Pittsburgh’s Historic Funicular From 1877 Still Carries Passengers 400 Feet Above Three Rivers

The Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh, PA

Back in 1877, when Coal Hill was still home to tired workers, you could spot these wooden cars climbing up the steep slope. For just five cents a ride, folks would zip up 400 feet to their homes after long days at the mills.

When cars and buses took over, most inclines shut down, but locals fought to keep this bit of old Pittsburgh alive. And thanks to them, you can still ride this iconic rail car today.

How Neighborhood Bake Sales Saved a Pittsburgh Icon

Back in 1962, the Duquesne Incline nearly vanished forever. After running for 85 years, it needed expensive repairs that seemed too costly to justify.

But the people of Duquesne Heights weren’t having it. They banded together, selling baked goods, knocking on doors with $1 souvenir tickets, and sending Boy Scouts around with flyers to raise $15,000.

Local men rolled up their sleeves to handle small repairs themselves while community leaders sold $100 stock shares.

The Hungarian Immigrant Who Built American Inclines

The railway’s designer, Samuel Diescher, wasn’t just any engineer. As a Hungarian-American based in Pittsburgh, he designed most of the inclines in the United States, including the Duquesne. His talents went beyond inclines to include highways, industrial facilities, and manufacturing systems.

It Was Built to Carry Boxes, Not People

Surprising as it might seem, people weren’t the intended cargo when the Duquesne Incline opened in 1877. Its original purpose was moving goods up and down Mount Washington. This heavy-duty design explains why it has such robust engineering, including that unusual track width and powerful lifting machinery.

As factories and businesses took over the riverside areas, residents moved uphill and the incline shifted to carrying mostly passengers.

The One Dollar Rental Agreement

Here’s an interesting arrangement: the Port Authority of Allegheny County bought the incline in 1964 but rents it to local residents for just $1 per year. And every year, they give that dollar back as a donation.

The Authority figured running the incline wouldn’t make financial sense, but they recognized how important it was to the city’s identity. This agreement lets the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline keep things running while maintaining its historical character.

Yellow Tickets and Two Cent Rides

Before digital passes or plastic cards, riders used bright yellow tickets numbered from one to thirty-nine. Each time you rode, the conductor punched a hole.

After your 40th trip, you’d swap it for a fresh ticket. These yellow passes were quite a bargain by the 1940s at $1 for 40 rides, working out to just 2.5 cents per journey.

A Pittsburgh View That Made the World Top Ten List

When USA Today puts your view on their list of “Top Ten Sites in the World for Viewing a Cityscape” and Mother Nature Network counts you among “14 Fabulous Funiculars from Around the Globe,” you know you’ve got something special.

From the observation deck, you can see Pittsburgh’s three rivers coming together at Point State Park, with downtown skyscrapers creating a picture-perfect backdrop.

This Machine Has Worked Without Stopping Since

When you ride the incline, you’re being pulled by the original hoisting equipment installed in 1877. Visit the small museum in the upper station to watch these 140+ year-old machines at work as they move the bright red cars up and down the track.

The mechanical room showcases the original gears, cables, and drive system that have kept things moving for generations. Modern engineers regularly check everything to keep it safe by today’s standards. Despite its age, the system has a perfect safety record and works reliably in snow, rain, and all kinds of Pittsburgh weather.

College Students Never Pay for a Ride Here

If you’re a student at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, or Chatham University, just flash your student ID for a free ride on the Duquesne Incline. This program started as a way to connect young people with the city’s transportation history.

The free rides encourage students to explore Mount Washington’s neighborhoods and restaurants. Many professors include incline visits in their courses covering urban planning, engineering, history, and architecture, making this historic site part of modern education.

Why You Should Visit the Bathroom Before Your Ride

Despite welcoming thousands of visitors, the Duquesne Incline doesn’t have public restrooms at either station. This quirk comes from its origins as quick transportation rather than a tourist destination.

The historic buildings simply don’t have space for modern facilities. You’ll find the closest public restrooms at nearby restaurants or at Point of View Park, about 300 feet from the upper station.

Riding the Duquesne Incline

The incline operates from two locations:

• Lower station: 1197 West Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
• Upper station: 1220 Grandview Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15211

What you’ll pay in 2025:

• Adults (ages 12-64): $2.75 one way, $5.00 roundtrip
• Children (ages 6-11): $1.35 one way
• Children 5 and under: Free
• Pennsylvania Seniors 65+ with proper ID: Free
• Students from Pitt, CMU, and Chatham: Free with ID

Bring cash with exact change or use Pittsburgh Regional Transit passes.For convenience, download the PRT App to buy tickets valid for 3 hours of unlimited rides on both Pittsburgh inclines for $2.75.