The concept of the Incline was not new but had been in use since the mid eighteenth century.
It is the specific combination of this design, in length, height, gradient and operation that no other standard gauge incline in England compares with the elegance, the precision or the perfection of the twin track incline at Brendon Hill.
Contractors started in 1857 at the bottom by building underbridge 13 and the associated retaining walls.
A dry stone wall between underbridges 13 and 14 was built to minimise infill required. The stationary steam winding engine brought over from South Wales to take rock uphill proved inadequate for the task and had to be replaced. The formation of an embankment was achieved gradually by blasting out over 25,000 cubic metres of rock to form four cuttings.
