A chapter on this particular section of the railroad, the inclined plane, is necessary because of the important role it played from 1830 until the Granite Railway ceased operations.

The Pine Hill Ledge was opened in 1830. All work in connection with the monument ceased in 1829. This is apparently the first quarry owned by the railway company and, as previously mentioned, the Bunker Hill Ledge was owned and operated by the monument association.

It was felt that the Pine Hill Ledge would be less expensive and more easily accessible. This new quarry, however, required the construction of an inclined plane.

In a letter to a friend written in 1859, Gridley Bryant, with reference to the "inclined plane", said in part, "This brought us to the foot of the table lands that run around the main quarry here, an elevation of eighty four feet vertical was to be overcome. This was done by an inclined plane, three hundred and fifteen feet long, at an angle of about 15 degrees. It had an endless chain, to which the cars were attached in ascending and descending. At the head of this inclined plane, I constructed a swing platform to receive the loaded cars as they came from the quarry. This platform was balanced by weights, and had a gearing attached to it in such a manner that it would return (after having dumped) to a horizontal position, being firmly supported on the periphery of an eccentric cam. When the cars were out on the platform, there was danger of their running entirely over, and I constructed a self-acting guard that would rise above the surface of the rail upon the platform as it rose from its connection with the inclined plane, or receded out of the way when the loaded car passed on the track; the weight of the car depressing the platform as it was lowered down."

This letter gives a fair idea of the construction and operation of the inclined plane.

The original tracks as they were planned and constructed by Gridley Bryant and William Gardner clearly show in Figure 22. The location of the entire route is shown in a map issued by the Railway Company in 1854 (see Figure 40). By looking at Figure 23 one can get an idea of the location as it would have been if the original tracks from the Bunker Hill Ledge to the vicinity of the inclined plane had remained. As previously explained, this section was torn up and never used after 1829 when operations at the quarry ceased for the first time.

The construction of the inclined plane was truly a remarkable accomplishment in view of the obstacles to be overcome, and considering the heavy loads of granite that were carried. This fact is born out because this section of roadbed continued in constant use for seventy years until being replaced by modern tracks in 1901.

As events turned out, the Pine Hill Quarry furnished not only the finest but the darkest granite, most of the granite running from dark to extra dark. Figures 24 and 25 show two view of this quarry as it appeared around 1920.

In order to afford the best methods for lowering and raising the cars, Bryant, as stated in his letter, used ingenious methods. By referring to Figure 23, the pulley wheels that carried the endless chain are clearly visible. These pulleys ran the entire length of the incline. This chain was controlled by a "braking" device at the top of the incline, Figure 26.

The incline plane continued in constant operation for over 100 years, and as far as I can ascertain made only three major changes in its physical appearance with regard to the cars ascending and descending.

The ancient tramway was found to be outmoded and was abandoned around 1901. Regulation railroad tracks were laid over the original structure and this method continued in operation until 1920. Figure 27 shows the rails as they looked in 1916. A small flat car was used for transporting the granite from the quarry and the lower yard level. This car was operated up and down the incline by the use of a steel cable connected with a steam hoisting engine located at the quarry near the top of the incline.

During the years 1920-21 these rails were removed and two steel channels were substituted, being placed on the westerly side of the original structure. Figure 22 shows these tracks or channels. Auto trucks capable of carrying loads of 25 tons were operated using these channels, being handled by a heavy "mine hoist" located at the top of the incline, powered by compressed air generated at the central station, Figure 28, located on the westerly side of the lower yard level. Figure 29 shows a loaded truck descending the incline.

For purposes of comparison I took the pictures shown in Figure 30 in November 1958 and February 1959. They clearly show the condition of the "inclined plane" as it is today - not much like the picture shown in Figure 31 taken in 1920. Certainly it is too bad that this condition should exist in connection with such an important phase of our country's transportation history.

By comparing Figure 32, taken around 1920 when the granite company was in full swing, with Figure 33, taken in November 1958 we see quite a change. The first photo shows the compressor house and stone sheds, while the second one shows only the compressor house which at present is used as quarters for the construction company that is building the new Southeast Expressway.

On the westerly side at the base of the inclined plane, Bryant constructed a turntable which enabled him to turn his cars whenever necessary. This turntable continued in use until about the latter 1890's when modern railroad tracks were being laid. Figure 34 shows a portion of this turntable that was uncovered at the time tracks were being laid around 1900.