List of inclines in Pittsburgh


Beginning in 1870, the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania built numerous inclined railways to provide passenger service to workers traveling the steep hills to their homes; there were 17 built in the late 19th century. Following road building and greater use of private automobiles, the inclines business declined and most were closed and removed.
The Monongahela Incline, the first built in the city, and the Duquesne Incline are the only two still operating. They carry passengers between Mount Washington and the lowlands along the Monongahela River. They are each listed on the National Register of Historic Places and, in 1977, both were recognized as Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
NameOpenedClosedLower endUpper endOwnerNotes
Bellevue Incline18871889Near Bellevue, PA Railroad Station @ Ohio RiverIntersection of Sherman Ave. & Lincoln Ave.Bellevue and Davis Island Incline Plane CompanyOutdoor Elevator & Street Railroad
Castle Shannon Incline18901964South Shore: Carson Street near Arlington AvenueMount Washington: Bailey Avenue near Haberman AvenuePittsburgh Railways
Castle Shannon Incline No. 218921914Mount Washington: Warrington Avenue west of Haberman AvenueMount Washington: Bailey Avenue west of Haberman AvenuePittsburgh Railways
Clifton Incline18891905Perry Hilltop: Strauss Street near Metcalf StreetPerry Hilltop: Irwin Avenue near Chautauqua StreetClifton Avenue Incline Plane Company
Duquesne Incline1877South Shore: Carson StreetMount Washington: Grandview Avenue near Oneida StreetDuquesne Incline Plane Company
Now Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline
Fort Pitt Incline18821900Bluff: Second Avenue near Tenth Street BridgeBluff: Bluff Street near Magee StreetFort Pitt Incline Plane Company
Knoxville Incline18901960South Side Flats: Bradish Street between 11th and 12th streetsAllentown: Brosville Street near Warrington AvenuePittsburgh Railways
Monongahela Incline1870South Shore: Carson Street near Smithfield Street BridgeMount Washington: Grandview Avenue near Wyoming StreetMonongahela Incline Plane Company
Now Port Authority of Allegheny County
Monongahela Freight Incline18841935South Shore: Carson Street near Smithfield Street BridgeMount Washington: Grandview Avenue near Wyoming StreetMonongahela Incline Plane Company
Now Port Authority of Allegheny County
Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Planebefore 1864c. 1912Carson StreetBaileyPittsburgh Coal Company
Mount Oliver Incline18721951South Side Flats: Freyburg Street near 12th StreetSouth Side Slopes: Warrington Avenue near Mount Oliver StreetPittsburgh Railways
Norwood Incline19011923Island AvenueNorwood Place
Nunnery Hill Incline18881895Fineview: Federal Street near Henderson StreetFineview: Meadville Street near Catoma StreetNunnery Hill Incline Plane Company
Penn Incline18841953Strip District: Spring Way near 17th StreetHill District: Arcena Street near Ledlie StreetPittsburgh Railways
Ridgewood Incline18861887Perry Hilltop: North Charles Street near Nublock StreetPerry Hilltop: Yale Street near Ridgewood StreetRidgewood Incline Plane Company
St. Clair Incline1888c. 1932South Side Flats: Josephine Street near Greeley StreetSouth Side Slopes: Salisbury Street between Fernleaf and Sterling StreetsSt. Clair Incline Plane Company
Troy Hill Incline18881898Troy Hill: Ohio StreetTroy Hill: Lowrie Street near Froman StreetTroy Hill Incline Plane Company

Further: H.B. Hays and Brothers Coal Railroad