1877 Duquesne Incline (Funicular) in Pittsburgh, PA

(Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

M'ke Helbing shared a Metrotrails photo
Historic Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Originally steam powered, the Duquesne Incline was built to carry cargo up and down Mt. Washington in the late 19th century. It later carried passengers, particularly Mt. Washington residents who were tired of walking up footpaths to the top. Inclines were then being built all over Mt. Washington. But as more roads were built on “Coal Hill” most of the other inclines were closed. By the end of the 1960s, only the Monongahela Incline and the Duquesne Incline remained.

In 1962, the incline was closed, apparently for good. Major repairs were needed, and with so few patrons, the incline's private owners did little. But local Duquesne Heights' residents launched a fund-raiser to help the incline. It was a huge success, and on July 1, 1963, the incline reopened under the auspices of a non-profit organization dedicated to its preservation.

The incline has since been totally refurbished. The cars, built by the J. G. Brill and Company of Philadelphia, have been stripped of paint to reveal the original wood. An observation deck was added at the top affording a magnificent view of Pittsburgh's "Golden Triangle", and the Duquesne Incline is now one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.

[BridgeHunter-incline]

I got the date of 1877 from this YouTube video:

Screenshot

It operates every 15 minutes [PortAuthority], and it is 400' (122m) long. [TripAdvisor]

 

Mary Alice posted
History of Pittsburgh Inclines

Al Marlowe: I did a risk analysis for their mechanical equipment for an insurance quote years ago. The drive mechanism includes a small electric motor (30 hp or so) driving a gear box which had wooden gear hobs and cogs. It was a specialty wood from a foreign country, Possibly Peru or Brazil. Since the incline is registered with the National Historical Society, all repair components have to meet certain requirements including materials. As a result, the incline was uninsurable from machinery breakdown coverage.

That has to be the Duquesne Incline in the foreground. And the Wabash Bridge in the background. With a bunch of tows at The Point.

Dennis DeBruler posted

While researching the Point Bridges that were in Pittsburgh, I came across this Detroit Publishing Co. photo, circa 1900-15. It shows the importance that riverboats, railroads and street cars once had in that area.

LC-D4-15633 [P&P]

https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016802438/

Robert Swenson: Awesome photo…. Waiting for the creeks to rise.
Don Sanders: Robert Swenson. Waiting for "coal water," and then all hell broke loose.
Dennis DeBruler: Robert Swenson So they are waiting for the wet season so that there is enough water in the Ohio River to provide the needed draft. I remembered that this was well before the 9-foot channel project was built. But I never realized how they queued up waiting for the rains to come.
Dale Zubik: Largest Inland Port at one Time

Emmanuel Fine Art Photography posted

My heart its set to Duquesne incline but I cannot pass that opportunity

to capture once again the beauty

of Pittsburgh, and this time on the mon incline as a technical picture it is very hard to take because you don’t have enough light and the incline is moving

Janice Fenk shared
Dennis DeBruler shared

Mike Lashwa commented on Emmanuel's post

Patches Croteau commented on Janice's share

Chris Litherland Photography posted

Here's a photo from a few winters ago of the Duquesne Incline looking over downtown Pittsburgh.

Originally steam powered when built in 1877, the Duquesne Incline was built to carry cargo up and down Mt. Washington in the late 19th century. It later carried passengers, particularly Mt. Washington residents who were tired of walking up footpaths to the top. Inclines were then being built all over Mt. Washington. But as more roads were built on “Coal Hill” most of the other inclines were closed. By the end of the 1960s, only the Monongahela Incline and the Duquesne Incline remained.

In 1962, the incline was closed, apparently for good. Major repairs were needed, and with so few patrons, the incline's private owners did little. But local Duquesne Heights residents launched a fund-raiser to help the incline. It was a huge success, and on July 1, 1963, the incline reopened under the auspices of a non-profit organization dedicated to its preservation.

Prints are available here. https://chrislitherlandphotography.zenfolio.com

[Specifically: https://chrislitherlandphotography.zenfolio.com/p456747523]

0:34 video