EXOTIC RAILWAYS
Mount Washington Cog Railway
The
highest peak in
Norteast USA, at 6288 feet (1916 m), is located in New
Hampshire, near Breton Woods. The summit is reached by the Mount
Washington Cog Railway, better known as "The Cog". Built in 1869
by Sylvester Marsh, it is the world's first cog railroad and it
still runs one steam train per day, plus numerous bio-diesels in
season. Europe's first cog railway came 2 years later at Mt Rigi.
The Cog is the second steepest rack railway in the world (after
Mt Pilatus in Switzerland) with an average grade of over 25% and
a maximum grade of 37.4%. The railway is approximately 3 miles
(4.8 km) long. The steam train ascends the mountain at 2.8 mph
(4.5 km/h) and descends at 4.6 mph (7.4 km/hr). Our train
was pushed by steamer #9 "Waumbek" built in 1908 by Manchester
Locomotive Works.
On a clear day you can see the mountains and valleys of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, north into Canada, and east to the
Atlantic Ocean. There are, however, precious few clear days; fog
and wind are more common. Mt Washington boasts the highest
recorded wind speed measured on earth (231 mph) and the record
low tempersture (-50 F) in the lower 48 states. Snowfall
averages 311 inches (7.9 meters). Cairns and ropes mark the
climbing and hiking trails.
Photos on this page by Sonja.
Mt Washington Base Station and "Peppersas?
Traction Engine on display
Bio-diesel #M-1 and coach
0-4-0T #9 and coach
0-4-0T #9 and coach
0-4-0T #9 ready to travel up the hill
Bio-diesel #M-1
and his coach
A sunnier view of #9
and her coach
Bio-diesel #M-3
and his coach
Our coach, ready for the "All Aboard"
Bridgework on Jacob's Ladder
Lower switch on passing siding - 9 moving parts
Upper switch, headed for the steep incline
Manually controled brakewheels used during descent
Fall colour had just begun
