2010 - Oct. 2 Mt. Washington Cog Train - A Fun Day!

We left the campground and caravaned to the train station. We had enough people to fill a rail car, so we had our own private coach. The train travels about six miles per hour and it's about three miles to the top of the mountain. The steepest part of the climb is called Jacob's Ladder, a grade of about 37%. It was fun standing up in the car when on such a steep grade. I don't think you get the same optical illusion from the pictures that you do when you're on the train.

It was 26 degrees with 38mph winds and a 7 degree wind-chill. Cold, cold, cold after leaving mid 50's at the campground. We were on top for about an hour, part of which was spent drinking hot chocolate and eating some hot food in the restaurant. The return trip was more of the same with periods of dense fog offset by beautiful vistas.

An interesting note: The engine is in NO WAY CONNECTED to the passenger car! See the picture of the roller against a pad. The engine is always os the downhill side of the passenger car. It pushes the car up the mountain and simply regulates the speed going down the mountain. If the brakeman in the car should apply the brakes while going down the mountain, the engine would pull away from the car!

Hope you enjoy the pictures.