THE ALEGHENY PORTAGE RAILROAD. 541 
This road extended from Hollidaysburg, on Juniata, over the Alleghany 
Mountains to Johnstown, on Conemaugh, a distance of 36 69-100 miles. Its 
construction was authorized by an act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania approved 
March 21, 1831. The engineering work was commenced the next month and 
the work of construction began the following summer. On the 18th of March, 
1834, the road was opened as a public highway. 
It consisted of eleven "levels " and ten " inclined planes ; " the latter being 
numbered from Johnstown eastward — five on each side of the summit. The 
details of the planes were : 
« 
Length Rise 
No. in feet. in feet. 
1 1,607.74 150. 
2 1,760.43 132-40 
3 ^1,482.50 130.50 
4 2,195.94 187.86 
5 2,628.00 201.64 
6 2,713.85 266.50 
7 2,655.01 260.50 
8 3,116.92 307.60 
9 2,720.80 189.50 
10 2,295.61 180.52 
The "summit" is 1,398 feet above Hollidaysburg; 1,171 feet above Johns- 
town; or 2,325 feet above mean tide in the Atlantic Ocean. 
At the head of each inclined plane were two stationary engines of thirty-five 
horse-power each. One was in active use; the other was "reserve" to be used 
in case of accident. These propelled endless wire cables to which the cars were 
attached. On the " levels" between the planes horses were used to move the 
cars; subsequently locomotives were supplied to some and perhaps to all the 
"levels." 
The cost of the road was $1,783, 176. This does not include the expense 
of the new road afterward constructed to avoid the "planes." Subsequent ex- 
penses charged to cost ran the sum to $1,828,461.38. 
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company became the owner of the Allegheny 
Portage Railroad, on the ist day of August, 1857. It was included in the sale 
by the Commonwealth of the "Main Line" under the act of May 16, 1857. 
The cost of the " Main Line" as computed in 1843, was as follows: 
Columbia Railroad $4, 204 969.96 
Eastern Division of Canal 1,736,59942 
Juniata Division of Canal 3,521,412.21 
Portage Railroad 1,828,461.38 
Western Division of Canal 3,069,877.38 
Total $14,361,320.35 
1 Possibly only 1,480.25. 
