Johnstown’s Inclined Plane will not reopen this year, CamTran stated in a news release.

The historic attraction was closed in 2021 for a major rehabilitation project that has hit multiple snags, pushing the reopening from spring 2023 to this year. Now, the Inclined Plane is not expected to reopen until 2025.

In February 2023, CamTran posted an update on the project, stating that the schedule was impacted by supply chain issues and contractor delivery delays. However, at that time, a major delay in the casting of eight massive sheave wheels was reported.

In May 2023, it was announced the project would not be complete that year due to the delays in delivery of two of the sheave wheels, which guide and hold the cables as the cars move up and down the inclined plane.

While the delay receiving the sheave wheels meant the Incline Plane wouldn’t reopen last year, CamTran said in a news release at the time that other parts of the project were complete, including new track ties, lighting, roof replacement, new paint on the exterior and interior of the stations, installation of a back-up generator transformer, auxiliary motor, ventilation shutters to the electrical room, electrical wiring replacement, hillside stabilization and replacement of station platform doors.

In addition, wood siding on the upper station was replaced, the cars were cleaned and painted, shocks on the cars were replaced and more.

Another setback in the project was announced in November, when a visual inspection of the ropes/cables found a piece of the braided safety cable was broken and sticking out from the cable. Further inspection revealed multiple breaks along the cable, all of which were in close proximity to one another.

Operations were immediately halted, and the cars were locked in place for safety purposes pending an investigation.

CamTran then hired Conroy Engineering to investigate the cause of the broken strands and it was determined the damage was likely caused by construction activities, for instance during removal of the rope, during storage or when it was re-installed, the report stated, while noting that there are no major safety concerns due to the broken strands, CamTran reported.

After the initial probe, questions were raised about the hardness of the sheave wheel rims, and it was eventually found that errors occurred in the fabrication of the rims on the main haul and safety sheave wheels, an update posted by CamTran stated.

The metal hardness was a concern as the goal is to have the work last 25 years or more. In addition, questions arose whether insufficient metal hardness would further damage the haul ropes and safety cable rope.

“As a result, the time it will take to re-fabricate the rims and undertake commissioning with the PA Rail Safety Oversight, Department of Labor & Industry, and operator/conductor training, the Inclined Plane will not re-open in 2024,” CamTran stated in a news release.