The MounT WashingTon - Mount Washington Cog Railway

TRIP COMPANION
GUIDE & MAP
Mt. Washington Facts
• T he Mount Washington Cog Railway—the 1st
mountain-climbing cog railway in the world—is
a National Historic Engineering Landmark.
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The M
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t. Washington, in the heart of the White
Mountain National Forest, is the highest summit
in the northeastern US.
•D
arby Field of Exeter NH, is the first white man
known to reach the summit in 1642.
• T he biodiesel trains burn only 16–18 gallons of
fuel per round trip.
• Coal-fired steam locomotives use one ton of coal
plus 1,000 gallons of water on this ascent.
S i n ce 1869
• T he Lake of the Clouds is said to be the highest
body of water in the eastern United States.
ou gain 20 minutes of daylight on the summit.
•Y
• T he oldest building on the summit is the Tip Top
House, built in 1853.
• T he temperature falls below zero on over 65 days
every year.
• The lowest recorded temperature at the summit
was 49˚F below zero; the highest, 74˚F.
•A
continental ice sheet once covered Mount
Washington. It left behind unique alpine plants
found only here and in the near-arctic regions of
Labrador.
• There is permanently frozen ground just beneath
the summit, 6288’ above sea level.
• T he average annual snowfall is 177 inches and
average wind velocity is 37 mph.
• T he highest wind velocity ever observed by man
was on Mt. Washington—231 mph in April, 1934.
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• T he summit climate is similar to that of 50,000
to 100,000 years ago and is the same as Labrador.
• T he Omni Mount Washington Resort in the valley,
built in 1902, was the site of the Bretton Woods
International Monetary Conference, held in 1944.
On Sept. 6, 2008, the Mount Washington Cog Railway’s
first biodiesel-powered Cog locomotive was dedicated
by Governor John Lynch in a ceremony at Marshfield
Base Station. Named Wajo Nanatasis (pronounced
“Wadzo Nanna-tassis”), Native American Abenaki for
“Mountain Hummingbird”, it marked a new era for this
enduring National Engineering Landmark. The advent
of biodiesel continues the tradition of innovation and
improvement that has characterized the Cog Railway
since its first trip in 1869.
For the first forty years of the Cog’s operation,
wood-fired boilers powered the train to the 6,288’
summit of New England’s highest peak, Mount
Washington. Around 1910, coal was introduced. The
inauguration of Wajo Nanatasis signaled the intention
to supplement the coal-fueled locomotives with
biodiesel engines, which will diminish emissions and
conserve fossil fuels. Since that date in September 2008,
three more biodiesel locomotives have been added to
the growing fleet.
Don’t forget to visit
The Cog Museum at the
Base Station. You’ll learn
more about The Cog and
view the historic video.
•H
urricane wind velocity of 75 mph is attained on
over half of the days during the winter months.
t. Washington is a 59-acre NH state park.
•M
19th Century meets 21st Century
A source of pride to the Cog Railway is that
the new locomotives were designed and constructed
on-site, in workshops near Marshfield Station. This
accomplishment is a culmination of over 30 years of
experimentation with diesel locomotives and would
not have been possible without 21st century technology.
For example, the new locomotives have a computer
package on board that serves both to govern the
• The dwarf cinquefoil is a flower found only on Mt.
Washington and Mt. Lafayette.
• T here have been four summit houses, the last and
current being the Sherman Adams Summit House,
which opened in 1980.
A Heritage of Ingenuity
engine and to monitor the engine’s exact position on
the track. The development of biodiesel surged worldwide since 2000, making it feasible as a major source of
energy. The arrival of mechanical engineer Al LaPrade,
a recent retiree of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,
brought up-to-date expertise to the project. Al worked
with John Deere and several New Hampshire-based
manufacturers in designing the drive train and Charles
Kenison, GM, designed the state-of-the-art electronics.
With biodiesel-powered trains, you enjoy the
same experience that has thrilled passengers for over
140 years. The trains run on the same tracks and use the
unique cog technology. Abiding still, are the splendors
of New England’s highest peak and the breathtaking
straddle of Jacob’s Ladder. Now, passengers may also
marvel at how the Mount Washington Cog Railway has
combined 19th century and 21st century technologies
to carry on a heritage of ingenuity.
Mountain Elevations
In order of position from north to south:
Madison . . . . . . 5,380 ft.
Eisenhower . . . 4,775 ft.
Washington . . . 6,288 ft.
Jefferson . . . . . 5,725 ft.
Adams . . . . . . . 5,805 ft.
Clinton . . . . . . . 4,275 ft.
Monroe . . . . . . 5,390 ft.
Clay . . . . . . . . . 5,553 ft.
Quincy Adams . . 5,470 ft.
Jackson . . . . . . 4,012 ft.
Franklin . . . . . . 5,028 ft.
Webster . . . . . . 3,875 ft.
Sam Adams . . . . 5,585 ft.
Base Station Rd, Marshfield Station, NH (6 miles from Rt. 302 and Bretton Woods)
603-278-5404 • thecog.com • Mailing address: Mt. Washington, NH 03589
A GREAT NATIONAL TREASURE!
Informative facts about your trip to the summit of Mt. Washington.
This is the story of your trip up Mount Washington
on the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway,
invented and built by Sylvester Marsh of Littleton,
NH. After three long years of construction this unique
railway opened on July 3, 1869.
THE MOUNT WASHINGTON COG RAILWAY has two–
ten train departures per day with a fleet of six steam
and four biodiesel trains. The Cog trains have many
safety devices and can stop and start at any place on
the tracks. Should the train stop at any point between
stations, all passengers are asked to stay in their seats
until the brakeman gives instructions. Please do not
run or hurry at any time when you get off the train on
the mountainside as the platforms are inclined.
Almost immediately after departing from the
Base Station, you cross the Ammonoosuc River. This
turbulent river begins near the top of Mt. Washington.
The train continues up Cold Spring Hill, the second
steepest section of track.
Soon you will reach Waumbek tank, 3800’ above sea
level. Here you see an elevated view of the Omni Mount
Washington Hotel, and far beyond are the villages of
Bethlehem, Twin Mountain, the Franconia range, and
on a clear day you can even see the Green Mountain
peaks of Mansfield and Camel’s Hump in Vermont.
If you are on the first train, your train goes
directly to the summit; if that train is a steamer it will
stop to take on water. Subsequent trains may go on
the side track where you can watch the down-coming
train pass. Both of the hydraulic switches at Lower and
Upper Waumbek are solar-powered, and were designed
and built here at the Railway.
On the right you may be able to see the Lake of the
Clouds Hut, a camp of the Appalachian Mountain Club,
and a view of Mt. Monroe, Mt. Franklin, Mt. Eisenhower,
Mt. Clinton, Mt. Jackson and Mt. Webster. After leaving
Lower Waumbek, on the left is Burt’s ravine, where you
can see the numerous landslides which scar the surface
of the mountain. To the left, there is a view of Mt. Clay,
Jefferson and the Adams group, northern peaks of the
presidential range.
Soon you reach the Halfway House at an elevation
of 4,500 feet. Despite its apparent structural slant, this
house is level. As we leave the treeline, we begin to
ascend Jacob’s ladder, the steepest part of the railway
with a grade of 37.41%—a gain in elevation of 14 inches
for every three feet forward.
When you arrive at Skyline, you will see part of
the Appalachian foot trail, marked by pyramidal piles of
stones known as cairns. The Appalachian Trail runs from
Maine to Georgia, and crosses over the Presidential
Mountains. A short distance above this point the
Appalachian Trail crosses underneath the trestle.
From Skyline, you continue on to the summit. On the
left is the Great Gulf ravine which has a drop of nearly
2,000 feet to Spalding Lake. Farther in the distance is
the Androscoggin valley.
The Summit OF MOUNT WASHINGTON is now in sight.
On the right you can see the Lizzie Bourne monument
erected in honor of the first woman to perish while
hiking up Mount Washington in 1855.
You Are now at your destination, the Mount
Washington State Park. In the visitor’s center there
is a museum (free to Cog riders), restrooms, a snack
counter, two gift shops and a post office (where mail
is processed with a unique Mt. Washington ZIP code
03589 stamp).
ON A CLEAR DAY the view covers four states, the
province of Quebec, and the Atlantic Ocean. Other
days you may literally be above the clouds.
Also located IN THE VISITOR’S CENTER is a yearround weather station operated by the nonprofit Mount
Washington Observatory. In 1934, the station recorded
a wind gust of 231 mph—the highest wind speed in the
world ever observed by man!
The return trip gives you different views and is
equally as enjoyable as the trip up. We recommend
sitting on one side on the way up and the other on the
way down to fully appreciate all of the views.
Enjoy your trip!