Enjoy inspiring views from this piece of living history as you enjoy a steady ride up the Duquesne Incline. This funicular railway was originally designed to transport coal mined from Mount Washington to Pittsburgh. Built in 1877, its days of heavy labour are long past, but visitors to Pittsburgh can still enjoy a ride on this beautifully-restored mode of transport.
Pittsburgh prospered because of its coal mines, leading other industries, like the famous steel mills, to be established here. The city has moved away from its industrial heritage, but the infrastructure remains. In 1962 when the mine closed, Duquesne Incline would have been demolished without the intervention of a group of local residents, who carefully restored it to its original splendour.
From the lower station, in South Side, the decorative wooden carriage will take you on a 240-metre journey up the side of Mount Washington, at an angle of 30 degrees. The views from the top, standing 120 metres above the city, are worth the journey on their own, and you can admire all of Pittsburgh’s 446 bridges. Aim to get here for dusk to watch the twinkling city light up beneath you.
A museum charting the city’s coal-mining past sits at Duquesne Incline’s upper station, including photographs from the time and information on funicular railways. There is also a souvenir shop at the top.
If you are travelling as part of a group, you can book a tour to see the inner workings of the machine room. These tours are organised by the Society for the Preservation of Duquesne Incline and are run by knowledgeable guides. Visit the website for information about the railway and details on how to arrange a tour.
Duquesne Incline is used as public transport, as well as being a tourist attraction, so it runs daily, from early in the morning until after midnight, although operating hours are shorter on Sundays. Public buses run from central Pittsburgh to the lower station, and free parking is also available.
