Castle Shannon South Incline
Encyclopedia
The Castle Shannon South Incline, also known as Castle Shannon Incline Number 2 was a funicular railroad in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. It was originally designed by Samuel Diescher
, and opened August 20, 1890 as part of the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
as a means of transporting passenger traffic over Mt. Washington
, rather than using the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel
through Mt. Washington, which used a former coal mine.
The mine continued to be used as a tunnel to transport coal to a separate incline that unloaded at a station on Carson Street. It was originally steam powered. The incline was closed about 1919.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It was originally designed by Samuel Diescher
Samuel Diescher
Samuel Diescher, a prominent civil and mechanical engineer, was born in Budapest, educated at Karlsruhe Polytechnique and at the University of Zurich. Coming to the United States in 1866, he settled in Cincinnati, where he built his first inclined plane. He came to Pittsburgh and was associated...
, and opened August 20, 1890 as part of the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
The Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Originally built in 1871, it may have been the first American common carrier narrow gauge railroad. It purchased a rail line called the Coal Hill Coal Railroad from the Pittsburgh Coal...
as a means of transporting passenger traffic over Mt. Washington
Mount Washington (Pittsburgh)
Mount Washington is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's south city area. It has a zip code of 15211 and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by both the council members for District 3 and District 2 .It is known for its steep hill overlooking the Pittsburgh skyline, which was...
, rather than using the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel
Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel
The Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel, also known as the Mount Washington Coal Tunnel, was a narrow gauge railway tunnel under Mt. Washington.-History:It was originally begun as a coal mine in 1825 by Jacob Beltzhoover....
through Mt. Washington, which used a former coal mine.
The mine continued to be used as a tunnel to transport coal to a separate incline that unloaded at a station on Carson Street. It was originally steam powered. The incline was closed about 1919.