Posts Tagged ‘Homestead’
A real nowhere man
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A very productive constitutional walk, during which I had scuttled out somewhere in the neighborhood of about five to six miles (or – as I call it – a short walk) and then loitered around the Great Allegheny Passage’s ‘Whitaker Flyover’ pedestrian bridge – where the trains just kept on coming – was accomplished and one had reversed course for the walk back to the car.
Saying all that, it was that time of the day which I describe as ‘solar maximum’ and the weather was getting ‘shvitzy.’ I began heading back to the lot where I had parked the Mobile Oppression Platform, adjoining the Homestead Pumphouse site. From there, I’d start the roughly thirty minute drive back to HQ. One last thing, though…
I had planned on making a quick stop to wave the camera around, at this 1900 vintage ‘Union Railroad Rankin Hot Metal Bridge #35 (aka the Carrie Furnace Hot Metal Bridge)’ and to commit some photography upon it while on my way. I’ve mentioned this structure before.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Quoting from the post linked to above:
“This span was used as a rail bridge, is some 483 feet long, and is supported by three stout masonry piers. It was built to connect the Carrie Furnace and Edgar Thomson works on the northern shore to the rail network found on the south side of the (Monongahela) river, and it also served as a connection to nearby U.S. Steel plants in Homestead and Clairton, as well as offering ingress for incoming rail shipments of coal and coke, which fueled the various operations.”
Y’know, I hope to never have to rewrite that paragraph.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Saying that, the methodology I’ve been talking about since moving to Pittsburgh is now entering a different phase. There’s still an infinity of experiences that are novel and still unknown, but I’m also starting to choose certain subjects which I’ve found intriguing and will be returning to explore them a bit more deeply.
To analogize all this in an very, very NYC sort of manner, where I’m at is – ‘I figured out where some a dem subway stations is’s, now’s I’s gotta go ridin on da friggin train to see’n where’s dose mothaflowas go… feel me?’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The photos in this section are roughly from the middle of the bridge. I was walking approximately south to north here, and the approaches of the thing have been cut and demolished on the Carrie Furnace side of the Monongahela River.
This really must have been something to see, ‘back in the day.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Pretty epic views from up here, but this bridge is in an advanced state of decay. I recently had a Tetanus Booster, so I was feeling pretty good about myself right about here, but there’s all sorts of trip hazards and rusted out decking that you can easily get hurt by. Me? I’ve inhabited places like this all my life and know how not to get hurt around this sort of thing.
It’s nothing crazy, but be careful if visiting because medical bills suck.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s a decayed wooden walkway on the outside superstructure of the bridge, which looked just like a Darwin Award waiting to happen. No Bueno.
The section I was walking on was concrete and steel, and still pretty solid. Heavily rusted steel that you could probably punch a hole in with a screwdriver (or just your finger) was everywhere, but it’s still steel.
Back tomorrow.
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Abandoned Bridge
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Union Railroad Rankin Hot Metal Bridge #35, aka the Carrie Furnace Hot Metal Bridge, was built in 1900 and has been out of service for some 40 years. Of late, it has been designated as part of the Carrie Furnace based ‘Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.’ There’s talk of Allegheny County rehabilitating this span over the Monongahela River for usage by vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. It connects the Pittsburgh exurbs of Whitaker/West Homestead on the southern bank of the river with the northern connection going to the community of Rankin.
While walking along the Great Allegheny Passage, one might notice a rather prominent fence hole – as a humble narrator did – which leads up to the span. As a note, the bridge is in a deleterious condition, and is quite hazardous. If you’re not versed in ‘urbex,’ or know how to gauge whether or not the next the step you take in a ruined industrial space is either the right one, or the one which sends you to either a hospital or an undertaker… I’d avoid this place.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
To amplify the caution, there’s several spots where the deck of the thing has deteriorated and the metal decking is nothing more than layers of rust. There’s also quite a number of trip hazards and a few instances where you’re looking through some rusted out hole at the Monongahela River, which is flowing by some fifty feet below you. You never want to have to call 911 for help, even if you could, as that would be an extremely embarrassing situation.
This span was used as a rail bridge, some 483 feet long, and is supported by three stout masonry piers. It was built to connect the Carrie Furnace and Edgar Thomson works on the northern shore to the rail network found on the south side of the river, and it also served as a connection to other nearby U.S. Steel plants in Homestead and Clairton, as well as offering ingress to the incoming rail shipments of coal and coke which fueled the various operations.
There’s lot of sharp edges, drops, and ways to get hurt up here. Also, technically speaking – I was trespassing – but there ain’t exactly a bunch of cops waiting for you up here. Still – it’s a nice spot for photos, and as I kind of know what to look out for, and am also notoriously cautious…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Saying all that, I was still engaged in my long walk from Duquesne to Homestead along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail. I still had a couple of miles to go before meeting up with a friend at a local brewery for a couple of pints of beer and a session of grousing about the state of the world on that particular week.
The GAP trail reenters the street grid shortly after rounding around the Homestead Pump House historic site, and so did I. One scuttled forward. Ever scuttling, that’s me, God’s lonely man with a camera.
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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.
Love or money
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Man oh man, is it frustrating when you’re walking along rail tracks and the only trains you see are idle. The railfan crowd sports fancy little radios which allow them to predict the comings and goings, but a humble narrator doesn’t have nor does he want one of those things. That is, unless one of you reading this wants to get rid of one of those units, in which case – contact me and I’ll pay for shipping.
After proceeding along the Great Allegheny or GAP trail from Duquesne, one had finally scuttled into throwing distance of Homestead. Wasn’t quite there yet, still had about three miles of walking to get through. This was the ‘slog’ part of the walk – clear and cloudless skies, temperatures in the low 80’s, and the burning thermonuclear eye of god itself was irradiating me in the punishing manner of ‘Sol Invictus.’ Shvitz!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The only train witnessed was just sitting there, and there wasn’t even a locomotive attached to it, so these rail cars were basically in a parking lot. No fun. As the title of this post suggests… not for love or money did I get what I was hoping to shoot on this walk. Luckily, the purpose of this scuttle was ultimately about stretching my legs and ‘unclicking’ my back while burning out a few miles in the name of exercise. There would be beer and good conversation at the end of the effort, but right about this point a humble narrator was frustrated and uncomfortably warm. I kept on thinking about that sound Lucille Ball would make after saying ‘Ricky.’
I’ve started carrying a water bottle with me, which is something I never did back in NYC. Back home, you were never more than a 15 minute walk from a bodega or convenience store. Here, you’re on your own and need to be prepared for circumstance.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Our Lady of the Pentacle has pointed out to me that I still refer to NYC as ‘home,’ despite the fact that I haven’t dwelt there or been within the confines of the 5 Boroughs at all since December of last year. My response is “We live in Pittsburgh, but New York will always be my Home.”
I’m still very much in touch with things back home, by the way. Still keeping an eye on the Creek, and Astoria, and watching from afar. There’s a few people whose phones still ring when something concerning happens. Things seem to be going fairly poor for ‘home’ at the moment, it seems, and every bit of news I receive about the latest developments reaffirm the decision to ‘get the hell out of Dodge’ as having been the right move.
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.
Duquesne isn’t pronounced ‘Doo-Kess-Knee’
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It was a rainy sort of middle June day, but the rain was intermittent. Bands of storm clouds were racing about in the vault above, but it was one of the days which I’ve scheduled myself taking a ‘short walk.’ Desirous of taking a picture of something ‘interesting,’ the Mobile Oppression Platform was fired up and one drove about a half hour to the Great Allegheny Passage trail in Duquesne.
As described in the past, the GAP Trail involves a former rail road right of way, one which has been converted over to the usage of bike riders, joggers, and pedestrians. There’s a trail bridge spanning the very active railroad tracks which lead to the Edgar Thomson ‘Mon Valley Works’ steel plant on the opposite side of the nearby Monongahela River, pictured above. Pictured is Norfolk Southern 4234.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This shot actually preceded the first one, but the first one made for a better ‘marquis image’ in todays post, so there you go.
This sort of statement is usually when one of you out there decides to take umbrage about something I did or said or didn’t do or didn’t say. Usually, it’s somebody who doesn’t do much at all who will leave me a mean spirited message, or a cutting comment castigating my points of view, or observations, or whatever. Haters gonna hate.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It started to rain heavily, so I headed back to the car the Mobile Oppression Platform. A quick drive towards where HQ is found saw me hurtling into nearby Homestead, just as the rain blew away. I decided to stop off at the Homestead Pump House to continue my exercise, and wave the camera around at something else.
Luckily, just after arriving a tow boat (which is what I’ve repeatedly been advised to call a riverine tug boat) was passing by. Call sign # WDK2256, Jennifer Ann was built in 1971 and is 42 meters long by 11 meters wide, and if you want to know more about the boat and where it might be at this very moment – check out marinetraffic.com.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s a neat bit of statuary at the Homestead Pumphouse site, honoring the workers who used to occupy the place. The Homestead Works used to occupy both sides of the Monongahela River here, which was discussed in the posts offered a few weeks ago about the Carrie Furnace. This installation is called Yellow Dog.
Neat.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the actual Homestead Pumphouse, which is a preserved ‘historical place.’
A difference of opinion I have with frequent commenter George the Atheist is somewhat political in nature. He has chided me for usage of the ‘commie term Robber Baron’ when discussing Andrew Carnegie and Henry Frick, preferring instead that I use what I would describe as bootlicker talk: ‘Captain of Industry.’ For my part, at least, I enjoy a debate.
Here’s the story of, and the body count of, what these captains of industry did here at Homestead in 1892.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On my way back to HQ, I steered onto a few streets that dead end at a set of rail tracks, hoping to get lucky. In the end I sort of did. At least I got start and end with a Norfolk Southern rail road.
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.
Garlic is good for the heart
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another day, another doctor’s appointment. There’s nothing ‘new’ wrong with me, in case you’re wondering. Instead, after literal decades of ignoring my health, I’m taking advantage of Pittsburgh’s amazing Medical Industrial Complex to do some catch up. My new Doctor here has had me running around the area for various tests and probes. I’ve been magnetized, and irradiated, and punctured multiple times in pursuance of removing the ichor within for testing. Luckily, nothing terribly concerning has materialized from this inspection, and instead the Doc is busily establishing a base line of readings to work from, once things inevitably hit the fan.
Whilst driving about from place to place, I like to stick the camera up through the Mobile Oppression Platform’s moon roof and crack out the odd photo. This one is from Downtown Pittsburgh.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Over in Homestead, which I was visiting in pursuance of attending a Costco’s sale on men’s hats, and to take advantage of their fantastic pricing on a rotisserie chicken as well as purchasing puppy food for Moe the Dog, I got stuck in traffic for about a half hour while waiting for an endlessly long Norfolk Southern train to pass by.
Me? I love taking a picture of a train, so much so that I didn’t use the moon roof this time around and just shot it over the hood of the Toyota and through the windshield. I had a devil of a time dealing with the window’s tint while developing the shot, by the way.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’m not always driving, of course, and on yet another one of my walks – this time a long one of about 18,000 steps – according to my phone – I found myself in what’s proving to be one of my favorite sections of the City of Pittsburgh, in the South Side Flats section. My kind of spot, with heavy and light rail transiting about, heavy industry at work, and a series of interesting bridges overflying the waters of the Monongahela River.
Back tomorrow with lots of Choo-Choo.
“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 