Norwood Incline, Abandoned funicular railway in McKees Rocks and Stowe Township, Pennsylvania, US
The Norwood Incline is an abandoned funicular railway in McKees Rocks and Stowe Township, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It ran up a steep hillside, linking the lower area of McKees Rocks to the neighborhood of Norwood above, on a track with three rails that allowed two cars to pass each other on the slope.
The Norwood Incline opened in 1901, built originally to attract buyers to new homes in the area rather than as a public transport service. It closed in 1923, after which a set of concrete stairs replaced it on the hillside, though those too have since disappeared, leaving only the stone waiting shelter.
The Norwood Incline was known locally as the "Penny Incline" because it started as a free ride and later charged a single cent. During its years of operation, it connected residents to Norwood Hall, a large pavilion near the top of the line where people gathered for sports events and community life.
The surviving shelter is accessible from the street and can be viewed at any time, though there are no visitor facilities or official signage at the site. It is easiest to visit during daylight hours, as the area around it is not lit at night.
The owner of the Norwood Incline originally built it as a free service to sell houses nearby, with no intention of charging fares. When he eventually introduced a one cent charge, the nickname "Penny Incline" stuck and became the name most locals knew it by.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
