Posts Tagged ‘The T’
Kicking dirt while waiting for a T
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It had been a fairly seamless afternoon, with a long walk down a steep slope, and then burning out a few miles of flat land grinding. Got my heart rate up and even, stretched and strengthened the rubber bands in my gamey ankle, and shot a bunch of photos. A good day.
‘Yay’ for your humble narrator.
My last stop of the day would involve mass transit, specifically the ‘T Light Rail’ station at First Avenue, here in Downtown Pittsburgh.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is where the Panhandle Bridge, originally built for heavy rail, connects the T to the South Side Flats section across the Monongahela River and the Golden Triangle section of Pittsburgh.
Ongoing construction on a transit tunnel found on the other side has resulted in decaying headways, and quite a few capacity issues on the single trackway of the Panhandle. (Yes, I know, pictured are two tracks. They converge on the other side after spurring off.) Under normal circumstance, that transit tunnel feeds into the Station Square stop and the T’s approach the Panhandle from a higher capacity spur.
I had just missed the Red Line train, unfortunately, guaranteeing the longest possible wait time for my chariot to arrive.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve always passed time while commuting by taking photos, and this occasion was no exception to that rule. This station is where the catenary powered light rail units convert from running as a trolley and over to being a subway.
It’s also the start of the ‘free zone’ where transit runs ‘sans coulottes’ as far as fares go. My trip was to outside of the free zone, so I had to pay when I debarked. That’s how it works.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The station was playing an announcement proclaiming delays and apologizing to the riding public, but I didn’t care much. I was having a good time waving the camera around.
Besides, I got to sit down in the shade for a spell, a welcome break after the walk down Mount Washington and across the Monongahela River.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One had a good half hour’s wait time to spend, and from what I was observing, it looked like the ‘logjam’ that the PRT people (Pennsylvania’s Port Authority is the top banana for this area, with Pittsburgh Regional Transit as the local outfit that operates services for them) were dealing with involved a surfeit of Pittsburgh bound trains that were all trying to cross the Panhandle Bridge.
It was all terribly exciting, really.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Finally, my chariot arrived, and it was time to head back to Dormont to reunite with Our Lady of the Pentacle and Moe the Dog.
The ankle was sore but fine after the walk, although I was a bit shvitzy and needed a quick bath upon returning to HQ.
Back next week with something different – at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
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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.
To zee T
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The T light rail runs directly through Pittsburgh’s Dormont section, where Newtown Pentacle HQ is found. It’s one of the reasons that Our Lady and myself decided to settle here when we relocated out of NYC. It’s awesome having a car and being able to drive all over hill and dale, but your humble narrator doesn’t always want to be burdened by having to be responsible. It also ties my hands as far as wandering about goes, since you need to loop back to where you started.
Additionally: You cant really ‘see’ things from inside a motor vehicle that you’re operating, or from a moving bike, as you’re moving too fast and are distracted by road rules and hazards. Recent endeavor, thereby, saw me scuttling up the steep hill which HQ is at the bottom of, and then up to the tracks of the T at ‘Potomac Station.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is the actual T unit which I rode into town on. The system uses (amongst other fare collection methods, apps etc.) a ‘ConnectCard,’ which is either pre-loaded up with cash or connected to a credit card or bank account. You pay upon boarding, when heading into the city, and when debarking on the ‘away from Pittsburgh’ side of the station. It’s a zone system they use, for the T. You’re just sort of expected to know the way that the system works, a part of the presumed Pittsburgh ‘vernacular knowledge’ thing which I mention a lot.
These light rail units are electrically powered, by suspended catenary wires.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This shot is actually from a completely different walk/day, but I wanted to show what it looks like when a Pittsburgh bound T is leaving Potomac station. Normally, I’d be on board that train, so…
Back tomorrow with where I was going – and all that – it’s photowalk time.
“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.
A Six Mile scuttle, begins
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
With the summer climate suddenly on my side at the start of August, a humble narrator lurched roughly out of HQ and shambled, hastily, up the hill that it’s located at the bottom of. The effort was in pursuance of riding the T Light Rail into town.
Pictured is a T unit moving away from Pittsburgh, at Dormont’s Potomac Station, but this point of view makes for a nicer photo than the POV of the city bound ones entering the station.
High 70’s and low 80’s, with an astonishingly low level of humidity, coupled with a steady 10-15mph wind – hey now – that’s scuttling weather.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The T carried me to its terminal stop, on the north shore of the Allegheny River, nearby Acrisure Stadium where the Steelers dwell. I’ve taken this particular ‘photowalk’ several times, as the route is always productive in terms of cool and random things to take photos of – tugs, trains, all sorts of stuff.
This walk was, incidentally, one of those moments where I realized how much the gamey ankle has actually healed up. Didn’t trouble me once on this path, or at least until the literal last steps. A bit sore the next day, but there you are. Eleven months, now, I’ve been dealing with this.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My footsteps will generally follow the river trails, so the intention was to first cross the West End Bridge, and then proceed southeasterly along the river trail following the Monongahela on the opposite shoreline, eventually reaching the Sly Fox Brewery – where I’d rehydrate with a pint of lager or two. That was my plan. I got off the T about 2 p.m.
Ended up being a pretty nice afternoon, and I saw lots of cool stuff.
It should be mentioned that I’ve regained my ‘lead time’ here at Newtown Pentacle, and this post was written during the first week of August. It’s always my stated goal to be at least a couple of weeks ahead of publication, but that doesn’t always work out.
At the moment, however, the pipeline is full.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My headphones had been stuck into the old ear holes, and I was listening to favorite amongst my collection of HP Lovecraft audiobooks – “The Lurking Fear” read by Wayne June. I find that cosmic horror goes wonderfully well with a walk, especially so on a warm afternoon in early August. I like the counterpoint.
This section of the river walk is defined by a hotel which seems to be a part of Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino. I have never set foot within the place. One of the few sins which I haven’t embraced over the years is gambling.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
All of these shiny and happy people were milling about. Some rode bikes. I found myself having to cramp up the muscles around my mouth and pull my lips back across the teeth as they acknowledged me. I also narrowed my eyes and raised my eyebrows.
I think it must have looked like a smile, although it could have also been easily read as the early stages of a stroke, but it’s the best I can imagine. Really, I try to act like the humans occasionally, but I’m clearly faking it. Best place for me is hiding behind a camera, where you can’t see the eye rolls or the scowls or me mouthing various swear words.
That water in today’s shots are the headwaters of the Ohio River, formed from the nearby admixture of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s another pathway to walk here, but it’s kind of boring despite being a more direct route. One of the real advantages to living in Pittsburgh is access to these trails, for me at least. Former railroad rights of way, it’s one of the few places in the area where you can find a few miles of relatively flat ground to lean into.
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.
Three from Pittsburgh
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s a ‘T’ light rail train set operating at street grade, along Arlington Avenue in Pittsburgh, and sitting at a red light. The transit service is currently rerouted from its normal efficiency to accommodate a construction project rehabilitating a transit only tunnel punched through Mount Washington which it normally uses.
Your humble narrator was car based on this particular day, due to high atmospheric temperatures and a desire to see a lot of things all at once. Luckily, I’ve developed a fairly decent knowledge of how to get around hereabouts in the last three years. Zippy.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A quick drive over to Etna found me sitting under a bridge to take advantage of the offered shade. I was trying for a railroad trifecta, but Norfolk Southern wasn’t playing ball. I had other stuff to do, and my ‘me time’ interval was coming to an end.
All of the posts you’ve seen this week were captured rapid fire on that particularly hot and sultry morning.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On my way back to where the car was parked, this truck carrying smaller trucks caught my eye. I asked the trucker if I could grab a couple of shots and he waved me on saying ‘I couldn’t give a flip.’
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.
Sometimes, it’s just odd out there
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On a recent afternoon, your humble narrator just threw his hands up in frustration and announced to Our Lady of the Pentacle that he was going out for a walk. She recognized the look in my eyes, that of a wild beast yearning for freedom, and said ‘have a good time.’
One soon found himself at ‘The T’ light rail’s First Avenue Station, where the Panhandle Bridge spans the Monongahela River.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This wasn’t going to be a long walk, at all. It was hot as heck, and I had a lot on my mind. Go to the bar and suck down a few beers sort of thoughts.
I’ve had to pick and choose my battles since returning from NYC, as the weather has been absolutely horrific all month. High heat and humidity, lots and lots of rain, and a set of competing priorities. As described yesterday, I’m currently enjoying a spate of medical tests designed to gauge and document my overall robustness and spot trends.
I don’t like being touched by strangers, let alone stripping down to my skivvies in their presence and letting them irradiate me.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As I’ve mentioned in the past, one of my superpowers is the ability to containerize negative emotions while situational stressors are at work, and then allow the stored up psychic pressure to bleed off at a more opportune time. Essentially, I have a ‘rage bladder,’ and every now and then one needs to let off some steam and bleed it out.
I was by myself, of course. God’s lonely man.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My pathway to the beer taps involved a short walk of less than two miles. This wasn’t an exercise day, and I convinced myself that the effort would be worth it if a few train shots were captured. I know that I mention drinking a lot, but I don’t actually drink all that much. A few beers, maybe once every couple of weeks, these days.
Back in Astoria, my crew of knuckleheads and I had a standing Friday night ‘after work’ meetup at ‘the local,’ but again – a couple/three pints of beer consumed over multiple hours is my deal. I sip, rather than chug.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Monongahela River and the Smithfield Street Bridge came into view, and one pointed his toes in the required direction. This is part of the same trail pictured above, incidentally.
That’s when I saw it.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A single, abandoned, shoe. Can it be?
Has the Queens Cobbler followed me to the Paris of Appalachia?
Back next week with maximum 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 