I am going to have 3 days to explore the Pittsburgh area next week. What train things and other things would you recommend to a first time visitor. I will have a car and traveling a couple hours is ok.
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Mercer Junction, Mercer Pa. just a short trip north of Pittsburgh. Mostly MTH but it's a nice train store anyway. He has a nice store layout and if your hungry there is a bar in the same block with good food. Be careful about rush hour traffic though we got caught in a five car back up at the traffic light..lol
Jim
Regarding "other things," you do not want to miss spending several hours at Kennywood Amusement Park, 4800 Kennywood Blvd. in West Mifflin, PA, only a short drive from downtown Pittsburgh. Kennywood has several authentic, world-renowned old wooden roller-coasters, such as The Jack Rabbit and The Racer, which will thrill you, if you like such rides.
FrankM (the park was a five minute walk from my childhood home.)
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Conway Yard is about 20 miles NW along rte 65. There is an access bridge for employees at the East End. Park on the street and walk out onto the bridge. It was still allowed the last time I was there. DO NOT drive over the bridge into the yard.
At the West end of Conway, there is a rats nest of ramps but you can get down on the river side of the tracks near Rochester jct at track level. It is all public roads. There is a road that goes up through a park and you can see the "Bayard Cutoff" Bridge. The main turns and follows the Beaver River valley and climbs up the side of the valley. The secondary line is now single track and stays along the Ohio. Not much traffic on the secondary when I have been there.
If you follow the main road which might become rte 18 there through to the west end of New Brighton, there is a bridge on NS that crosses the CSX (old P&LE) line right next to the highway bridge. If you cross to the west side of the bridge and work your way down under on a side street, there are stairs that take you up the sidewalk on the bridge. There are some nice photo shots there. By the way, to tide you over, on the east end of New Brighton is a place called Hanks Frozen Custard which is really good for frozen custard and I think has sandwiches.
In the other direction, if you go south out Pittsburgh down the West side of the Monongehela Valley, You can follow the tracks along most of the way. Mongehela (city) is a good spot and at the south end, West Brownsville has a yard for coal marshalling for a line that continues on south on the Monongehela RR. There are about 8 blocks of street running through West Brownsville that see 100 car coal trains. This line is double track to Mongehela, and then goes to single the rest of the way south.
If you want to drive for a few hours, you can go over Sandpatch to Cumberland Maryland on CSX. There are numerous spots along there at Manses Curve and in the various towns, including the big yard at Connellsville which is very near Pgh.
Horseshoe Curve is 1.5 to 2 hours from Pittsburgh. On the way home, there is a nice walkway for train watching in a small town called Cassandra, PA. It's a hidden gem in my opinion
If you like sports, go see the Pirates if they are in town. If you like architecture, tour the Cathedral of Learning. If you like amusement parks, Kennywood is a throwback to the Past. If you like beer, visit the Church Brew Works. most importantly, make sure you drive up to the top of Mount Washington to get a view of the city.
A few miles closer to the city, just off Rte. 65, the NS Pittsburgh Line crosses a side road at grade in a small town called Haysville. It’s a good place to catch trains blowing for the crossing and moving at track speed. Further up the road, there is a public park in Sewickley (Riverview Park) that provides a good view of the NS tracks, and occasionally a good look at CSX on the other side of the river. Within downtown, the Carnegie Science Center has a world-class O gauge layout that has a number of historic Pittsburgh buildings on display. The Pittsburgh Historic Landmark Foundation has an archive of railroad-related material, accessible by appointment. One can also ride the T, the Pittsburgh trolley, for free between Allegheny and First Avenue stations. Amtrak has a station downtown that one can sometimes railfan from (occasionally, I’ve been chased off by the station agent). Amtrak leaves at 7:30AM and 5:05 AM, and arrives at 11:48PM and 8:05PM. In Washington, PA, about an hour and a half south of the city, there is the Washington Trolley Museum, which provides trolley rides and also has a traditional museum. Other good museums to check out include the Carnegie museums of art and history, the Heinz History Center, and the Phipps Conservatory (plants). If you’ll be in the area on Wednesday, you can come stop by the D.A.R.E. Model Railroad club in Venetia. Email me if you are interested in stopping by. There are also a number of short lines in the area, including the Union, the B&LE, the Allegheny Valley Railroad, the Wheeling and Lake Erie, and the Pittsburgh and Ohio Central. All of these lines are somewhat erratic in their operations, so if you want a guarantee of seeing trains, it’s probably best to stick to NS and CSX. Finally, there’s another hobby store close to the airport, the Imperial Train Company. They’re open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12-5, and Saturdays from 11 to 4. They primarily stock MTH O gauge (and some tinplate) but they also have some HO, N, and Lionel O.
I would also recommend a ride on the Monongahela incline. A trip to (and maybe a meal at) the Grand Concourse restaurant nearby which is located in the old P&LE station and headquarters building....
As previously mentioned
Take a ride on the Incline
Cathedral of Learning make sure you see the Nationality (class) rooms and the Heinz Chappel is right next door
Other items I would mention
Driving through the Ft Pitt tunnel at night and seeing the city lit up
The Gateway Clipper boat ride from Station Square especially during a Fireworks night (see Pirates schedule)
Primanti Bros
Carnegie Science Center....fantastic O Gauge layout, U.S.S. Requin sub to go thru,
http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/
Grill 36...Jerome Bettis resturant,
Panther97 posted:Horseshoe Curve is 1.5 to 2 hours from Pittsburgh. On the way home, there is a nice walkway for train watching in a small town called Cassandra, PA. It's a hidden gem in my opinion
If you like sports, go see the Pirates if they are in town. If you like architecture, tour the Cathedral of Learning. If you like amusement parks, Kennywood is a throwback to the Past. If you like beer, visit the Church Brew Works. most importantly, make sure you drive up to the top of Mount Washington to get a view of the city.
Tim, I see that Cassandra Overlook is right off Rt 22 opposite Cresson. Easy to get to from Pittsburgh. 
Well, that still isn't how I wanted it to show up, but just search it on Google.
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Definitely try to get out to Horseshoe Curve, especially if you've never been there.
Just watch a little of the live webcam to see what it's like. 
Tom
Mark Boyce posted:Panther97 posted:Horseshoe Curve is 1.5 to 2 hours from Pittsburgh. On the way home, there is a nice walkway for train watching in a small town called Cassandra, PA. It's a hidden gem in my opinion
If you like sports, go see the Pirates if they are in town. If you like architecture, tour the Cathedral of Learning. If you like amusement parks, Kennywood is a throwback to the Past. If you like beer, visit the Church Brew Works. most importantly, make sure you drive up to the top of Mount Washington to get a view of the city.
Tim, I see that Cassandra Overlook is right off Rt 22 opposite Cresson. Easy to get to from Pittsburgh.
Well, that still isn't how I wanted it to show up, but just search it on Google.
Mark, have you been to Cassandra? I love horseshoe curve but I think I actually like Cassandra a little bit better. I really enjoy standing over top of the trains?
I have not been to Cassandra. As you said, a hidden gem I wasn't aware of. I can picture the exit, however. When the leaves are off the trees, I have seen two trains following each other up the grade from RT 22 vantage point. I would have liked to have been at Cassandra for that.
The Underground Railroad in New Castle and meet Lou he will even autograph his book for you. Neat guy and expelling that you are visiting and he mat take you in to the back and see his layout.
Oh yes, Rick!! Good one! Lou Palumbo is a really neat guy to meet!!
worth the drive to meet Lou!
And Jerry's Curb Service
or if you crave the best cheddar chili dogs.....
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PNC park
You didn't mention any exact dates but if you are here on July 21 and 22, 2018 the Greenberg train show will be at the Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville, PA just a short drive from downtown Pittsburgh.
Rick
If you like some nice non-train things to do, you can go to the Aviary(birds) on the North Side, the zoo and aquarium, Phipps conservatory(beautiful flowers), the Frick Mansion with a nice art museum & antique car museum and Point State Park at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers plus the Block house from old Fort Pitt. Skip the Pirates, save your $$-they really stink. Enjoy your visit.
Well, it is a shame the Pirates aren't very good again. However, maybe he will want to see the Nationals or Brewers; and maybe he would just like to see PNC Park.
Jim 1939 posted:Mercer Junction, Mercer Pa. just a short trip north of Pittsburgh. Mostly MTH but it's a nice train store anyway. He has a nice store layout and if your hungry there is a bar in the same block with good food. Be careful about rush hour traffic though we got caught in a five car back up at the traffic light..lol
Jim
Nice artwork in the courthouse across the street is worth a look.
If you like bicycles, check out Bicycle Heaven (over 30,000 bikes). If you like quirky stuff, check out Randyland. Both are within a few minutes of downtown.
Take an afternoon and go to station square. Perfect spot for train spotting. Plenty of good spots to eat. Walk along the river and see some of the steel mill history.
And there's C.T. McCormick's, a great old-style hardware store-cum-train dealer in Zelienople (about 30 minutes north of downtown right off I-79
Hey, OP 2356!
Do you have two weeks available? It will take you that long to cram all this in! On second thought, make it three weeks!! 
Mark he just might need a tour guide....or two
I go to Hobby Express in Cranberry when I visit family. Good selection.
Mark
Yes, I agree !! lots of nice custom painted locos too. Nice people and talk to the owner,he will deal.
I agree, Jim and Mark. Very friendly indeed. I have never asked about his engines, just bought a couple freight cars and small accessories, glue, etc.
2356 posted:I am going to have 3 days to explore the Pittsburgh area next week. What train things and other things would you recommend to a first time visitor. I will have a car and traveling a couple hours is ok.
I've been here a few times and places to see and things to do have been well covered. It's a very clean city that I never get tired of visiting and am never bored. Enjoy your time there take plenty of photos.
I don't think anyone has mentioned West Park. One of my go to places for watching trains since I was a kid. It's an NS line but you might see some local stuff.
Forum sponsor The Imperial Train Company is close. Check the website for the hours on the day you're there.
Park the car and take the incline to the top. Great view of the city and all the rail lines. Visit the historic cathedral. Walk the upper neighborhood for dinner.
Obsolete!!
well it's not a line of Shermans...but still nice
Panther97 posted:Horseshoe Curve is 1.5 to 2 hours from Pittsburgh. On the way home, there is a nice walkway for train watching in a small town called Cassandra, PA. It's a hidden gem in my opinion
If you like sports, go see the Pirates if they are in town. If you like architecture, tour the Cathedral of Learning. If you like amusement parks, Kennywood is a throwback to the Past. If you like beer, visit the Church Brew Works. most importantly, make sure you drive up to the top of Mount Washington to get a view of the city.
Oh yeah, Cassandra is a wonderful spot to watch trains. And not very far from Cresson/Altoona. Hidden gem is a perfect description. Lots of pictures taken from Cassandra on railpictures.net that give you the feel of the place.
Like many others said, you do not want to miss Altoona. There is the railroaders mermorial museum, Horseshoe Curve, the NS Altoona Shops, West slope and Cresson PA, Gallitzon Tunnels, and many other ex PRR stops along the Pittsburgh line. Also, don’t forget the yard in Crecent, PA which is a big spot between Ohio and Altoona. The Pittsburgh and Altoona areas are rich with PA railroading history.
The Penn brewery. Good brew and good food
