Photo by Niagara, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
About Johnstown Inclined Plane
Riding the Johnstown Inclined Plane in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a funicular climbs the 896.5‑foot (273 m) track at a 72 % grade, rising 502.5 feet (153 m) from the river‑valley stations to Westmont’s Yoder Hill in about 90 seconds. Open‑air cars, each capable of carrying passengers, motorcycles or an automobile, travel side‑by‑side on parallel 8‑ft (2,440 mm) broad‑gauge rails.
At a Glance
Verified daily- Type
- Heritage railroad & tourist attraction
- Location
- PA
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ 586 Google reviews
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Johnstown Inclined Plane. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
Plan Your Visit
- Parking
- Street parking
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance · accessible parking
Find the Depot
The Trains
The Johnstown Inclined Plane runs on a pair of 8 ft (2,440 mm) broad‑gauge tracks that span 896.5 ft (273.3 m) between its lower station in Johnstown and its upper station in the borough of Westmont on Yoder Hill, climbing 502.5 ft (153.2 m) at a 72 % grade. Each of the two cars measures about 34 ft (10 m) long by 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) wide, weighs 22 short tons, and can accommodate 65 passengers, six motorcycles, or a single automobile; the cars are pulled by 2‑inch‑diameter steel‑wire ropes wound on a 16‑ft‑diameter drum driven by a 400‑horsepower electric motor.
History
See full history
The John Town Inclined Plane opens on June 1 1891, built by the Cambria Inclined Plane Company, a subsidiary of Cambria Iron, after the 1889 John Town Flood spurred the need for an escape route. Ownership passes to the borough of Westmont in 1935, and after a power loss forces a brief shutdown in January 1962, the Cambria County Tourist Council assumes operation that July following a renovation. The Cambria County Transit Authority—now operating as CamTran—takes over in 1983, and the incline reopens in August 1984 after an 18‑month refurbishment. The lower station closes temporarily in the early 2000s for replacement of the Inclined Plane Bridge, and the entire funicular undergoes another renovation beginning in 2021.
Around the Depot
The Johnstown Inclined Plane climbs a steep Pennsylvania hillside; nearby sit the Portage Station Museum about 14 mi off and the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum roughly 19 mi away.
Portage Station MuseumMuseum·★ 4.6 (14)14 miView →
Ligonier Valley Rail Road MuseumMuseum·★ 4.6 (49)19 miView →
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic SiteTrain Ride·★ 4.7 (590)22 miView →
Gallitzin Tunnels Park & MuseumMuseum·★ 4.6 (256)23 miView →
Horseshoe Curve National Historic LandmarkTrain Ride·★ 4.6 (1877)26 miView →
Everett RailroadTrain Ride·★ 4.8 (621)29 miView →Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Tours & Activities Nearby
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
Browse nearby tours →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.