Duquesne Incline (Lower Station), Pittsburgh

The Duquesne Incline is a type of railway system located near the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, running up Mount Washington. Initially powered by steam upon its completion in 1877, the purpose of the Duquesne Incline was primarily to transport goods up and down Mount Washington during the late 19th century. Over time, it transitioned to carrying passengers, particularly residents of Mount Washington who sought to avoid the steep footpaths leading to the summit. At one point, there were multiple inclines constructed on Mount Washington, but with the development of more roads on the hill, most of them were shut down. By the late 1960s, only the Monongahela Incline and the Duquesne Incline remained operational.

In 1962, the Duquesne Incline ceased operations, seemingly indefinitely. It required significant repairs, and due to low patronage, the private owners of the incline took little action. However, residents of the local Duquesne Heights community initiated a fundraising campaign to support the incline's restoration. The campaign was highly successful, leading to the reopening of the incline on July 1, 1963, under the management of a non-profit organization dedicated to its preservation.

Subsequently, the Duquesne Incline underwent extensive refurbishment. The cars were stripped of their paint to reveal the original wooden structure, and an observation deck was constructed at the summit, offering visitors a panoramic view of Pittsburgh's "Golden Triangle." Today, the Duquesne Incline stands as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.