Built from 1836 to 1841 as part of Indiana's 1836 Internal Improvement Act, the Madison Hill Incline and Cut measures 7,012 feet long and rises 413 feet to achieve a 5.89 percent grade, with 500,000 tons of rock and earth moved during construction. It is still considered the steepest standard gauge main track ascended by wheel-adhesion locomotives in the U.S.