Trains, bridges, tunnels, plants and a sinkhole bus?

Yes, the Pittsburgh sinkhole bus is one of the features in the new “Garden Railroad: Bridges and Tunnels” exhibit at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Oakland.

“What I love about Pittsburgh is it is a city that rallies around the weirdest things,” said Phipps associate director of exhibits Jordyn Melino, who designed the display. “The sinkhole bus became part of our history. So we definitely wanted to include it.”

As most people remember, on the morning of Oct. 28, 2019, a Port Authority bus fell into a sinkhole Downtown on 10th Street between Penn and Liberty avenues.

The giant hole was repaired after nearly a year. But the sinkhole bus quickly became the inspiration for holiday ornaments that year — and now the Phipps exhibit.

The hole that nearly swallowed the bus was about 20 feet deep.

“We felt the bus had to be part of this display,” said Melino, as she waved her hand to demonstrate an interactive station of the display where another Port Authority bus rides by the sinkhole bus and guests hear the words “Next stop, ‘Dahntahn.’ ” Saying the phrase is Phipps former horticulturalist Curt Pesanka, who worked there for 27 years.

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review A Port Authority bus makes it way past the the Pittsburgh sinkhole bus at the “Garden Railroad: Bridges and Tunnels” exhibit at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Oakland.  

Other interactive stations prompt the Duquesne Incline’s ascent and descent. Another triggers a drawbridge.

Trains chug along over a Pittsburgh suspension bridge resembling one of the city’s yellow “Three Sisters” bridges over the Allegheny between Downtown and the North Shore. Traffic is detoured around the Liberty Tunnel because it’s closed for construction.

The animatronics were created by Phipps senior building maintenance technician and carpenter Paul Widek.

Located in the South Conservatory, the exhibit runs through March 6. Melino credits the team at Phipps for its work in building and assembling the exhibit. It takes four weeks to install.

Phipps’ staff continuously monitors the more than 3,500 plants and shrubbery from herbs to succulents, all grown to scale by Phipps. There are more than 50 structures.

Near the sinkhole bus is a person taking a selfie as well as journalists documenting the scene. A theater nearby has a marquee that displays the names of movies filmed in Pittsburgh — “Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “Striking Distance.”

“This area is a big hit with the kids,” said Joe Reed, director of marketing and communications for Phipps. “This is a great room for it because you can see it from every angle. At night the scene is illuminated and is a sight to see.”

This week at Phipps, our new Welcome Center exhibit opens, join our Virtual Biophilia: Pittsburgh meeting, visit Garden Railroad and more! Read more: https://t.co/A0PcrHLea8

Photo © Phil Johnson II pic.twitter.com/nTp5HepfUz

— Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (@PhippsNews) November 1, 2021

Friends Kelly Heggenstaller and Chad Ward of Zelienople visit Phipps once a year. This was the first time seeing this display.

“The detail is amazing,” Ward said. “They even have a dinosaur wearing a face mask.”

Heggenstaller took some pictures of the display.

“We heard about the sinkhole bus so we wanted to come,” Heggenstaller said. “The entire exhibit is pretty cool.”

Tickets need to be reserved in advance here.

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