Mt. Washington Cog Railway

Mt Washington Cog Steeped in history, this marvel of 19th century technology and modern innovation is an exhilarating voyage through landscape and nature. The Mount Washington Cog Railway, a National Historic Engineering Landmark, is a "must do" for any visit to New England. Magnificent scenery...efficient new biodiesel locomotives and the classic steam engine ...combined with a spectacular climb up the highest mountain in the Northeast. When you ride The Mount Washington Cog Railway, you're in for an unforgettable adventure.

cog_state egyptian As early as 1858, Sylvester March envisioned a geared narrow-gauge railroad line that would ascend New Hampshire's daunting Mt. Washington -- a 6288 foot summit. Today, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway's track runs along a steep, 3.1 mile long trestle whose ruling gradient is over 37%, making it the second steepest mountain climbing train in the world. The "Cog" is the only railroad on earth whose entire run is built on a trestle, and for most of its life it rostered a collection of geared steamers that dated back as far as 1874. Today, Cog trains are pushed with biodiesel locomotives built by the railroad. The Mt. Washington Cog is one of only three remaining cog railways in the United States, included the famous Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

Click to see the Mt. Washington Cog Railway station plotted on a Google Maps page

Mt. Washington / web

Mt. Washington area map / web

1966 tourist train guide ad / collection

2019 tourist train guide ad / collection

from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition
#6 / Dec 1960 / collection

from Railroading
#32 / Feb 1970 / collection

from Railroading
#32 / Feb 1970 / collection

from Railroading
#32 / Feb 1970 / collection

See also our complete Pikes Peak Cog Railway scrapbook in Preservation

Steam Locomotives

Mt. Washington Cog #8

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mt. Washington Cog #8
"Moosilauke"

builder:Mt. Washington Cog shops

arrangement:2 axle geared cog

built:1983

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

cab on different plane than boiler

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mt. Washington Cog #10

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mt. Washington Cog #10
"Kroflite"

builder:Mt. Washington Cog shops

arrangement:2 axle geared cog

built:1972

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

cab on same plane as boiler
converted to oil burner, then coal again

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Rolling Stock

Mt. Washington Cog Railway #3

wooden coach / Mount Washington, NH / Aug 2006 / RWH

Locations

Mount Washington, called Agiocochook by some Native American tribes, is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288.2 ft (1,916.6 m) and the most prominent mountain east of the Mississippi River.

The mountain is notorious for its erratic weather. On the afternoon of April 12, 1934, the Mount Washington Observatory recorded a wind speed of 231 miles per hour (372 km/h) at the summit, the world record for most of the 20th century, and still a record for measured wind speeds not involved with a tropical cyclone.

The mountain is located in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, in the township of Sargent's Purchase, Coös County, New Hampshire. While nearly the whole mountain is in the White Mountain National Forest, an area of 60.3 acres (24.4 ha) surrounding and including the summit is occupied by Mount Washington State Park.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway ascends the western slope of the mountain, and the Mount Washington Auto Road climbs to the summit from the east. The mountain is popular with hikers (the Appalachian Trail crosses the summit). Other common activities include glider flying, and annual cycle and running races such as the Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb and Road Race.

Wikipedia