Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh

Originally steam powered, the Duquesne Incline was built to carry cargo up and down Mt. Washington in the late 1870s. 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. In the 1940s, only the Monongahela Incline and the Duquesne Incline remained.

Duquesne Incline
1197 WEST CARSON STREET PITTSBURGH, PA. 15219 SINCE 1877
Duquesne Incline
Opened on May 20, 1877, the Duquesne Incline was rescued and restored by a group of local residents in 1963 and still delights residents and visitors with its original, elegant, wooden cable cars.

Duquesne Incline
The Duquesne Incline was the first Pittsburgh incline designed and built by Samuel Diescher, for Kirk Bigham and Associates. Pittsburgh. April 2000
Pittsburgh from the Duquesne Incline
The Monongahela River. The Duquesne Incline has been part of Pittsburgh's transportation system (not an amusement ride) since 1877 like a trolley or the cable cars of San Francisco. Taken with a Sony Mavica FD88 Digital Camera in April 2000.
Duquesne Incline in the Rain
Opened to Public: May 20, 1877 Cost to Build: $47,000 Length of Track: 794 feet Elevation: 400 feet Grade: 30.5 degrees Speed: 6 miles per hour Passenger: Capacity 18 per car April 2000. Taken with a Sony Mavica FD88 digital camera.