Posts Tagged ‘North Shore’
Scuttling onto the McKees Rocks Bridge
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Topsburgh to Bottomsburgh part four:
One managed to safely cross that gnarly intersection mentioned yesterday, an act whose execution caused me no end of existential anxiety, and soon the camera was positioned onto the McKees Rocks Bridge.
I’ve only walked this bridge a single time, and have been desirous of a return, as I think it’s fantastic.
This particular scuttle, which ended up being just a bit under ten miles horizontally, also saw me descending better than a thousand feet in elevation from ‘Observatory Hill’ in the Perry South area, nearby the Davis Avenue Pedestrian Bridge, moved through the neighborhoods of Brighton Heights and then Marshall Shadeland, crossing this bridge, and then heading down to the flood plains of the Ohio River in ‘McKees Rocks’s ‘Bottoms’ section on the other side of this bridge.
I get ahead of myself, however, and we are at the ‘crossing the bridge’ part of all that.
Just in case you’ve been wondering what the ‘Topsburgh and Bottomsburgh’ thing is about.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
McKees Rocks bridge is the longest span in Allegheny County, and it overlooks the massive Alcosan wastewater treatment plant found on the Ohio River on its northern approaches.
Pictured are – what looks to me – like aeration tanks, which wastewater professionals use to separate solid materials out of the ‘flow.’ Basically, the aeration causes solids to drop to the bottom for later collection. Solids can be anything from a matchbox car that some kid flushed down the toilet, to the rocks and stones and other detritus carried into the sewer grates during rainstorms.
My pals at the Sewer Plant in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint once told me that they had a bowling ball shoot out of one of the incoming pipes during a storm, which entered the plant in the manner of a cannonball. It caused all sorts of damage. The question of how a bowling ball ended up in NYC’s sewer system remains unanswered.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Looking across the Ohio River in a more or less southern direction for this one. I enjoy this bridge for a number of reasons, but primarily it’s an absolute ‘cat seat’ in terms of altitude and POV over the waterway, and the views are just fantastic.
Also, I like pointing the camera at industrial stuff, and there’s plenty of that visible from up here.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Saying that, I ended up spending close to an hour moving over the bridge as everytime I started walking, something caught my eye and I had to stop to get a shot. That’s the Fort Pitt Bridge in the far distance, catching a bit of light while standing in a cloud of rising mists.
As mentioned in my recent telling of the ‘slipped on ice and fell flat on my ass’ story, it had been fiendishly cold the night before, and the weather on this particular day saw temperatures in the high 50’s and low 60’s. That meant that a whole lot of misty weirdness was rising out of the hollows, crevasses, and ravines of Pittsburgh.
Lighting conditions were changing several times a minute, and things got photographically complex.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Me? I had a literal mile and a half of bridge to walk.
Pretty much loitering at this point. Waiting for a subject to pop into view, and scanning around for activity worth taking a picture of.
These moments are great tests for me, as a man who exhibits zero evidence of patience, and believes that the universe only shows him things that ‘need seeing’ when he randomly walks by them and that ‘you can’t force something to happen.’ One must compel himself to linger.
I remind myself of another personal aphorism – ‘it’s like fishing’ – and that you need to wait for a bite as you can’t order the fish onto your hook.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
You may notice how these shots continually look back towards that set of railroad tracks. One of the things I was looking for was rail activity.
I stuck the headphones into the ear holes, and started listening to that good old ‘History of Rome’ podcast again. I think I was on an episode numbered somewhere in the high 90’s, around the time of the Tetrarchy, but this walk was perpetrated on the 24th of March and today is the sixth of May, so… late in the game Italy based Rome, basically.
I find that ‘spoken word,’ as in podcast or audiobook, doesn’t lodge into my brain the way that the written word does. I need to listen to an audiobook at least a couple of times for it to ‘stick’ into my brain, whereas I can usually read a printed book, and then be able to quote it directly for a long bit afterwards.
Different parts of the language center in the brain, I guess.
Back tomorrow.
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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.
Squeaky wheel
Thurs
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A few random shots from the end of a satisfying scuttle. I swear, the working guys have no idea how esthetically pleasing I find these sorts of arrangements they leave behind. They’re artists, and don’t even know it.
I was moving through the area surrounding Allegheny Commons Park, which has a trench running through it for the railroads.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Norfolk Southern #1832 came through, heading north/west. It was hauling short blue cargo boxes, of the type which sewer solids are shipped within. Likely heading towards the sewer plant nearby the McKees Rocks Bridge, or Ohio. A lot of things nobody else wants end up in Ohio. I’ve been there, and really – they pretty much sent their best to Washington in Vance.
Stay out of Ohio, you’re not ready for what you might see there.
Regardless, one haughtily scuttled on.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This truck caught my eye. I was intrigued by those Doberman silhouettes silk screened on the thing. Also, that’s one crazy truck, yo.
My steps carried me into the ‘ceremonial center’ section of the Coty of Pittsburgh, where the Stadiums are found, and where there’s coincidental opportunities to board the T light rail service and ‘get out of dodge.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
See that mound on the right side of the shot? Coal mine’s historical entrance, as it turns out.
As I mentioned a few posts ago, this coal thing suddenly brings everything into a place where it makes sense. I’m not ‘smart enough’ to really delve into the topic here yet, but I’ve started reading up on the Pittsburgh Coal Company Trust, and others.
Heck of a story there. Eventually, I’ll know enough of it to point y’all at primary sources on the subject.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The T station came into sight, just as one of the light rail units rose out of the tunnel that it travels under downtown within, and climbed up the truss to the terminal stop opposite Acrisure Stadium.
Most of the Yinzers I meet ‘poo-poo’ the T, but I ride it all the time.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My chariot arrived, and as soon as those doors opened, I was ensconced in a seat. This was about a six or seven mile walk, all told. I had a nice time, and nobody threw any rotting fruit at me, for a change.
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.
Shiny, happy, Pittsburgh
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A comedic attempt at ‘cleaning things up’ has been underway for a bit here in Pittsburgh. Anticipation of the NFL Draft event has driven the local Government into a paroxysm: cleaning hillsides of trash, power washing the graffiti away, breaking up homeless encampments…
If they put this much effort into things regularly…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On the final steps of a fairly long scuttle, and I think this one was about 8 or 9 miles – walking up and down hills, and then long empty streets, and then to the terminal stop on the T Light Rail.
Days like this one involve a one way cab ride to the top of wherever I’m going that day, and then picking my path back to mass transit if at all possible. It’s mainly about cost, this, and not bookending my day with $20+ cab rides.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Saying that, what you’re going to seeing in the next couple of weeks involved exactly that. Pittsburgh is a motor vehicle based city, after all.
I don’t drive when out on my excursions, usually, as I’d have to find my way back to the car and that limits how far I can wander away from it.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Across the street from Acrisure Stadium, and the entrance to the T light rail station above.
I’ve been enjoying these north side walks, incidentally. Physically challenging and revelatory in many ways. There’s a couple more of these in the pipeline, so hoping that y’all find them as interesting as I did.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
‘Upstairs’ at the T station, and my chariot is arriving.
I’ve also ventured out of the state since these photos were captured. Used the car for that, obviously, but you won’t be seeing those posts for a bit.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I poured my pre corpse into a seat, onboard this Red Line T.
A bit of organization needing handling as far as my camera bag goes, a task which was accomplished while riding the service.
Soon, I was back in Dormont where Moe the dog squealed as I walked in.
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.
Hey Now!, North Side Pittsburgh
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another one of my ‘short walk’ days occurred, and one soon found himself shambling up the hill and towards the T light rail station in Pittsburgh’s Dormont. The transit service soon deposited my pre-corpse onto a platform at its terminal stop, nearby Acrisure Stadium, on the city’s north side.
Your humble narrator slopped out onto the platform, in the style of a bucket of guts being poured into a pig’s pen. After gathering myself together and arranging the various bag and camera straps about my fecund torso, one scuttled forth – a localized condition of entropy autonomously moving about on a sunny day, while wrapped in a filthy black raincoat. Don’t look, you won’t like what you see. I don’t.
It had warmed up in Pittsburgh, finally, which saw those omnipresent occlusions of ice and snow which had been annoying me finally dissolve away and go down the drain. Bah!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My first instinct was to follow the river path, and cross one of the bridges over the Allegheny, but instead I headed north. Have to follow your nose sometimes. As it would turn out, this ended up being a pretty lucky outing for a creature as malefic and horrible to behold as myself. I caught my reflection in a car window, and then that pane of safety glass cracked as the gustation and sensory stalk jutting out of my T-Shirt was turned towards it. ‘Hissss,’ I said, and moved on.
My toes were pointed northwards, and then I suddenly had to urinate.
Such is life, huh? In between seasons for the sports enthusiasts, Pittsburgh does not stock the streets hereabout with Port-a-Potties, as they do during the months when the athletes gambol and toss balls to each other.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I headed off to a spot where I might find the 90 seconds of privacy required to ‘water the plants.’ Luckily, that was in a parking lot nearby the Clark Building, which has been mentioned here before, along with the neighboring Merchant Street Rail Bridge. A few very frustrating attempts to roam around this ‘zone’ in prior weeks were blocked by ice conditions on the pavement.
One leaned into it and soon found himself looking at the Merchant Street Rail Bridge, and that’s when I heard that particular diesel ‘thrumming’ sound which indicates a freight train is getting close.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey Now!
Norfolk Southern #7001 appeared, with somebody inside the operator’s cabin keeping an eye on something external to the train. Any ideas, railfan types? The train was moving extremely slowly, if that means anything. I’m told that it’s a rebuilt EMD SD60E model locomotive, one which is a combination of two older models. Neat!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This was the first of several times I’d get lucky with trains on this particular scuttle. I’d like to think that I’ve finally figured something out regarding the subject and its habits, but the reality is that I just got lucky with my timing. Serendipity, as I often say.
Saying that, I often lose when playing Solitaire.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The train was heading more or less eastwards, towards Etna or one of the multiple rail bridge interchanges which the rail company maintains along those tracks which provide egress to the central peninsular section of Pittsburgh.
After #7001 passed through, I spun on my heels and decided to be all greedy. I wanted more.
One headed over to the rail trench in Allegheny Commons Park, which is where 7001 had just came from, and sat down to wait and see if anything else was going to happen. It did.
More on all that 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.
Operation Tahalna
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A brief aperture, in a seemingly constant barrage of winter weather that had been battering Pittsburgh occurred, and your humble narrator soon found himself at the local ‘T’ light rail station awaiting his ride. The weather window would be closing within a few hours, so it would be a short scuttle for me on this particular day. Stretching the legs, as it were.
Traveling light with a minimum photo ‘kit’ in the bag, one was nevertheless swaddled in insulating clothes to combat the atmospheric temperatures. I’ve described the minimum kit bag in the past, but – two prime lenses and a few ‘odds and bobs’ of essential gear.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The T was ridden to Pittsburgh’s north shore, where I discovered that the legions were beginning to assemble for a football game that night.
Realization that I had wandered into exactly the sort of setting I don’t want to be in – where the human infestation would soon be swarming – my plans for the afternoon began to alter.
Also, a considerable amount of ice and snow was present on the pavements, even in those areas which receive dedicated maintenance. Did not want to find out what things looked like in spots where nobody is taking care of the sidewalks.
Orthopedic incident… it still occupies a big part of my brain, a fevered tenancy wherein no rent is paid.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s Acrisure Stadium, where the action would be happening later on.
I understand that the Steelers won that night, but I didn’t see anyone sacrificing a bull or anything – this time. My amended plan for the day, thereby, would be to loop around the stadium and get back on the T light rail, which I’d ride over to a different section of the City which would hopefully be a bit less populated.
In the ‘inner ring’ of Pittsburgh, the light rail runs in a ‘free zone.’ Hop on, hop off, it’s cool.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Allegheny River has been pushing out ice flows for a few weeks now.
The river’s source is far to the north, nearby PA.’s border with New York State. Kinzua, I’m told.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Made it back to the T’s terminal stop, and boarded a train set heading towards the South. Chatted with some Canadian guy from Quebec who was a tourist, and he was in town for the football game. Recommended a place to eat and grab a drink to him, near his hotel, and then one debarked at the ‘Steel Plaza Station,’ under the U.S. Steel Building, in the downtown section.
Back on the streets, where I belong.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I noticed that the sculptures in this park were sporting some sort of plastic or vinyl protective covers. Interesting, that. It was getting colder with every step, I should mention, and the thermometer had been at 24 degrees when I left HQ.
Regardless, I’ve got to keep moving or I’ll stop moving.
Back tomorrow with more.
“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 