 Two cars traverse the slope ; as one descends , the other ascends and acts as a counterweight . The cars are 15 feet 6 inches ( 4 @.@ 7 m ) wide , 15 feet 2 inches ( 4 @.@ 6 m ) tall , and 34 feet ( 10 m ) long , and are large enough to carry either 65 people , 6 motorcycles , or an automobile . While the cars are open to the elements , an enclosed seating area containing a bench is situated along the outer side of the incline . The cables connecting the cars are 2 @-@ inch @-@ diameter ( 50 @.@ 8 mm ) , 6 × 36 right regular lay , steel wire rope . They are wound around a 3 @-@ short @-@ ton ( 2 @.@ 7 @-@ metric @-@ ton ; 2 @.@ 7 @-@ long @-@ ton ) , 16 @-@ foot @-@ diameter ( 5 m ) drum that connects the cars together . The cable on the north track is 1 @,@ 075 feet ( 328 m ) long , while the south cable is 7 feet ( 2 @.@ 13 m ) shorter . Each car weighs 22 short tons ( 20 @.@ 0 metric tons ; 19 @.@ 6 long tons ) , but they , and consequently the cables , can carry an additional load of 15 short tons ( 13 @.@ 6 metric tons ; 13 @.@ 4 long tons ) . A 400 @-@ horsepower ( 298 kW ) electric motor turns the drum , simultaneously winding and unwinding the cable , to power the incline . The Johnstown Inclined Plane is unusual in that the motor and winch are located at a 90 degree angle to the incline instead of directly underneath it . Operation of the incline is controlled via a foot pedal located in a booth in the upper station . 
