The Duquesne Incline
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4.3(546)yelp
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Overview
The Duquesne Incline is a historic, beautifully restored wooden cable car system built in 1877 that scales the steep slope of Mt. Washington in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally designed to transport early industrial commuters up and down the mountain, it now functions as a living history museum and tourist favorite, featuring original late-19th-century wooden cars and operational machinery. The ride culminates at an upper observation deck that offers the absolute best, award-winning panoramic view of Pittsburgh's famous Point State Park, the Three Rivers confluence, and the glittering downtown cityscape.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeThe definitive hour for this 1877 historic wood-paneled cable funicular car is sunset from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. As the vintage red car scales the sheer cliff of Mount Washington at a steep 30-degree grade, the horizontal evening rays pour through the windows to frame a majestic, gold-washed bird's-eye view of the city rivers below.
Getting ThereThe lower boarding station is situated at 1197 W Carson Street, Pittsburgh. Drive along West Carson Street along the southern riverfront; the historic brick depot layout sits prominent beneath the tracks. Features its own dedicated, complimentary guest parking lot directly fronting the platform gates (bring small USD cash currency for fares).
Travel Tips
- Operating continuously since 1877, this historic funicular strictly requires exact cash currency for ticketing (2.50 USD single, 5.00 USD roundtrip); credit cards and digital mobile scanning are rejected across all entry turnstiles.
- The lower cable station lot sits at 1197 West Carson Street along a high-speed, four-lane artery; exiting the parking apron during weekday rush hours is hazardous due to blind spots, requiring extreme caution when reversing.
- The vintage wooden cable cars and open tracks suspend operations instantly under federal transit mandates during severe winter blizzards exceeding 6 inches, freezing rain, or localized cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.
Reviews
Positive
- A perfect journey back in time! Riding this vintage 1877 red wooden cable car up Mount Washington is full of nostalgic romance.
- The fares are incredibly cheap at just a few dollars, representing Pittsburgh's highest-value and most definitive must-do tourist transit.
- The lower station houses a fascinating living-history exhibit showcasing the vintage wooden gears and machinery driving the cable system.
- The car interiors are impeccably preserved; as the incline scales the cliff, the wide sweeping river vistas unfolding are spectacular.
Heads up
- Strictly cash-only operation and you must have exact change; not accepting credit cards forces you to use high-fee on-site ATMs.
- The historic cars lack modern climate controls or proper ventilation, turning into a stuffy, stifling hot box during humid summer days.
- Car capacity is highly constrained; peak autumn weekends or sunset hours bring grueling lines in basic corridors with 1+ hour waits.
- The lower station base lot is incredibly cramped and tough to navigate, sitting on a confusing one-way road matrix under the highway.