Number 8 (Tip Top) coming in

    Mount Washington's Cog RR

    Running up a ridge on the west side of Mt Washington is the Mount Washington Cog Railroad, which has the steepest grade (13.5) of any railroad in the world. The route was completed in 1869 and runs from the Marshfield base station (named for Sylvester Marsh, the backer of the venture, and Darby Field, the first European to climb Washington) to the summit, with the steepest section occuring at Jacob's Ladder, a 30 foot high trestle near treeline.

    The engines push one or two cars up the track, which has cogs running up the center of the track. The teeth on the cog wheel pull the train up the steep tracks.

    Additional Photos

    • .wav of train whistle (from mountwashington.com)
    • Plumes of smoke from the train
    • Tip Top ready to load
    • Above treeline
    • Near the summit
    • Rear view
    • Looking up tracks from base
    • Working the tracks
    • Number 9 (Waumbek) coming in
    • Inside of the cars
    • Old Peppersass (Original Engine)
    • many tracks
    • US Postal Stamp
    • Old Marshfield Station in 1900
    • Old Marshfield Station with passengers
    • Engine, 1900

    Links

    • Official Cog RR Site
    • Railway to the Moon
    • Photos from 1987
    • Scenic Railways of New England

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