Posts Tagged ‘railroad’
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.
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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.
CSX Cumberland apertif
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Finally, I found a point of view location for the CSX Terminal in Maryland’s city of Cumberland. Take that, jabronies.
One realizes that this quest of mine sounds fairly obsessive, and I haven’t been able to get close at all to what I really want shots of (the roundhouse), but… darn it… this is the closest I’ve managed to get to the facility and I was glad of it.
This whole ‘train thing’ has been a real learning experience, I tell you, but I’m not done yet. Learning, learning, learning.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is my second or third day trip to this area, which is about a two hour drive, and what I’d consider to be the southeastern corner of the Pittsburgh metroplex. A significant section of the journey takes place on the modern incarnation of the ‘National Road’ – Route 40, which dates back to 1812, and travels through the Laurel Highlands. If you’re interested in seeing an absolutely gorgeous section of the eastern United States – put the Laurel Highland on your list.
Cumberland is high on my ‘to explore’ list, and I’ll definitely be trying to pay the place a good amount of attention while waving the camera around.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
An oddly painted track maintenance unit was spotted at the Cumberland Terminal, all decked out in the sort of urban camouflage pattern which the military favors. Can’t imagine why you’d paint equipment like this in such a manner, but there you go. Normally these sorts of things are brightly painted so you can’t ‘not notice’ them.
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.
Second Interruptus
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Happily, I can report that the bug which has been afflicting me has fallen, and destroyed by my mighty immune system, as buoyed up by dozens of hours of sleep. Felt like hell for about 24 hours there, this was a ‘wild eyes looking back at you from the bathroom mirror at 4 in the morning’ kind of thing. Nothing survives within me for long. My gaze causes inflammation in the healthy, imagine what it’s like within.
Back tomorrow with proper offerings 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.
The Newtown Pentacle 