How to Use the Images

Table of
Contents

Painting 2: Inclined Plane No. 8,
by George Storm, date unknown.

Paintings 1 and 2 are two in a series by George Storm, who grew up near the railroad and watched it operate. Many years after the railroad had closed, Storm painted these pictures from his memories of the portage.

Painting 2 is of the full inclined plane. Note the idler wheels and hitching shed at the base of the incline.

Questions for Painting 2

1. Is this the same inclined plane shown in the previous painting? What evidence can you give for your answer?

2. What do you think the building at the top of the incline is? What was located at the top of each of the inclined planes?

3. Note that as one set of cars is going up the incline, another set is coming down. Do you think this was typical? Why would this be the most efficient way to operate the inclines? (Remember both sets of cars are tied in to one continuous rope.) Do the two loads on this incline look to be balanced?

4. Painting 2 is of Inclined Plane No. 8, the longest incline on the railroad. This plane was about 3,100 feet long. The cars were pulled up the plane at four miles per hour. Approximately how long would a trip up this inclined plane take?

* The painting on the screen has a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of Painting 2, but be aware that the file will take as much as 33 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.