Mount Washington Cog Railway

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BRETTON WOODS, N.H. - From Old Peppersass to Kro-Flight, the names of the steam locomotives that have plied the slopes of the Northeast's highest peak for nearly 140 years are a part of the history of the Mount Washington Cog Railway. 
With the debut this summer of the Cog's newest engine, which runs on biodiesel fuel, a new chapter in the 139-year railroad history is about to be written. 
But first, that engine needs a name and for that, a contest is underway to find the perfect moniker. 
"Our seven other locomotives have Native American names from around the area," said Charlie Kenison, the general manager of the Cog. The names of the steam engines include Agiocochook, Ammonoosuc,  Chocorua, Moosilauke, Kancamagus, Kro-Flight and Waumbek. 
When Old Peppersass climbed the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington, it became the first mountain-climbing cog-driven train in the world. It was built in 1866 and originally called Hero, although the name was quickly changed because the unique construction of the engine, with its oddly-titled boiler, made it resemble pepper sauce bottles of the day. 
Throughout its history, the Mount Washington Cog Railway has had wood and coal fired engines making their way up the three mile track to the summit. Each trip requires over one ton of coal and 1,000 gallons of water to move the 18-ton engine. 
For the past several years, Cog crews have been working to develop a more environmentally friendly locomotive. Led by Al Laprade, a retired mechanical engineer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the shop crew balanced the unique character of the Cog with 21st century technology. The new biodiesel locomotive will burn much cleaner than its forebears. 
Names for the new locomotive can be entered at the Cog's website - www.thecog.com. All entries must be received by Aug. 29 and the winner will be invited to ride the new biodesisel train and join Governor and Dr. Lynch at the dedication of the locomotive on Sept. 6. 
The Mount Washington Cog Railway is a National Historic Engineering Landmark
Old Peppersass is on display at the Marshfield Base Station, and the Cog Railway Museum, which is full of memorabilia and the rich history of this pioneering railroad, is open. Admission is free to the museum.

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Cog Railway Owners Celebrate 25 Years

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The Cog Railway, the world's first mountain climbing railroad utilizing toothed cog gears, rack rails and tilted boilers, has been bringing visitors to the top of Mount Washington for nearly 140 years. Spectacular scenery unfolds during the 3-mile journey as the Cog climbs skyward.

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The Cog Railway's Marshfield Station, located in Bretton Woods, NH, may be reminiscent of stations from the era of train travel, but it offers modern amenities, including restroom facilities, a restaurant, gift shop and museum. The Cog Railway, built in 1869, is the world's first mountain climbing cog railway, utilizing toothed cog gears, rack rails and tilted boilers for its 3-mile ascent of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast.

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For a truly unique winter experience, the Cog Railway in Bretton Woods, NH can't be beat. Long a summer attraction, the world's first mountain climbing cog railroad utilizing toothed cog gears, rack rails and tilted boilers, chugs nearly halfway up the snowy slopes of Mount Washington, offering spectacular views of the Presidential Range covered in snow. The passenger cars are heated.

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The Cog Railway's Marshfield Station opened in 1994, replacing the old log structure that was built in the 1930s. The new station, while built in the grand tradition of bygone railroad stations, features a wrap-around deck that has commanding views of the Presidential Range and Bretton Woods. The Cog Railway, built in 1869, is the world's first mountain climbing cog railway, utilizing toothed cog gears, rack rails and tilted boilers for its 3-mile ascent of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast.

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New Hampshire's Cog Railway, the world's first mountain climbing railroad utilizing toothed cog gears, rack rails and tilted boilers, was a feat of engineering built in 1869 to bring visitors to the top of Mount Washington. To navigate the slopes of the Northeast's highest peak, the track is also an engineering feat. The most famous section is called Jacob's Ladder, the steepest grade on the entire railway. With a grade of over 37 percent, it is the steepest such track in the country. 
Just how steep is a 37 percent grade? At that incline, the heads of the passengers in the front of the coach are 13 feet higher than the heads of the passengers seated in the back.

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For more information, contact The Cog at 1-800-922-8825 or in New Hampshire at 603-278-5404. Email: media@thecog.com

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