Madison in Jefferson County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Madison Hill Incline and Cut

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 24, 2022

1. Madison Hill Incline and Cut Marker

Inscription. Built 1836-1841 as part of Indiana's 1836 Internal Improvement Act. Measures 7,012 feet long and elevates 413 feet to achieve a 5.89 percent grade; 500, 000 tons of rock and earth were moved in construction. Still considered to be the steepest standard gauge main track ascended by wheel-adhesion locomotives in the U.S.

Erected 1996 by Indiana Historical Bureau • Jefferson County Historical Society. (Marker Number 39.1996.1.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.

Location. 38° 44.358′ N, 85° 23.789′ W. Marker is in Madison, Indiana, in Jefferson County. It is at the intersection of West Main Street and McIntire Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 W Main St, Madison IN 47250, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

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and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Servicing the Automobile / Building Roads (approx. 0.2 miles away); Alois O. Bachman (approx. 0.2 miles away); Indiana's First Railroad / Madison's Boat Builders (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lower Seminary School / Trolley Barn (approx. half a mile away); John Paul Park (approx. half a mile away); Madison's Riverfront / Underground Railroad (approx. half a mile away); Cravens Square (approx. 0.6 miles away); DAR Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.

Also see . . .
1. Steepest Railroad Grade in North America - The Madison Incline. Roger Fuehring, operations manager for the Madison Railroad, narrates the story behind the Madison Incline. The railroad owns the incline. (posted April 30, 2018) (Submitted on September 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Madison, IN: "Madison Hill," a former 6% inclined railroad.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 24, 2022

2. Madison Hill Incline and Cut Marker

Several photographs of the incline. (Dennis DeBruler, Towns and Nature blog, posted Sept. 27, 2020) (Submitted on September 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Walking the Madison Hill Incline image. Click for full size.

Jefferson County Historical Society Research Library via National Park Service (Public Domain)

3. Walking the Madison Hill Incline

During the 19th century, thrill-seeking Madison residents took leisurely walks along the tracks through the cut when rail traffic was low – and sometimes when it wasn't.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 862 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.