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Gallery 875: Trams Around the World Special - Johnstown Inclined Plane

As we continue our look at systems from around the world we again head to the United States of America with images from another funicular - but this one is much larger than most as it was built big enough to enable vehicles to be carried! The Johnstown Inclined Plane in Pennsylvania opened in 1891 and was constructed not just for foot passengers but also horses and wagons. As a result the two cars which operate the line are large - approximately 15 feet tall by 14 feet wide and are 34 feet long. They were built for the opening of the line by Arthur G McKee and Company, Cleveland and originally had an upper deck, but this was removed in 1921. The two cars were rebuilt in 1983-4 by Frank M Sheesley Company. The Johnstown Inclined Plane is the steepest funincular in the world with a 70.9% angle of ascent. It is a balanced inclined plane with the descending weight of the car used to raise the ascending car. The gauge of the line is 8 feet with double track throughout and the distance between the Summit and Base Stations is 896.5 feet. The line was closed on 7th September 1983 for major renovations and re-opened again on 22nd Augist 1984 and since then it has remained in service in the period between spring and autumn each year.

Photographer: Edward M. Koehler Jr.
Photographs taken on Thursday 20th July 2017 with additional images from February 1977.

North Car

South Car

Steps

Plaque

Track

View from Summit Station

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This page was last updated on Sunday 14th June 2020

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