Lyon initially was uninterested and considered Marsh “a crazy man.” Lyon, president of the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad (BC&M). To Marsh, there was no more important man among them than John E. To gain financial support, and support for extending their railroads to his, Marsh needed to interest the railroad men of northern New England. (The 1852 date, sometimes attributed to Marsh’s climb, was an error introduced by out-of-state newspapers publishing his obituary.)Īlthough with sufficient means to build the Cog Railway by himself, Marsh knew the success of his endeavor required the support of local railroads to bring the passengers needed for the railway he proposed. The site of his railway was twenty-six miles from the nearest railroad station, in Littleton. Thus, Marsh conceived the idea for the Cog Railway. It could also create a project he could share with his oldest son, engineering-minded (and later, engineering-trained), John Franklin. Marsh believed “some easier and safer method of ascension” of the mountain could benefit tourists. On an 1857 trip to his Campton NH, birthplace with his Pastor, Augustus Thompson, to visit an ailing brother, the two climbed Mount Washington in a storm that almost claimed their lives. Born and raised in New Hampshire, Marsh made his fortune in Chicago, in meatpacking and grain drying before moving to Boston for what he thought would be his retirement years. Our facilities are open all winter long and serve as an excellent base camp for skiers, snowboarders, hikers and snowmobilers (parking/land use fees apply).A living museum, the Mount Washington Railway Company-or, more familiarly, the Cog Railway, or simply “the Cog”-was chartered by the New Hampshire State Legislature in 1858 at the request of Sylvester Marsh (1803-1884). The charter allowed him 5 years to build his railroad. Round trips to Waumbek are approximately 1 hour, at reduced fares. During a brief layover, passengers enjoy spectacular snowy views to the north and west, comfortable warning huts and a firepit, and complimentary hot refreshments. In our Gift Shop, visitors can browse a wide selection of Cog gear and apparel along with a selection of local and regional items.īeginning in 2020, The Cog is a year-round attraction! In the winter when the summit is inaccessible, trains will run up to Waumbek Station at just under 4000’. Grab a light lunch, a snack or a drink in our cafeteria. Now a museum, it is believed to be the oldest existing mountain top hostelry in the world.īack at Marshfield Base Station, learn much more about The Cog’s fascinating history and technology at the interactive Cog Railway Museum. Adjacent to the visitor center is the historic Tip Top house, an original summit hotel dating back to 1853. Trains lay over at the summit for approximately one hour, plenty of time to explore the Sherman Adams Visitor Center and its rooftop observation deck, Extreme Mount Washington (an interactive weather exhibit), a cafeteria, and two gift shops. Conditions at the top can be quite a bit different than those at the base station, so bring a jacket! The summit is home to the Mount Washington Weather Observatory, one of the world’s most important weather laboratories. Passengers may also experience a taste of the “world’s worst weather”– it can snow on the summit even in summer. And with a nod to its steam heritage, the railway also continues to operate a pair of century-old, coal-fired steam engines.Īt the summit, clear weather provides spectacular panoramic views from Quebec to the Atlantic Ocean. With an average grade of 25% (some sections approach nearly 38%), it’s also the second steepest in the world! Motive power is provided by a fleet of powerful biodiesel locomotives, each custom designed, built and maintained on site. The Cog is the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world, and the only one currently operating in North America. Located in the heart of the majestic White Mountains region of northern New Hampshire, Marshfield Base Station is just 6 miles east of another New Hampshire icon, the Omni Mount Washington Hotel. For more than 150 years, the Mount Washington Cog Railway has been thrilling passengers from all over the world with its dramatic ascent to the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast.
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