Duquesne Incline

Pittsburgh had something like seventeen inclines at the peak, built to carry workers up the steep hillsides above the rivers when the alternative was a long climb; two survive. The Duquesne opened in 1877, was closed in 1962 as uneconomic, and was reopened the following year after residents of the neighbourhood raised the money to restore it - it has been run by a non-profit since. The original cable cars are still in use, with varnished cherry and maple interiors and amber glass, and the upper station keeps the exposed hoisting machinery visible behind glass. The view from Grandview Avenue at the top takes in the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela forming the Ohio, with downtown on the point.

What you actually see

• Original 1877 cars - cherry and maple interiors, still running.
• Exposed hoisting machinery - visible at the upper station.
• The three-river confluence - from Grandview Avenue.
• A line saved by neighbours - reopened in 1963 by public subscription.

When to go

Year round; dusk gives the city lit. An hour.

Honest expectations

It is a short ride - the visit is brief. The upper viewing area is on a public street and gets crowded at sunset. Parking at either end is limited. The Monongahela Incline nearby is the other survivor.

Nearby

Station Square is below; downtown Pittsburgh is across the river.