Over 150 years later, The Mount Washington Cog, or “The Cog” for short, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in New England. The historic railway developed well ahead of its time as a way to transport passengers to the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire.
Scenic trip up Mount Washington, New England’s Peak!
Today, the scenic train ride offers panoramic views at four of its different stations. Trips in the winter are limited to the two lower elevation stations, but still take off 7 days a week in the snowy wonderland. Get to know the four Cog stations:
- Marshfield Base Station (2700 feet): Base camp with Old Peppersass, Cog Railway Museum, food court, souvenir shop, restrooms, and more. Many also use this spot for cross-country winter sports, but there is a land use fee.
- Waumbek Station (4000 feet): Gorgeous panoramic vistas of southern Presidentials to the Canadian border. Enjoy hot beverages, warming huts, a fire pit, and toast up the Roast-your-own hot dogs and s’mores available to purchase at the Base Station.
- Skyline (5500 feet): Great sunset spot with views of Northern Presidentials, the western face of the summit cone and the Mount Washington Observatory.
- Summit (6288 feet): Here you’ll reach Pikes Peak which boasts stunning vistas, but also could be faced with “the world’s worst weather.” Mount Washington is home to some of the highest recorded winds in history, reaching 231 miles-per-hour! Those crazy winds usually occur about 30% of the year on Mount Washington.
History of The Cog railway
To this day, The Cog is the second steepest cog railway worldwide. The average grade of The Cog is only second to Switzerland’s Pilatusbahn, built in 1889. The Mount Washington Cog travels at an average grade of 25% with a maximum grade of 37%. The Pilatusbahn’s average grade is 35% and maximum is 48%.
The Cog is also home to the world’s first cog locomotive, “Old Peppersass.” While Old Peppersass is no longer in loco-motion, you can catch her glory on full display at the Cog’s base station.
Here’s a clip of the miniature locomotive climbing New England’s highest peak!
Riding The Cog
Today, The Cog operates as one of New England’s scenic railways. Enjoy a historic ride while marveling at breathtaking views of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
The train trip travels year-round, with trips weather-dependent in the winter. During “winter” operations, which begin in late October and run through early May, the Cog runs shorter trips to Skyline or Waumbek Station only, since the summit is closed due to the peak’s harsh conditions during the colder months.
How long is the ride?
In the peak season, which runs June through early October, roundtrip lasts about 3 hours. Winter brings shorter trips with a roundtrip total of about 90 minutes—since the summit is closed, passengers don’t spend as much time off the train. The trains average a speed of 5 miles per hour both for safety and viewing purposes.
The overall time depends on whether you opt for the steam powered trains or the biodiesel trains. Which climb the 6288-feet at different speeds. The steam engines need a water break and take about 20% longer to reach their destinations.
Once at the top of Mount Washington, you’ll be at the highest mountains peak in the Northeast! The trips are especially stunning in early October when foliage reaches its peak in Northern New Hampshire.
Cog tickets
The Cog steam engine trains are $94 for adults and $69 for children aged 4-12. Children under age 4 always ride free! Biodiesel trips are $84 for adults and $61 for children aged 4-12. As noted, the biodiesel engine is more powerful and is thus a slightly quicker trip.
While The Cog is a beautiful ride year-round, there’s no time to visit the White Mountains like the fall! Start planning your trip!
Find The Mount Washington Cog Railway basecamp at:
3168 Base Station Road • Mount Washington, NH 03589