Posts Tagged ‘Norfolk Southern’
Cage match
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As described yesterday, a humble narrator was navigating a set of Pittsburgh’s City Steps in the South Side Slopes neighborhood, dubbed as being the ‘Church Route Trestle Steps,’ in pursuance of finding yet another ‘point of view’ or POV of the Norfolk Southern RR’s ‘Mon Line’ trackage and right of way which snakes along the hillside hereabouts.
Say that three times fast, I dare you.
The section of the steps which overflies the RR tracks is contained within a fenced in steel truss, pictured above. It forms a short pedestrian bridge, and offers a pretty neat set of photo opportunities.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Looking north and west across the South Side Flats area towards Pittsburgh’s downtown, that’s how I’d describe the shot above. I’m particularly pleased with myself, regarding this capture. I’ll take the credit, but kind light and the atmospheric conditions should really get the top billing. I just clicked a button or two.
While shooting this one, a conversation was struck up with one of the locals, who was walking back and forth and up and down the steps. He jokingly referred to the bridge and steps as his own 2.8 million dollar municipal stairmaster.
While chatting, a familiar rumble was heard coming from the east.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Norfolk Southern #4675 appeared, hauling a varied series of cargo cars. There were tankers, and cars for cargo boxes, and also car carriers. I’ve been trying to accumulate some knowledge regarding what the many different train cars and containers I observe rolling past are used for. I’ve picked up just a bit of the lore, but this inquest moves me dangerously close to railfanning.
As always – not a railfan, I just like taking pictures of trains.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Luckily, this tenancy of mine on the pedestrian bridge soon saw another subject appear from the west. Two trains in one go?
Well… it was time to tighten my belt and get busy!
The stair climbing fellow I was chatting with lived in the adjoining South Sides Flats area, and we had an amiable chat about what that’s like. He pointed out a few things to me, and we discussed the environmental consequences of a busy train line in your back yard. He asked how I knew the things I know, which is one of the few times since Ive been here that Newtown Creek has been discussed.
He thought I’d be leaning into talking about air pollution, which is a hot button item here in Pittsburgh due to the operations of U.S. Steel downriver, but I pointed out to him that there is no observable vegetation growing on or near the track beds despite it being surrounded by the urban forest.
Defoliants, pesticide, and leachates entering the ground water, sayeth I.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Turns out that the second train was Norfolk Southern #9889, which also hauling a mixed up group of cars behind it. I shot a lot more images than just these three, of course, but these were the ones which seemed to tell my story most efficiently.
I bid my companion adieu, and continued on my way.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The plan for the rest of the early evening was to walk to the waterfront after passing by the 1889 vintage St. Adalbert’s Church (on the left in the the shot above), hang a left at the river, grab a beer at that brewery I like with the CSX tracks alongside it and…
Well, you’ll see all that tomorrow.
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Square peg, octagonal hole
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another occasion whereupon I found myself acting as interlocutor for Our Lady of the Pentacle’s transit needs occurred. After dropping her off where she needed to go, providence soon found a humble narrator lurking about in Allegheny Commons Park, and waiting for a train, here in Pittsburgh. This is a spot which I’m somewhat enamored by, and one has lurked about at this POV more than once.
Norfolk Southern #617 appeared. A quick look around at various rail sources indicated this as being a ‘rebuilt road slug,’ which apparently indicates that Norfolk Southern’s Juniata shop, in Pennsylvania’s Altoona, built the unit out of spare parts they had in stock. I’m told this is a ‘thing.’
Who knew?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This choke point of tracks is a pretty active rail location, and the trains that drive through here are likely heading for either the set of tracks which follow the north side of the Allegheny River, or for the Fort Wayne Railroad Bridge (crossing the Allegheny) which provides access to a set of tracks that go through downtown Pittsburgh, and the old Pennsylvania RR station which also hosts Amtrak.
Can’t tell you where it went after it left my sight though, and I’m just barely able to speculate on its path. Such speculation indicates somewhat major progress for me, in understanding the many, many sets of rail tracks and ‘rights of way’ you’ll encounter while moving about in Pittsburgh. I’ve been paying attention.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Luckily, I was able to scuttle across the street without being struck by a car, and get a shot or two of #617 heading on the way towards wherever it was going. My phone chimed right then, and it was time to retrieve Our Lady from her assignation and return to HQ.
A quick scuttle over to the Mobile Oppression Platform ensued, followed by a drive, and then our reunion with Moe the Dog.
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.
Up, down, and around
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Yup… that’s the shot I was hoping for after walking down a thousand feet of steps. Norfolk Southern #1024. It’s an EMD SD70ACe model locomotive if that means anything to you. What warmed the cockles of my heart, however, was what it was hauling. Check it out. I recognize those containers, and so will longtime readers of this publication. You really never can escape NYC, or its trash.
As mentioned yesterday, I’ve sort of been systematically exploring legally available POV’s for this Norfolk Southern Right of Way. Call me timid, but my way has always been to not knowingly trespass. Admittedly, I break this rule a little bit here and there, but otherwise it’s followed as such activity is generally outside of my comfort zone.
I never want to be the guy who needs the Fire Department to come rescue me after falling through a rotting floor or something.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This one looks back up at the last sections of the German Square steps which I had walked about a thousand feet down on from Arlington Avenue.
My friend Tim Fabian has actually photographed all the steps of Pittsburgh, and his photos are available in this book. Personally, I will not be photographing all of the seven hundred and twelve sets of steps Pittsburgh offers. Tim is insane, just ask him.
Suffice to say that going downwards on these steps is a bit less of an athletic undertaking than going up would be, but also as mentioned the path down provided access to less commonly used musculature in the roadway interface and I really felt it in my knees, thighs, and hips.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Norfolk Southern train set, hauling NYC’s garbage, moved westerly through Pittsburgh in the direction of the P.J. McArdle roadway. My day was half over at this point, but there were still a couple of spots in the South Sides Flats area where my desire to point the camera at things could be satisfied.
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.
Wassup in Sewickley
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Sewickley is a Borough in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County, found about 12 miles northwest of Pittsburgh proper, and is home to about 4,000 people. It’s quite a lovely and seemingly well-off suburb, I would mention.
There’s a park and a boat launch along the Ohio River, the access road of which is pictured above as it tunnels under the Norfolk Southern tracks which I’d been shadowing all afternoon and has been mentioned in prior posts. In the shot above, the tracks are carried above the boat launch tunnel, with the Ohio River in the background.
After one walked through the tunnel, surprising a couple of people who were surreptitiously enjoying some cannabis, one discovered that the views attainable here weren’t terribly photogenic so I walked up a nearby hill to try and find a POV.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Sewickley Bridge came into frame at the hill top, a 1981 vintage truss which spans the Ohio and carries State Route 4025 – which connects Sewickley to Moon Township on the south side of the river. I’d be driving over that bridge before the afternoon was over, on my way back to HQ.
One scuttled about, and I received a phone call from an old friend while doing so, who’s been referred to here as ‘The Hermetic Hungarian.’ We caught up and discussed the issues of the day while I scuttled about and crossed my fingers that I might get a shot of a train, after haunting these tracks in different locations all afternoon.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Wishes do come true, apparently, as Norfolk Southern #4781 came roaring into view. I’m told that’s an ‘EMD SD70MAC’ model locomotive.
That probably means quite a bit to someone versed in the railfanning hobby, but as is often stated – I like taking pictures of trains, and photos always need subjects to focus on. Trains are also sort of difficult to photograph, especially so when they’re under full steam and cooking along their way. Not railfanning, however.
Back next week, 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.
Rolling, rolling, scuttling
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As described in prior posts, one was engaged in a constitutional walk with an ulterior purpose of capturing a few photos along the way. I was scuttling along Pittsburgh’s P.J. McArdle roadway, which that suspension bridge pictured above is a part of. The bridge overflies a set of Norfolk Southern RR tracks.
There was some kind of track maintenance operation underway that was kicking up a good amount of dust, just around the bend.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The characteristic rumble of a locomotive engine from the direction of that bend signaled that a train was about to appear. The shot above is significantly cropped out of a full frame shot, in order to provide detail, I should mention. But… a train was coming.
Hooray for me, I can be happy again.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Happily photographed, the train continued along its way and so did I. This was a relatively short walk, and I had other things to do back at HQ. I looped around the waterfront and headed back to the T light rail station, where I caught my ride back to Dormont some five or so miles distant.
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.
The Newtown Pentacle 