It’s a vacation Kelly Hand and her family won’t soon forget. Even if they want to.
The Hand family, of Norristown, Pa., traveled to Pittsburgh this week to take in the sights when one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations gave them more than they bargained for.
The family of four was among the approximately 30 people trapped in two cars on the Duquesne Incline when it became stuck on the Mount Washington hillside for more than two hours Thursday afternoon.
“I told my kids now they have a story to tell when they go back to school,” Ms. Hand said.
Rodney Goetz, one of the incline’s operators, said the incline cars going up and down the hill stopped suddenly about 2:30 p.m. because of a mechanical issue.
Mr. Goetz couldn’t immediately pinpoint the issue that caused the cars to stop, but he said it had something to do with a switch or device problem.
The cars were able to return to their respective stations around 4:45 p.m.
When the Duquesne Incline stops in the middle and your wife is afraid of heights. pic.twitter.com/Wu0Etw3ceq
— EdgyMillenial (@UncleBigSteve) April 18, 2019
No injuries or illnesses were reported, according to city public safety officials.
“A few people were shook up,” Mr. Goetz said.
Ms. Hand, with her husband, James, and sons, Sean, 8, and Declan, 5, were going up the hill on their way to see the view of the city from Mount Washington when the car they were in stopped. Nobody panicked, Ms. Hand said, but Sean has a fear of heights and began experiencing some anxiety.
“I just tried to calm him down and held him,” Ms. Hand said.
Several trapped passengers took to social media to express frustration. One passenger on Twitter described a teenager who was forced to use an empty water bottle to relieve himself.
After waiting about 1½ hours — during which time they were in constant communication with incline officials — passengers called 911.
But around the time city fire and EMS crews arrived at the scene, repairmen had made a fix that allowed the cars to return to their stations.
A city public safety spokeswoman said most passengers quickly went on their way and none requested treatment.
The incline was back in operation shortly after the issue was resolved.
Ms. Hand said her family was fine once the ordeal ended and still took time to enjoy the view from Mount Washington.
But they took an Uber back to the bottom of the hill.
“[Sean] told me he’s never doing that again, and that was the ‘baddest thing ever,’” Ms. Hand said.
The Duquesne Incline opened May 20, 1877, according to the funicular's website. The incline was one of four inclined planes serving Coal Hill — later known as Mount Washington — when it opened. It was designed and built by Samuel Diescher for Kirk Bigham and Associates. Mr. Diescher was an engineer and had become one of the most prominent builders of inclines in the country, according to the website.
From 1877 to 1962, the Duquesne Inclined Plane Company operated the incline. Since 1964, the incline has been operated by the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline. It is owned by Port Authority.
The Duquesne Incline's track is 794 feet long and has an elevation of 400 feet, with a grade of 30.5 degrees. It travels 6 mph and has a capacity of 18 people per car.
Pittsburgh's other incline, the Monongahela Incline, located at the opposite end of Grandview Avenue near Shiloh Street, has been closed since Feb. 4 after a series of water main breaks.
Port Authority was going to test equipment for the Monongahela Incline cars next week to make sure it wasn't damaged in the flooding. A date has not been given for when the Monongahela Incline is expected to reopen.
Ms. Hand said her family is staying in Pittsburgh until Saturday, taking advantage of the week Sean and Declan are on spring break.
On Friday, the family plans to go to the Carnegie Science Center then take in a game at PNC Park. The San Francisco Giants, Mr. Hand’s favorite team, are in town to play the Pirates.
They should get a nice view of the city from PNC Park all while keeping their feet planted on solid ground.
There may be time for a little more sightseeing, too, but one thing’s for sure, Ms. Hand said: “I think we’ll stay away from the incline.”
Andrew Goldstein: agoldstein@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1352.
First Published: April 18, 2019, 8:47 p.m.
Updated: April 19, 2019, 2:30 a.m.
