RiverQuestion of the Month
for April 2009
Compiled by Jennifer Robertson, M.Ed.
RiverQuest Education Specialist
Question:
Across the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers from downtown, the Monongahela and Duquesne Inclines transport people safely up and down the steep slopes of Mount Washington.
How many inclines have operated in Pittsburgh over the years?
Answer:
Inclines, also known as funicular railways or inclined plane short line railroads, operate on the same principle as an elevator. Inclines were built in hilly cities primarily to allow residents of hilltop communities, safe and easy access to downtown areas. Inclines were one of the first mechanized means of transportation, pre-dating cable cars and street cars. The earliest inclines were for passengers, while later, larger inclines carried horses, wagons and cargo. With Pittsburgh’s hilly topography and many hilltop communities, as many as 17 inclines have operated in the city’s history. Of these, only two remain: the Monongahela Incline at Station Square and the Duquesne Incline, located at the head of the Ohio River. Both remaining inclines offer spectacular views of our beautiful city and are in operation 365 days a year.
Built in 1870, the Monongahela Incline was the first incline in the United States and is now the oldest incline in operation. The Mon Incline was privately owned and operated until the Port Authority of Allegheny County purchased it in 1964. Several extensive renovations have been completed since 1982, including replacement of the car bodies and an addition to the upper station. The Monongahela Incline received historic structure status by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation during its centennial year.
The Duquesne Incline, built in 1877, was the third of Pittsburgh’s many inclines. At one time, it served upwards of one million passengers per year. (The incline carried over 400,000 passengers in 2008.) The Duquesne Incline almost met the same fate as many of Pittsburgh’s former inclines when repairs needed in 1962 proved to be too expensive for its private owners. The Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline, a non-profit organization, was formed to save the incline for the residents of Duquesne Heights and Mount Washington. Since 1964, a unique arrangement has existed where the incline is owned by the Port Authority and operated and maintained by the Society. The Duquesne Incline’s original cars have been restored and it continues to operate with original machinery, which can be viewed from an observation deck that opened five years ago. The nighttime view from the Duquesne Incline’s upper station observation deck was recognized by USA Weekend magazine in 2003 as the second most beautiful place in America. Look toward Carnegie Science Center and you'll see the RiverQuest docks, to the left of the USS Requin submarine!
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Sources:
- Interviews with Jim Presken, Operations Manager, and Tom Reinheimer, Office Manager, of The Duquesne Incline, October 2007.
- The Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline (2005). Duquesne Incline. (Online) Available http://incline.pghfree.net/, November 2007.
Image:
- Duquesne Incline, Jeff Jordan 2008
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