The incline and its two stations connect the city of Johnstown, situated in a valley at the confluence of the Stonycreek and the Little Conemaugh rivers, to the borough of Westmont on Yoder Hill.
[4] The funicular consists of a parallel set of 8 ft (2,440 mm) broad gauge railroad tracks with a 70.9% grade or an angle of 35 degrees and 28 minutes from the horizontal.
[7] While the cars are open to the elements, an enclosed seating area with a bench is situated along the outer side of the incline.
[5][10] Inclines are common in Europe, and immigrants, like the German, Slavic, and Welsh people who settled near Johnstown, remembered them from their native lands and brought the concept to the United States.
[3] As the city rebuilt, the Cambria Iron Company started work on a residential development atop Yoder Hill.
[12] To provide easy transportation on the steep slope for residents of the new community of Westmont, the company constructed an inclined plane.
In addition to being a convenient mode of transportation, the Johnstown Inclined Plane doubled as an escape route in event of flood.
[12] The convenience the incline provided stimulated a rapid growth of population in Westmont and made the borough one of the country's first suburbs.
[9] Bethlehem Steel, the successor to Cambria Iron, sold the Johnstown Inclined Plane to the borough of Westmont in April 1935.
[13] On March 17, 1936, nearly 4,000 people were evacuated from Johnstown to higher ground via the incline as the Stoneycreek and Conemaugh Rivers overflowed their banks.
[18] Because of public pressure to keep the incline operating, it was reopened in July 1962 after extensive renovation, in which the electric motor was rewound, ties were replaced, and the cars were repainted.
[23] On September 1, 2000, the incline was closed when the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) undertook an $2.3 million renovation of the bridge and its access road.
[24] A strong thunderstorm disrupted power to the incline on April 16, 2010, stranding the cars and two passengers almost halfway down the slope.
[25] The Johnstown Inclined Plane was closed from September 9 to October 14, 2010, for the installation of a new 9,000-pound (4,100 kg) "hoist brake shaft.
"[26] From October 29 to 31, 2012, CamTran shut down the incline fearing power outages due to the passage of Hurricane Sandy.
[27] During the annual Thunder in the Valley motorcycle rally, two resistors failed and stopped the incline near the stations on June 28, 2014.
[28] Sensor issues briefly disrupted service in August 2014, and again in December 2014, forcing the incline to start its winter maintenance period early.
[29] The refurbishment included restoration of the cars, a complete overhaul of the mechanical and electrical systems, and replacement of all the track ties.
[35][36] Local TV station WJAC-TV reported in May 2023 that the incline's reopening had delayed due to issues in completing and delivering the sheave wheels, to which the cables are attached.
[42] Work resumed in December 2024 after CamTran finished investigating the cable damage; at the time, the incline was scheduled to reopen in 2025.
[46] An observation deck providing views of the incline, the city, and the valley is located on the opposite side of the station from the visitor center.