The History of the Mount Washington Cog Railway

The Mount Washington Cog Railway is the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway, invented by Sylvester Marsh of Campton, New Hampshire. Inspired after struggling to climb the mountain in 1852, Marsh proposed a train that could carry passengers to the summit.

• 1858: Marsh received a charter from the New Hampshire Legislature, despite ridicule from some who called it a “railway to the moon.”
• 1866: Construction began after the Civil War.
• July 3, 1869: The first successful ascent to the summit was completed using the locomotive “Old Peppersass.”

Technology

The railway uses a rack-and-pinion system, where a gear (pinion) on the locomotive meshes with a central rack rail between the tracks. This allows the train to safely climb very steep grades—up to 37.4%.

Early engines were steam-powered, running on wood and later coal. In the 2000s, the railway began using bio-diesel locomotives, though steam trips are still offered for historical interest.

Today

• The railway is 3 miles long and climbs to the 6,288-foot summit.
• Operates year-round (summit access limited in winter).
• It is a National Historic Engineering Landmark and a major tourist draw.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway remains a marvel of 19th-century engineering and a must-see attraction in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.