M O U N T W A S H I N G T O N . C O M
	Mt. Washington C g Railway

		V I R T U A L   T O U R   Here's a map of the 3.1-mile Cog Railway ascending the west side of Mount Washington.  Marked in red are some of the more notable things to look for.  The photos below are roughly in ascending order, so follow along on the map from left to right.  To see full-size versions of the pictures, just click on them! 1: Morning at the Cog Railway Engines #2, #9 and #4 with coaches #11, #4 and #5 (respectively) await another busy Autumn day at the world's first cog railway! 2: Workshops and transfer track Doug Spangenberg stands by the shops down below Marshfield Base Station.  This is where trains are refurbished & housed during non-use, and is where new coaches are built. 3: Engine #6 at the coal chute Great Gulf's tender is loaded with coal not far below the boarding platform.  During a typical trip to the summit, 1 ton of coal and 1000 gallons of water are consumed. 4: Base Station This view looking east shows the old Base Station building with Old Peppersass (The first Cog Railway engine) in front, while the route up to the clouds is seen above. 5: All aboard! A multitude of passengers scurry about the boarding platform.  The round trip from base to summit and back takes around 3 hours, which includes a 20 minute stay at the top. (SOUND) 6: First train heads out Engine #9 (Waumbek) heads out from the Base Station on this particular day's first run.  The 3.1-mile track climbs steeply upward at an average grade of 25%. 7: Leaving the Base Station Here's a view from engine #8 (Tip Top) leaving the base, with engine #6 (Great Gulf) and "Super Coach" at the boarding area.  The new Marshfield Station is to the upper-left. 8: Coldspring Hill The first long hill seems to look more like a roller coaster as you approach.  Passengers can begin to see the trees change as the train ascends the lengthy grade. 9: Waumbek Tank Beyond Coldspring Hill at 3800' elevation stands Waumbek Tank.  Each train stops here en route to the summit to fill up on water needed to complete the ascent. 10: Stopped at the tank Here are engine #4 (Summit) and coach #5 ("Rose").  Nearly 1/3 the way up Mt. Washington, Waumbek Tank is the only remaining water tank along the route. 11: Getting water The hose is inserted into the opening, a lever is pulled, and the tender is filled.  The wooden tank's water now comes from a well which was dug on site. 12: Waumbek Switch Raoul Camara watches over the first switch above the Base Station.  The siding on the right allows two trains to wait while others pass.  (SOUND) 13: "Super Coach" at the switch This switch (1/3 the way up), Skyline Switch (2/3 the way up), and the switch at the base station make it possible for all seven engines to be running at once! 14: Looking down toward Waumbek Tank This view from the engine shows a train stopped at Waumbek Tank in the distance.  Super Coach follows nearby on the way up through the little pine trees. 15: Radio tower Along the way up is a radio tower and a small white instrument shelter.  When passing it, the gradient gives a strong illusion that the vertical tower is severely tilted. 16: Halfway House This little red hut stands at 4500 feet in elevation, 1½ miles from the Base Station.  When passing it, the gradient gives a strong illusion that the building is severely tilted. 17: Looking down at Halfway House Here's a view down the trestle past Halfway House.  If you look closely you can see the Waumbek Tank area and even Base Road above the hut. 18: The "Old Man" profile Can you make out the "Old Man" of the Cog Railway?  It's a natural human-like profile seen in the rock in front of the white sign.  As you pass the rock, the face disappears. 19: Jacob's Ladder This is the steepest part of the ascent.  The 25-foot high trestle has a maximum gradient of 37.41%, making the Cog Railway the second steepest mountain climbing train on Earth. 20: A view from the passenger coach 14' higher than folks in the back of the coach, here's Gary Becker not looking very nervous as the train slowly climbs up Jacob's Ladder at a seemingly precarious pitch. 21: Spectacular view down the trestle Looking toward the west you can see Jacob's Ladder, Halfway House, Waumbek Tank & Switch, the Base Station, and Base Road winding its way toward Route 302. 22: Tip Top above treeline Engine #8 (Tip Top) and the other train wait above treeline below the last switch while two more trains are pulled onto the siding to let them pass. 23: Skyline Switch The switches of the Cog Railway are the most sophisticated ones in the world, with 9 moving parts... some weighing nearly 200 pounds! 24: Track above Gulf Tank Gary Becker stands along the trestle above Gulf Tank, which was recently torn down.  Today's tenders hold more water, making additional stops beyond Waumbek unnecessary. 25: Homestretch Flats Engine #6 (Great Gulf) pushes the former coach #6 across Homestretch Flats, a relatively flat stretch of land just north of the summit near 6000' elevation. 26: Approaching the Lizzie Bourne memorial The white, wooden sign and pile of rocks marks the spot of the second recorded death on Mt. Washington: that of Lizzie Bourne of Kennebunk, Maine on September 14, 1855. 27: Sherman Adams Summit Building Here's a classic view of Adams Building with the Cog trestle wrapping around the summit's east side.  The water tank on the left has since been torn down. 28: Nearing the summit Great Gulf and "Super Coach" climb the final section of track on a pleasant day.  The complete trip is just over 3 miles long (one way) and gains an altitude of about 3600'. 29: Summit Engine #4 (Summit, appropriately named) waits at the summit area after the 90-minute climb to the top.  Three crewmen prepare the train for its one-hour descent. 30: Another view at the summit Here's an older view of engine #9 (Waumbek) and one of the aluminum coaches (before renovation) parked at the summit.  In the background is the old water tank.