The Clifton Incline was a funicular that operated from 1889 to 1905 in what is now the Perry Hilltop neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It extended from its base at Sarah Street (now Strauss Street) at the intersection with Myrtle Street (now the closed Metcalf Street) to its top landing at Clifton Park near the end of Clifton Street (now Chautauqua Street).
Businessman William McCreery co-founded the incline to facilitate access to a residential neighborhood developed from his former estate.[1] The Clifton Avenue Incline Plane Company, formed for the purpose of erecting and operating the incline, was chartered on June 25, 1888.[2] Within a year of that date, McCreery offered free incline rides to property auctions on the hill.[3]
There were two cars, only one of which carried passengers, the other one being a dummy car serving as a counterweight. A single operator performed the duties of engineer, conductor, and fireman.[4]
The incline closed after an accident on November 10, 1905, in which the passenger car—empty at the time—broke loose, hurtled down the track, plowed through the waiting room on Sarah Street and smashed into the front steps of a house.[5][6][7]
^Rooney, Dan; Peterson, Carol (2013). Allegheny City: A History of Pittsburgh's North Side. University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 106. ISBN978-0-8229-4422-5.
^Bothwell, Margaret Pearson (October 1963). "Incline Planes and People — Some Past and Present Ones". The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine. 46 (4): 330.
^"For Sale—Lots". The Pittsburg Dispatch. 13 May 1889. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Elevators for the Cliffdwellers". The Pittsburg Post. 5 October 1902. Part 4, p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
^Swetnam, George (4 December 1955). "Pittsburgh's Declining Inclines". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh's Family Magazine, p. 6.
^"Car Dashes Down Incline". The Pittsburg Post. 11 November 1905. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Car Dashes Down Steep Incline". The Pittsburgh Gazette. 11 November 1905. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
MapsEdit
1890 plat map showing the Clifton Incline in northeast corner
clifton, incline, pittsburgh, clifton, incline, funicular, that, operated, from, 1889, 1905, what, perry, hilltop, neighborhood, pittsburgh, pennsylvania, extended, from, base, sarah, street, strauss, street, intersection, with, myrtle, street, closed, metcalf. The Clifton Incline was a funicular that operated from 1889 to 1905 in what is now the Perry Hilltop neighborhood of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania It extended from its base at Sarah Street now Strauss Street at the intersection with Myrtle Street now the closed Metcalf Street to its top landing at Clifton Park near the end of Clifton Street now Chautauqua Street Businessman William McCreery co founded the incline to facilitate access to a residential neighborhood developed from his former estate 1 The Clifton Avenue Incline Plane Company formed for the purpose of erecting and operating the incline was chartered on June 25 1888 2 Within a year of that date McCreery offered free incline rides to property auctions on the hill 3 There were two cars only one of which carried passengers the other one being a dummy car serving as a counterweight A single operator performed the duties of engineer conductor and fireman 4 The incline closed after an accident on November 10 1905 in which the passenger car empty at the time broke loose hurtled down the track plowed through the waiting room on Sarah Street and smashed into the front steps of a house 5 6 7 Contents 1 See also 2 References 3 Maps 4 External linksSee also EditList of funicular railways List of inclines in PittsburghReferences Edit Rooney Dan Peterson Carol 2013 Allegheny City A History of Pittsburgh s North Side University of Pittsburgh Press p 106 ISBN 978 0 8229 4422 5 Bothwell Margaret Pearson October 1963 Incline Planes and People Some Past and Present Ones The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine 46 4 330 For Sale Lots The Pittsburg Dispatch 13 May 1889 p 3 via Newspapers com Elevators for the Cliffdwellers The Pittsburg Post 5 October 1902 Part 4 p 2 via Newspapers com Swetnam George 4 December 1955 Pittsburgh s Declining Inclines The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh s Family Magazine p 6 Car Dashes Down Incline The Pittsburg Post 11 November 1905 p 1 via Newspapers com Car Dashes Down Steep Incline The Pittsburgh Gazette 11 November 1905 p 2 via Newspapers com Maps Edit1890 plat map showing the Clifton Incline in northeast corner 1901 plat map showing the sameExternal links EditThe Clifton Incline Finally a look KML file edit help Template Attached KML Clifton Incline Pittsburgh KML is from Wikidata 40 27 50 N 80 01 09 W 40 46376 N 80 01921 W 40 46376 80 01921 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clifton Incline Pittsburgh amp oldid 1062156508, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
