Carrie Blast Furnaces Excursion

Join us Sunday, June 28 for a private Industrial Tour of the Carrie Blast Furnaces!

Register by June 21! (Extended from June 14)

Declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006, Carrie Blast Furnaces entice visitors to marvel at the scale and legacy of its industrial might. A remnant of the legendary U.S. Steel Homestead Steel Works, the Carrie Blast Furnaces are a vestige of Pittsburgh’s 20th-century domination of the steel industry.

During this two-hour guided tour, West Penn Trolley Meet attendees will hear stories about the site’s technology, including why it is nationally significant, as well as get to know the culture of its workers. You’ll also learn a bit about the iron-making process, from the movement of the raw materials to the tapping of the furnaces that produced fiery molten iron.

We've asked our tour guide to highlight the railroad history of the site - one artifact you'll likely see on your tour is the #101 Pusher Engine. This switcher is just one of the many assets found within the site that had been left behind at the mill’s closure, an important part of the tour that helps to show how raw materials become iron.

Bonus fact: A former member of PTM's collection, Unity Railways caboose 53A, sits on site inside the Blowing Engine House. Built in 1915 by the New York, Ontario & Western Railway at the Middletown, NY, shops, Unity Railways purchased it in 1953. Unity Railways was a three-and-a-half-mile short line interchanging with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Bessemer & Lake Erie (B&LE) Railroad in North Bessemer, Pennsylvania, a historic industrial neighborhood now within Penn Hills Township, along the border with Renton region Plum Borough. 

DETAILS

• Time: Tour begins at 10:00 AM. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to connect with the group and check in. We expect this tour to last until 12:00 PM.
• Cost: $25 per person
• Deadline: The deadline to register is June 21.
• Transportation is on your own. PTM is happy to help you find a carpool.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

As a former industrial site, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure an enjoyable visit:

• What to wear: The majority of each tour is outside; please dress for the weather. Additionally, the ground is uneven—sensible shoes are a must. Sneakers or boots are recommended. Open-toed shoes and high heels are prohibited. 
• Hard hats are required to be worn for the duration of your tour. If you have a hard hat, please feel free to bring it. For those who need one, a hard hat will be provided and collected after the tour. Hats are disinfected between uses.
• Restrooms: The rawness of the site is certainly part of its charm. However, that rawness also limits the creature comforts many of us are accustomed to, like running water. Portable bathrooms and wash stations are available. 
• Photography: Photography is permitted. For safety reasons, videography and drones are prohibited.
• Accessibility: Handicapped parking is available, but the grounds covered during tours are not wheelchair accessible.
• Liability: All visitors are required to sign a liability waiver and consent to be photographed. This will come over via an electronic waiver to be signed digitally. 

Location: The Carrie Blast Furnaces are located in Swissvale and Rankin, PA in the Monongahela River Valley.  The address of the site is 801 Carrie Furnace Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15218.