitt Bridge and tunnel, which are sort of the ‘master cylinders’ for traffic in Pittsburgh. A slow down at either span ripples forth and miles outwards in minutes, affecting the entire city’s traffic.
Of course, I was on foot while shooting and at that moment couldn’t have given two shits about traffic problems. I wanted to drink a beer, damnit! Priorities!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After crossing the river, I was making my way to my favorite little brewery when a train appeared on the Norfolk Southern tracks high above. It wasn’t a Norfolk Southern locomotive, and its color way branding could indicate either the white whale Allegheny Valley RR or another seldom spotted local rail outfit. Couldn’t tell.
Life is a bit sweeter with some mystery in it, I always say.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A film crew had blocked my normal path to the beer taps, so a course correction was instituted. That alteration led to a set of city steps, which is somehow fitting since this walk started with another set of steps back on Rialto Street. PTSD was absolutely singing an aria in my head during this moment, and I was grasping at the bannister like my life depended on it.
I will get over this, as it just ‘mishegoss.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Finally, with a glass of cold lager in front of me, I got to sit down and wait for the trains to come to me. The CSX Pittsburgh Subdivision tracks seldom disappoint. My drink was soon finished, the tab paid, and a rideshare car was summoned to return me back to nearby Dormont.
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.
Scuttle’s end
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After a fun hike along the Ohio Water Trail, one last shot of a passing train was gathered. CSX was heading westwards along the Ohio River, whereas I was rolling north-easterly and towards the terminal stop of the T light rail which is nearby Acrisure Stadium.
As mentioned previously, the busted ankle performed well on this one. The only real discomfort I had was an aching back, but that’s exercise for ya. Saying that, I experienced a bit of swelling in the ankle that evening.
Six months to two years, the Doctor said.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the T light rail, up on its elevated tracks. Luckily, there’s escalators within the station so I didn’t have to get ‘all PTSD’ again regarding stairs.
That phobia is still traveling with me, but has lessened in severity. Exposure to many, many sets of steps and successfully negotiating the rises and runs has alleviated the worst of the condition. My energy levels are finally returning to normal, as well.
Lots of six image posts these days, huh?
When I’m scared of something, I try to conquer that feeling rather than incorporating weakness into my psyche and then forcing other people to deal with my bullshit. In my youth, it was common for adults to remind me that you needed to be tough in life, and that if you fell off a horse you needed to get right back in the saddle as soon as possible. Doing so was considered admirable, in my youth.
Today, you’d start an online group to virtually attend, and wallow in a pity party with similarly aggrieved people, and then you’d try to outlaw horse riding so that nobody has to suffer the way you did. You’d wrap yourself in padding to soften life’s blows, rather than armor.
Seriously, if somebody punches you in the nose, do you cry and run away, or do you bite them on the face (with the intention of leaving a scar) for revenge? Sheesh.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
For the curious, I was listening to a couple of HP Lovecraft audiobooks during this scuttle – specifically ‘The Thing on the Doorstep’ and ‘The Call of Cthulhu.’ The former was narrated by Wayne June, and the latter is a British radio drama adaptation that’s read by actor Garret Hagen.
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.
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.
Catching, and backing, up
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Shots from the archives populate today’s post.
I’m a bit behind schedule at the moment, with literally hundreds of new shots on my computer’s hard drive awaiting processing. Rather than rush the photos out, and since all of my deadlines here are basically self imposed, this post is instead carrying a few shots of trains captured as they were moving around Pittsburgh. Taking a breath, me.
Your humble narrator has been busy preparing for some light travel, which will involve returning to NYC for a few days in early June. Tugboats, Newtown Creek, and whatever happens directly in front of me are what I’m planning on shooting in between visiting friends and family.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’m traveling as light as I can, and will be flying in this time. Last time I came to town, I drove in from PA and having the car with me was like dragging a cross around. It kept me from doing a few things as I couldn’t park the damn thing just about anywhere I wanted to be. At the bottom of my camera bag will be a few t-shirts, skivvies, and socks. A toothbrush and basic toiletry kit will also be needed, but beyond that it’s all camera gear in there. This will be a mission.
A statement of priority that is. I’m planning on returning to Pittsburgh with hundreds if not thousands of photos. Can’t wait to see what’s changed for better or worse ‘back in the old neighborhood’ in the last three years. I actually have no plans to visit Astoria.
Also – as a note – if I was still in Astoria/LIC they never would have gotten away with demolishing the fountain in front of the court house. I would have forced the electeds into action and marshaled a protest or ten. I’m disappointed, but not surprised, at the apathy for the history of the place in the modern population and elected officials of LIC. Y’all should really pay attention to this sort of stuff, in between arguing about bike lanes and subjecting each other to political purity tests.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ll be back next week with another series of posts describing the random places which draw my interest, of course.
In the meantime, I’m pruning my camera bag down to its maximum efficiency, and planning the NYC trip in granular detail. When I return to PA from NYC, I’m feeling a certain curiosity about nearby West Virginia for some reason, and intend to visit Weirton – which is somehow only a 40 minute drive from where I dwell. You can park there, I’m told.
I’ve also got a few day trips I want to do as summer arrives – a return to PA’s Oil City, and to Maryland’s Cumberland, also – there’s an ex coal mine which does tours nearby Pittsburgh… lots and lots of stuff. I’ve watched a few videos about the PA Trolley Museum, and thereby it’s drifted fairly low on my list. I’ll get there, but the whole thing seems remarkably unexciting.
Back next week.
“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.
Remains of that day
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After a four mile walk, your humble narrator was waving around a wide angle lens, for a last few shots before heading back home to Dormont. I did stop off at the nearby brewery I like, the one alongside the CSX train tracks, and had a recovery lager before summoning a ride back to HQ. The ankle was pissed off.
Pictured above is part of Colors Park, where graffiti and street artists are invited to add their flourished to the place. Great spot this.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another CSX train shot past me, and I’m sorry to say that running over to and climbing on top of a series of concrete jersey barriers to get the shot isn’t in the cards at the moment.
When crossing streets or just moving around the world right now, I have to constantly say ‘Mitch, you can’t run right now’ to myself. You know things are serious when my inner voice addresses me by name.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The end of this scuttle, and the last shot from this particular excursion. At the right is the City’s jail. The Liberty and Panhandle Bridges are in the center, and Downtown Pittsburgh is in the background. That’s the Monongahela River, of course.
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.
The Newtown Pentacle 