The Newtown Pentacle

Monday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Just a few scouting shots from an entrance to Pittsburgh’s ‘T’ light rail service today, found at the Dawn Avenue stop on the City’s Southern Busway.

As mentioned last week, one was killing some time while the Toyota was off at the ‘stealership’s’ mechanic shop for an annual inspection and a recall based replacement of an engine component. Your narrator had humbly scuttled down a primary arterial road here in Pittsburgh after his automotive assignation, a ‘stroad’ dubbed as ‘U.S. Route 19 Truck’ for its totality but which is designated as ‘West Liberty Avenue’ in this vicinity. One was heading for the Dawn Avenue stop on the “T” light rail service.

The opportunity to wave the camera around in this vicinity and scout out a few locations for future use was gladly taken.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

An interchange of local and arterial roads feeds vehicle traffic into the Liberty Tunnel, described in some detail in a prior post. Said tunnel provides connection between the South Hills section (where Newtown Pentacle HQ, in Dormont, is found – approximately five miles away from this position) and then on the other side you gain access to the rest of the Pittsburgh Metro’s road network, notably I-376 and I-379.

I drive through here regularly, but as is often stated: you can’t ‘see’ anything from behind the wheel of a car as you’re moving too fast.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

These rail tracks are used by the Wheeling & Lake Erie RR outfit, and I will certainly be haunting this location when the climate warms back up while hoping for rail shots to manifest. Directly across the street from those stairs leading to the busway, this is.

I waved the camera around for a bit.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Heading towards my transit connection, but still shooting on my way to the busway where the stop is, which is up that flight of steps. These images should be defined as ‘what’s there’ snap shots, rather than being ‘photographs.’

Photographs – to me – are considered and composed shots meant to tell a story. A snap shot is something executed quickly, without much consideration. Mind you, there’s a lot to be said for quick observations, and about 80% of what you see here fit into my definition of ‘snap shots.’

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Yikes! The weird PTSD symptoms I’ve been experiencing around walking down flights of stairs was triggered by this sight. Yikes!

There are multiple ‘busways’ in Pittsburgh. These roads are closed to all but transit and municipal vehicles like those operated by the cops, fire departments, and ambulance services. The Southern Busway, which those stairs lead up to, incorporates tracks and catenaries for the T light rail. I’ve been riding past this particular stop at Dawn Avenue for three years, and I’m glad that I finally took a look at what’s here.

Plans for the warmer months which I’m crafting involve these busways.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The Red Line T appeared, and one boarded the thing for a ride back to Dormont, where the plan for the day called on me to helplessly wait until the Toyota people called to say that the car was ready for pickup. I had photos to process at home anyway, so no big deal. They said they’d send a ‘courtesy vehicle’ to pick me up.

As it turned out I wasn’t done walking for the 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.

Friday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

So… that’s where I was heading… Dawn Avenue’s intersection with Route 19 / West Liberty Avenue at the Liberty Tunnel interchange.

This has to be one of the least pedestrian friendly spots in Pittsburgh. Traffic is literally coming at you from every direction of the compass. It’s the ‘last stop’ for commuters towards the downtown section of Pittsburgh, and high speed road connections to points north and east of the city itself, from the South Hills.

Drivers get quite salty when they get caught at red lights in this zone.

One found an intersection with a painted crosswalk, and hit the little arrow button on the signal pole. Soon, the device was telling me it was safe to cross and one burst across the intersection as fast as his fat little feet could carry him.

It’s been more than a year now, and I basically still cannot run due to the orthopedic incident. Working on it.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Traffic insanity is everywhere. Pittsburgh drivers will maliciously slow down to make you catch a light. Pittsburgh drivers will intentionally keep you away from highway exits by lurking in your blind spot, and commonly tailgate other vehicles – at speed – on the highways. They’ll ‘fake’ a left turn and then go right… they suck.

Why? Lulz. The Yinzers think it’s funny.

After wiggling my butt across the intersection, I realized that the lighting had changed again and things had gotten quite photogenic all of a sudden.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Up that flight of steps, that’s where I’d need to get in order to go back to HQ.

I enjoyed a quick chat with a fellow named Brian who owns that auto shop whose signage is seen in the bottom left of the shot above. He gave me some time of day ‘intel’ on when Wheeling & Lake Erie RR commonly transits through this area, and he then informed that me he’s retiring and that the business is up for sale ‘if I know anyone interested.’

After a quick hand shake and my admonition that I wasn’t interested in purchasing an auto repair and used car sales business, I was off on my way. Hope he finds a reliable buyer. Nice guy.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Looking back at West Liberty Avenue from Dawn Avenue’s paver covered roadway. Pavers (cobblestones colloquially, or more accurately ‘Belgian Blocks) are used on roads all over Pittsburgh, and particularly so on these steep streets. They suck to drive on, as your car is bouncing all over the place, but the pavers do enhance the ‘grip’ of your tires and allow for a bit more control in terms of speed and braking on a slope.

This was a fairly barren spot, by the way. Didn’t see any evidence of homeless encampments, or any sort of morbid habitations, here.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Those are the steps leading up to the Southern Busway, which is partially ‘tracked’ to serve the T light rail. Nearby is the yard used by a towing company which seems to enjoy a municipal contract. If you parked illegally, and they scooped up your auto, odds are that you’re coming out here to get it back.

Reminds me of the old days in NYC when the NYPD used an area under the Kosciuszcko Bridge, in Queens, as a tow yard. At least in Pittsburgh, the tow yard is sited somewhat near mass transit. NYPD used to tow cars out to a remote spot which you needed a car to get to, which I always thought of as being a kind of perverse joke.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

People live up here, and there’s a small neighborhood present in these foothills. This is, as I often call such places, a ‘pregnant location.’ Lots of photo opportunities. I’ll be coming back, and specifically so in pursuit of some rail shots from this spot.

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.