One-Liner Wednesday – Just Like a Train

Family, One Line Wed, Travel 74 comments


As you might have guessed from Monday’s post, Faith and I like to walk. My wife likes to walk too. Oddly enough, my wife and I would both like to walk farther than Maddie will agree to, but I digress.

When we were in Pittsburgh, we were surprised to learn that the Pittsburgh Steelers were holding their first ever Family Fan Fest at Heinz Field on Sunday. We decided to go, but with a baseball game at PNC Park (next to Heinz Field) and the Pittsburgh Regatta still underway, we weren’t sure where to park. We decided to park at Station Square and walk over.

A little more context

 

Station Square is on the west side of the Monongahela River. Heinz Field is on the North Shore of the Allegheny River. Our walk involved crossing the Monongahela via the Smithfield St. Bridge and the Allegheny via the Roberto Clemente Bridge (on the way over).

We chose the Clemente Bridge because there are more restaurants at that part of the North Shore. On the way back, we could cross the Allegheny via the Ft. Duquesne Bridge. It’s part of the Interstate highway system that goes through downtown Pittsburgh, but it has a very wide sidewalk on the west side.

End-to-end, we clocked in at just under 4 mi (6.4 km), but, as you will see in the gallery, I was able to get a bunch of night shots over the river on our way home. I’m saving the Family Fan Fest photos (I love alliteration) for another day.

Yes, I know, it’s One-Liner Wednesday, I’m over 250 words into this post and I haven’t even mentioned the one line. I had to set the stage, establish the context…I know, I’m still talking and I’m no closer to the one line. Actually, it’s three lines – please don’t groan – if I don’t make it three lines, I’ll have to set a second, perhaps a third stage and establish even more context.

As we were leaving Station Square, Greta (my GPS) pointed us north, as expected. I assumed we would be retracing the route by which we came, which was the way we went home the night before. However, (sorry, a little more context) the night before, we parked at the Gateway Clipper dock which is at the other end of Station Square. You wouldn’t think it would make much difference, but (here comes the one-liner…finally):

“In one quarter mile, turn left into the Wabash Tunnel.”

“What the…Greta!!! We’re not driving a freaking locomotive.”

The Wabash Tunnel is a former railway tunnel that opened in 1903 for passenger and freight service into Pittsburgh via the Wabash Bridge. The bridge was torn down in the late 1940s (the piers remain standing) and the tunnel sat unused for decades. It served as a bus garage for a while and was later converted to an HOV lane into Pittsburgh. The minimum number of passengers requirement has now been permanently waived, and the tunnel was indeed available for the ride back to our hotel.”

“Oh cool, we get to drive through the Wabash Tunnel!”

Imagine that final one-liner spoken in Dan’s little boy voice.

Some of the still images in the gallery are taken from Greta’s dashcam video. The entire video is available for viewing at the end. If you’re at all claustrophobic, you may want to skip the video, and you definitely want to avoid this tunnel. If you click on the upper left photo, the slide show will be in the order of our walk.

This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday. You can follow this link to see the one-liners from the other participants.

Greta is telling us to turn left. At first, I though she was crazy. Then I realized how much fun this was going to be.
We have to get up to where the bridge was. It’s a pretty steep ramp.
We have to get up as high as the bridge used to be.
Nearing the entrance to the Wabash Tunnel
This tunnel is a lot smaller than the other tunnels through this mountain.
Inside the tunnel
This is the west Wabash Pier. 70 years ago, they tore the bridge down.
The Monogahela River. We have to cross this and the one on the other side of those buildings.
Family Fan Fest is over. We’re on our way out.
The fountain at Point State Park and the Duquesne Incline. At this point, all three rivers are in view.
Heinz Field is almost empty. The Regatta is winding down and we’re heading home.
Good night Heinz.
The Gateway Clipper returning from the Captain’s Dinner Cruise.
Smithfield St. Bridge and Station Square.
Smithfield St. Bridge and Station Square and the Gateway Clipper out for a cruise.
On the Smithfield St. Bridge
Station Square from the Smithfield St. Bridge on our way back.
It’s not a Go-Go Club – It’s the Grand Concourse restaurant with a few lights out
The railroad tracks in front of Station Square.

Buckle-up!

74 comments

    1. Oh, Judy, don’t get my wife started on Greta. Something about how I listen to Greta but don’t listen to…yeah, let’s not go there. I guess I forgot to publish the video. It’s available now if you want a look.

      I do have a draft post about Greta and her camera.

      Liked by 3 people

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  6. Your wordiness today made up for Linda’s lack of it. I’m glad to see that the Steelers are holding a Family Fest. The Packers have had Family Night for 18 years and they fill the stadium. I hope it becomes a similar event for your team.

    In my head, I could hear your giddy laughter at driving through that tunnel. Awesome photos, Dan!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Ha ha, Mary, that’s exactly what I told Linda in my comment. The Steelers had a good crowd for the first time trying this event. In fact, I think they had way more people than they planned for, judging by the line to get in and the lines at the concessions. They only had two levels open for seating, but they were packed during the mid-point of the practice. I think they’ll draw a larger crowd in the future. I’d love to see the place full!

      That was a fun ride :)

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    1. She doesn’t have much stamina. She loves to walk, and she let’s you know (leaning into you to get you to turn) when she wants to do the long version of our normal walk, but she isn’t up for the really long walk. Our first Setter would go almost anywhere. The ones since have been a bit on the wimpy side.

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      1. I applaud Maddie for knowing her limits and being able to let you know, “Home, please.” When I kept horses, our setter joined us on trail rides – that dog would cover at least three or four times the distance we did – back and forth and up and back. On one particularly long ride, he reached his limit and couldn’t go any further. My husband carried him on horseback. We probably should have paid more attention.

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        1. We took our first Setter on a hike, on which we got lost and she got over-tired. I ended up carrying her. But, since we ended up back-tracking our way to our car (instead of the loop we were supposed to make) she was very helpful in letting us know where we had been.

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    1. That’s what my wife calls Greta! The previous GPS’s default voice was a bit on the nagging-bitch side of life. This one has a pleasant voice, but she’s a bit unstable.

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  10. I enjoy your side comments as well as your posts, Dan. Oh, that tunnel is uh……long. Whew! I’d be getting a little claustrophobic there. “Are we there yet?” in Lois’ little girl voice.

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  11. You know that old superstition about holding your breath for the entire length of a tunnel? Some tunnels are easier than others. You have to wonder where that started, perhaps in the days of steam and smoke.

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    1. If you watch(ed) the video, there are several cylindrical objects hanging from the ceiling. Those are fans, that are designed to help the airflow. I think they reverse so they are always in the direction of the traffic. If you held your breath through this one, you might pass out :)

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    1. Thanks! I’m glad you enjoy coming along. I’m not sure everyone would enjoy the tunnel experience. My wife kinda cringed just watching the video. The tunnel has been there for over 100 years. Although, I’m not sure if that’s a comfort to everyone.

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    1. Thanks Deborah. I love the way the colored lights reflect on the river. I can’t take enough of those photos. I just hope I’m not over-doing it.

      It’s funny how the women seem to be negative toward the GPSs. Greta did do good on this one, this was a fun addition to a great trip. All the tunnels through Mt Washington are about a mile long.

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  15. That’s a long one! And one lane each way, eek! I probably wouldn’t enjoy that as much as you did. I don’t mind the ones with two lanes, and divided, like the Cumberland Gap. Not much worry about head-on collisions then.
    Greta has a cam? Wow, Dan, faaancy!
    Pretty city lights :)

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. It’s about 2/3 of a mile long. About as long as the Ft Pitt tunnel I featured before, but not as long as the Liberty Tubes that are a little bit south. I don’t think they ever have two-way traffic, or even two lanes of traffic. The gates at both ends control access. I think the reason Greta didn’t send us through the night before was that the access was in the other direction.

      This is a replacement Greta. Previous unit is lost.

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. It’s been in the news a couple of times, for planned mass transit use, including a monorail “people mover” they were planning in the 60s. Once you get well into that hole, it starts to feel smaller and smaller.

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    1. Well above ground, through Mt Washington. The tunnel originally exited to a railroad bridge across the Monongahela River. It was an active navigable river serving numerous steel mills and mining operations in WV. The bridge had to offer good clearance to boats and barges.

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  24. Am wowed by your night pics – beautiful! Love the conservatory all glass building. The roof part of the one in Pasadena’s Huntington Garden looks very similar. Nice that Faith is such a good sport in letting you do your Thurs. Door addiction;) Now I’m off to see the video – if it bothers me, I’ll be back (teasing).

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks. The night shots along the river are my favorites. I love seeing the reflections of the different colored lights.

      Deborah mentioned the Conservatory in Golden Gate park being similar. Maybe these came from the same kit 🙂

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