Thursday, August 6, 2009

THE COG RAILWAY

The Mt. Washington Railway uses 7 steam locomotives and 2 that run on bio-diesel, one new this year. The train departs from the western side of the mountain and is a six mile ride up. On a clear day you can see for miles. Hold on, though, it feels like you're going straight up!!
July 3, 1869 Old Peppersass became the first cog-driven train to climb Mt. Washington. Nowadays it takes 1,000 gallons of water and 1 ton of coal to make the trip with one of the steam locomotives. At no time are the locomotive and passenger coach coupled to each other. The locomotive pushes the car up the track and remains in the same position for the trip down. On the way down, one of the crew mans the passenger coach brake to assist in keeping control. It's a great ride, surely one of a kind! Here's a shortcut to the Cog's website. Enjoy: