Posts Tagged ‘Panhandle Bridge’
Scuttleburgh
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Ok, I’m really starting to lean back into my ‘normal’ things, lords and ladies. I’ve fully convinced myself that nobody thinks I can fully recover from the busted ankle because they think I’m old and weak, and further packaged that up with a lot of of other personal resentments and annoyances, so I thereby have to prove the world wrong. Again.
What? How do you motivate yourself out of the house to enact a forced march when the only thing you want to do is stay at home and whine about how much your ankle is bugging you? Pfah.
The hill I live at the bottom of was vaingloriously surmounted, and your humble narrator then heroically scuttled off in the direction of the light rail station. The goal for the day was a short walk, of about three miles, but the effort would also include walking some of Pittsburgh’s steeply problematic hills.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I made it to the apex of those hills, here in Pittsburgh’s Boro of Dormont. That’s where you’ll find the T light rail station, and it’s where I boarded the carriage to carry me to a more visually interesting section of the metro area. I boarded the thing and it lurched roughly towards Pittsburgh, about 5-6 miles away. For you New Yorkers, think boarding the subway in Downtown Brooklyn or the Northern Blvd. sections of LIC and Astoria for an analogue. Just a few stops and you’re ‘there.’
Observably, I seem to be the only person in Pittsburgh who shoots photos out of the T’s windows, but that’s a habit I started back in NYC while riding the subways. Helped pass the time during a commute, and you never really knew what you were getting until going through the photos back at HQ. Most of my ‘shooting out of a train window’ ends up getting trashed, but every now and then you get something unique or interesting.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That concrete blockhouse looking structure is the entrance to Pittsburgh’s Liberty Tunnel. The terrain surrounding it is byzantine, with multiple arterial roadways leading here. There’s also the T tracks, which are elevated on a causeway here, and there’s also busways, and a couple of heavy freight rail trestles also get threaded through this area. It’s complicated!
One of these days I’m going to debark the T at a nearby stop and try to get some decent shots of the complex. At least until the cops chase me away, or I get bored while waiting for a freight train to cross one of those trestles.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As mentioned in prior posts, a good amount of construction work is currently affecting the T light rail, and the lines will all be detouring through the Allentown neighborhood until the autumn. Unfortunately, the ‘PRT’ transit agency which runs the show only added a single stop way at the top of the hill for the inconvenience, but there you are.
If you’re curious, the camera formula for this sort of ‘out the window shooting’ involves setting the ISO sensitivity up to nighttime levels (6400 for my camera) and setting the device to its ‘AV’ or aperture priority mode. The camera will then find the correct exposure automatically while maintaining the ISO and aperture settings (which is f8 for the particular zoom lens I was using this day). Normally, I shoot in full manual mode, which allows me control over all aspects of the exposure, but shooting out of the window of a moving vehicle isn’t very normal and the technological assist is welcomed.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the set of tracks which I often point the camera at, the ones nearby that brewery I keep mentioning. My plan for the day involved the relative flatness of this area. The beginning of my walk involved a bit of muscle, in terms of getting to the T via the hills of Dormont. This section was all about exercising the more discrete tissues in the foot and ankle, and getting them moving and all lubricated.
Six months, and two weeks. That’s exactly how long I’ve been dealing with this broken ankle business. As mentioned last week, the Doctors have more or less given me the ‘all clear’ and thusly I now need to seriously work the joint in order to get back to what I consider ‘normal.’ Thing is, ‘normal’ is what it used to feel like, and it’s a pretty different ankle after the injury and surgery. How it works, feels, performs – all different.
The asymmetry is really hard to get used to, but in time I don’t think I’ll even notice it. If only I was born patient, instead of good looking…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The T was debarked at the Second Avenue station, which is fed traffic by the Panhandle Bridge pictured above. The plan was to walk a bit on one of the trails along the waterfront of the Monongahela River, cross the waterbody on the Smithfield Street Bridge, then try and get a few train shots. It wouldn’t be a ‘have a beer too’ day, although my end point for the walk would be nearby that now familiar spot nearby the brewery.
Back tomorrow with more.
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Short walk, long pier, please
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As you may recall, last week’s postings involved your humble narrator beginning one of his ‘photowalks’ in the community of Beechview, whereupon a T light Rail car was boarded. Said T light rail service deposited me at the First Avenue Station, here in Pittsburgh’s Downtown section. This is where the Panhandle Bridge (pictured above), which carries the T’s tracks across the Monongahela River, connects to the central triangle of downtown.
There was a terrific amount of maintenance work underway on this particular day, as we riders were made to understand, and were my intentions to continue along the route then a transfer to a shuttle bus would be required. This wasn’t my plan, however, as I needed to walk and thereby exercise the recovering ankle and the rest of my roadway interface.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
First Avenue Station is where the T switches away from operating an above ground service running along bridges and streets, and instead becomes a subway for about three stops in the downtown area. This section is also within the ‘free zone’ and no fare is required. Because of the work underway, the T’s were stacking up at First Avenue Station so I decided to hang around a few minutes and get some shots of all the coming and going.
The ankle is coming along, and on this walk it was rather less noisome than the last time I tried something similar. What’s bugging me right now is the atrophy experienced during the recovery interval, which seems to have really ‘done a job’ on my upper thighs and hips. Strength training is now on my bingo card for late winter and spring, I guess.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As intoned, I hung around First Avenue Station for a few minutes to record the scene, and then set out looking for an elevator. There’s fantastically long sets of stairs found here which lead down to the street, but frankly – I’m not ready to commit to that sort of effort yet. On my way, I found a public bathroom and after taking care of business set off on my way towards the elevators.
This walk, as a note, stuck pretty close to the T throughout its length. This was entirely by design, an ‘out’ in case my ankle started acting up and I needed to abort the mission and get back home quick.
Back tomorrow with more, at 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.
Vroom vroom
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My ‘long walk’ day had played out fairly uneventfully, which was awesome and exactly what I was hoping for on a beautiful summery day. No close calls with traffic, random interactions with scary people, or anything like that. Great Pittsburgh day, this.
I made it to the trail along the Monongahela River that leads to that brewery I keep mentioning which sits alongside the CSX subdivision tracks, and was heading towards a bubbly glass of reward for my efforts.
Along the way, I couldn’t help but crack out a few shots of the T Light Rail crossing the river on the Panhandle Bridge.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve been kept busy by the world of late. Lots of stuff to do, obligations to both worldly and ongoing medical drama, and trying to keep my head above water. Busy, busy, busy. It was really nice to not have a time constraint for this walk and I was enjoying every minute of it.
One continued his scuttle, and made it to the brewery where I took up residence at one of the outdoor tables they maintain. Ordered a Pale Ale, which was ice cold, and started waiting for the railroad show to start.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Didn’t take long.
I’m particularly fond of the shot above, which faithful readers of the Newtown Pentacle will tell you I’ve been working on variations of for a while now. There’s a few past iterations of it that I’ve liked, with similar composition and lighting, which I’ve displayed here in the past – but having the T randomly appear behind the CSX #958 as it was negotiating that curve was pure serendipity.
Back next week 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.
Sylvan
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Back in NYC, amongst the concrete devastations, trees weren’t too much of an issue for this wandering photographer to work around. Back in “Home Sweet Hell,” the trees are often kept captive in concrete boxes which are sunk into the sidewalk, and in some places they are actually caged up by stout iron bars.
Pittsburgh is, of course, in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania means ‘Penn’s Woods,’ and the ‘sylvan’ part of that is a tell as to how difficult it is to get a clean shot of anything. Forget about gathering that shot above, depicting two T Light Rail train sets crossing the Monongahela River on the Panhandle Bridge, during the summer due to leaf canopy.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One was walking down the sloping course of the P.J. McArdle roadway, which is tacked onto the face of Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington, and got lucky when I caught a Norfolk Southern as it was moving along. The spot pictured, specifically that gravel driveway that meets the rail bed, is where I caught one of my favorite train shots of the last year.
I figure that you’ve just got to work the trees into the shot somehow, use them as a framing device. Something…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve always been fascinated by houses which stand in improbable spots. The one above is found alongside the primary (Liberty Bridge) and secondary approaches to the Liberty Tunnel, across the street from the Panhandle Bridge and the T traffic as pictured above. Also enjoys an ‘across the street’ proximity to the busy Norfolk Southern tracks, and the P.J.McArdle Roadway in pretty much in the back yard. Wowza.
There’s an apartment in Manhattan, one whose window is at car headlight level on a ramp leading off the GW Bridge, to the Henry Hudson Parkway, which I’ve always thought must be the absolute worst rental unit in the entire city and have always wondered who lives there. Similar spot, but of course the NYC one is worse because NYC.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I have no idea whether this home is occupied or not, it should be mentioned. The windows look ‘new,’ and the roof seems sound, but the location of the place just blows me away. The squealing of the rails, the constant sound of 24/7 traffic… it’s not a place for me, at any rate.
Vehicular locus points like this always interest me. Remember my long fascinations with the Queens Midtown Tunnel, and Long Island Expressway, back in Long Island City.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the front of the building, as seen from the Liberty Bridge. I guess it’s logical, but you can’t cross the street here and need to leave P.J. McArdle, walk down a flight of stairs, then walk through mud, and then cross the street at a horrible high volume traffic intersection, then you can resume your path on the roadway which is literally across the street.
Also… wow, but it is ‘car country’ out here in Pittsburgh.
Saying that, that intersection is a weird experience when you’re driving too. I use the Liberty Tunnel all the time, as it leads to the South Hills region of the city which HQ is nestled into. Definitely needs some rethinking, that intersection, IMHO.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is the street corridor which the mystery house mentioned above is found in, for the curious. Damned trees, you just can’t keep them out of the shot.
Back next week, 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.
Inclined towards
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As previously described, one was executing one of my ‘long walks,’ which play out over several miles, one recent afternoon. Along the path I scuttled upon, you find yourself passing under the cantilevered trackway of one of the funicular inclines, specifically the Duquesne Incline (which I refer to as the ‘yellow one’). I got lucky, as the coincidental timing of when I was passing by included a close up of one the cars of the incline passing by virtually at arm’s length.
The T streetcars, the buses, and these inclines, are operated by the Pennsylvania’s Port Authority here in Pittsburgh. I still haven’t taken a bus, although I’m anxious to observe the various busways which snake through the city.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s one of those T streetcars from above, exiting the Panhandle Bridge and heading away from the city’s center, to the Station Square stop on the south side of the Monongahela River. The properties surrounding the bridge in the photo above used to be rail yards, operated by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie RR – back in the day. There’s supposedly a whole lot of real estate development going on in this area, as part of the post steel industry revitalization effort.
The sky was beginning to look ominous, but as is my habit – I had checked the weather report and was carrying an umbrella with me.
The zoom lenses had been left at HQ, and I was carrying my kit of ‘bright’ prime lenses only. One on the camera, three in the bag – 16mm, 35mm, 50mm, and an 85mm.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Midway along the roadway I was scuttling down is found the 1924 vintage Liberty Tunnel, a high volume roadway dug through Mount Washington. Just over a mile in length, this tunnel is motor vehicle only, and it provides quick automotive access to the South Hills region of Pittsburgh from the ‘downtown’ center. HQ is at the bottom of one of those southern hills, and I drive through this tunnel frequently.
By the way, New Yorkers – this was shot at rush hour on weekday… they call this heavy traffic here. Wow.
It was starting to rain, but I was nowhere close to done with my day’s activities. My umbrella was deployed, and fixed into position between my camera bag’s strap and the left shoulder joint. This allows hands free usage of the thing, more or less.
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.
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