We arrived here on Sunday and wanted to ride the Cog Railroad up Mt. Washington while we are here. I checked the weather forecast for Conway and Thunderstorms Monday, Sunshine Tuesday and Gale Force winds on Wednesday.
Called and made reservations for Tuesday!
A beautiful day for a drive.
Mt. Washington Hotel - meeting Gary's friend there for dinner
after the Cog Railroad ride
The Cog Railway has been running since 1869. Now they run primarily Bio-Diesel Locomotives. They still run Steam Engines twice a day. Each 3 mi (4.8 km) steam locomotive ride burns 1 short ton (0.91 t) of coal and consumes 1,000 US gallons (3,800 l) of water. Each 3-mile (5 km) bio-diesel locomotive ride burns approximately 18 US gallons (68 l) of B20 (20% biodiesel blend) fuel.
It is the second steepest rack railway in the world with an average grade of over 25% and a maximum grade of 37.41%. It was the steepest until a railway in Switzerland re-designed theirs to be the steepest.
Each train consists of a locomotive pushing a single passenger car up the mountain, descending the mountain by going in reverse. The engine and passenger car are not connected.
Three trains go up at a time.
Getting ready to board!
Our car was 95% Amish
Moose sighting! Actually this decoy was accosted by an amorous Bull Moose during rutting season.
Working on the line
I think I can
Sucess!
Water Tower at 3900'
Looking back
Initially, there was no way for trains to pass one another. In 1941, a nine-motion switch was invented, and two spur sidings
were added, each able to divert two descending trains so that
climbing trains could continue to the summit, allowing more round trips
per day.
Reflection in window of our train passing this level building
Workers noticed that this rock resembled the former old man of the mountain rock in Franconia which fell in 2003.
The Presidential Range
and Kermit
Finally we reach the Summit
The Tip-Top House built in 1853 was a Hostel for hikers.
We got views to 90 miles. A perfectly clear day. We were told they get only 50-60 of these days a year.
We made it!
The views are breathtaking
A view down to the parking lot for the Auto Road.
Our conductor on the way up told us he was up on the mountain repairing some lines in June and a sudden storm came through with 130 mph winds and the temperature dropped to 30 below with the wind chill.
A look back down the tracks
Here come our return trains.
Our trip back we get a brake-woman
We were delayed going down. The last run of the day was supposed to be a Steam Train but they were so busy they cancelled it and added 3 bio-diesel trains so we had to wait for them to go by.
Going down!
We rush to Mt. Washington Hotel to meet Gary's friend Matt and his wife and granddaughter for dinner.
Overlooking the Cog Railway in the distance
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