Monongahela Incline

The Monongahela Incline is a funicular railway in Mount Washington, Pittsburgh, that carries yellow cars with 23 seats each along a 635-foot (194 m) route up the hillside. The steel tracks run at a steep angle from the riverbank to the upper station, where a wide view across the city opens up.

John Endres and his daughter Caroline built the first passenger cable railway in the United States, which opened on May 28, 1870. The system linked workers living in hillside neighborhoods to factories and businesses along the riverfront.

The name Monongahela comes from the river that winds through Pittsburgh and shaped the city's industrial past. Residents use the railway daily as transport between their neighborhood and downtown, not just as a tourist attraction.

The lower station sits right next to the Station Square shopping district and is easy to reach on foot. At the top, Shiloh Street leads to several restaurants and overlooks, all within a few minutes' walk.

During the first two days of operation in May 1870, ridership jumped from 944 to 4,000 people. The popularity showed how urgently residents needed a quick link between the hilltop and the valley below.

Location: Pittsburgh

Architects: John Endres

GPS coordinates: 40.43194,-80.00556

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28