Monongahela Incline

At one point in time, Pittsburgh had about 15 funicular railways operating on the slopes of Mt Washington. Today, along with Duquesne Incline, Monongahela Incline is one of only two remaining funiculars in the city, providing transport for local residents and an amazing sightseeing attraction for tourists.

Workers settled on these slopes to be close to the factories that they worked in and for a long time steep pathways were their only means of travel into the city. German immigrants proposed the construction of these funicular railways to make the hilly housing area more accessible. And so the Monongahela Incline was opened in 1870, making it the steepest track on the mountainside and in the entire United States.

The carriages operate in pairs, counterbalancing one another as they are pulled along the tracks by cables. Each one has been restored to its former glory, just as they would have looked to 19th-century residents. They ascend the hill at a speed of 10 kilometres an hour along 194 metres of track. As one car goes up the other comes down, so views of the surrounding landscape are continuously changing.

The summit is a short distance from the upper station and offers the perfect vantage point to soak up the cityscape. Take in the Golden Triangle and see where the Monongahela, Ohio and Allegheny rivers meet. If you are romantically inclined, hang around until dusk to watch the sun set over the horizon. Or, if you're more of a history buff, explore the mountain to find some of the original mining family houses.

The lower station of "the Mon", as it is known locally, is located near Smithfield Street Bridge and is easily accessible by bus or via the local light rail system called The T. Carriages run from 5:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Monday to Saturday with shorter operating hours on Sundays.