This 1869 Railroad Proved You Could Actually Drive a Train Straight Up a Mountain

Mount Washington Cog Railway, New Hampshire

In 1869, a crazy idea became reality on Mount Washington. Someone built a railroad that could climb straight up a mountain using gear teeth and rails.

The first train chugged to the summit that July, making history as America’s first mountain climbing railroad.

Here’s how this wild engineering feat came to life, and how you can ride it today.

The Railway up a Mountain

The Mount Washington Cog Railway takes people up the tallest mountain in the Northeast. Built in 1869, this train uses special toothed wheels that grip a middle rail to climb steep hills. Mount Washington rises 6,288 feet high in New Hampshire.

Sylvester Marsh’s Nearly Fatal Inspiration

Sylvester Marsh almost died while hiking Mount Washington in 1857. Caught in a sudden storm with strong winds and poor visibility, he barely made it down alive.

This scary experience gave Marsh an idea. The successful businessman wanted to build a safe way for everyone to reach the top.

After making his money in the meat business, Marsh had both the funds and drive to create a railway that could safely carry people up the dangerous mountain.

The Railway to the Moon Mockery

When Marsh showed his mountain railway plan to New Hampshire lawmakers in 1858, they laughed at him. One even joked that Marsh should build a ‘railway to the moon’ instead.

Despite their doubts, they gave him permission in 1859. They thought his plan would fail but would help the local economy during building.

Marsh used $5,000 of his own money to start the project. The Civil War delayed construction until 1866, when work finally began.

Engineering a Revolutionary System

Marsh’s invention used a special middle rail with teeth like a ladder. The train’s wheels had matching teeth that locked into this rail to pull the train uphill.

This smart design let snow and dirt fall through instead of jamming the gears. Marsh got a patent for this system in 1861.

Inventor Walter Aiken helped develop the technology. Interestingly, someone in Switzerland was creating a similar system around the same time.

Old Peppersass The First Mountain Locomotive

The first train engine was built in Boston in 1866 for $2,000. Though officially named ‘Hero,’ workers called it ‘Old Peppersass’ because its upright boiler looked like a pepper sauce bottle.

The unusual engine had a vertical boiler on pivots that kept it upright while climbing steep hills. This strange-looking machine first built the railway, then carried passengers until 1878.

Old Peppersass became famous as the first cog locomotive, starting the era of mountain-climbing trains.

Conquering Jacob’s Ladder

The steepest part of track sits 4,725 feet up the mountain. Here, workers had to build a bridge across a gap full of boulders while keeping the steep climb.

They named this section Jacob’s Ladder after a trail created by pioneer Ethan Allen Crawford. The wooden bridge stretched 200 feet and rose 30 feet above the mountainside.

Trains climbing this section face a 37% grade – rising 37 feet for every 100 feet forward. Normal railways rarely exceed 2% grades.

The First Summit Ascent

Paying riders used the partly-built railway in August 1868, going as far as Jacob’s Ladder while workers finished the upper section. Construction finally reached the top in July 1869.

The first official trip to the summit happened on July 3, 1869, making Marsh’s dream come true. Early visitors came to the train station by stagecoach from nearby hotels. A round-trip ticket cost three dollars – a lot of money in 1869.

President Grant’s Historic Visit

President Ulysses S. Grant rode the railway in August 1869 during a trip to escape Washington’s summer heat. The famous Civil War general brought national attention to the new attraction.

A cannon announced when the President reached the top. Sylvester Marsh personally greeted Grant, surely feeling proud after years of mockery.

Within a year, 5,000 people had traveled to the summit on the Cog Railway, making it an instant tourism success.

Evolution of the Locomotives

The earliest engines had vertical boilers on pivots that stayed upright on steep slopes. They pushed passenger cars uphill for safety.

Later train engines looked more normal but had boilers tilted about 10 degrees. This design kept water covering important parts while climbing.

From 1868 to 1910, the engines burned wood for fuel. The railway switched to coal in 1910. In 2008, they added cleaner, cheaper biodiesel engines.

The 1938 Hurricane Devastation

The 1938 New England Hurricane hit Mount Washington with 163 mph winds. The storm destroyed Jacob’s Ladder and many wooden bridges.

Rebuilding during the Great Depression caused money problems. Dartmouth College gave a crucial loan to fund repairs. Workers rebuilt everything in just five weeks.

The new Jacob’s Ladder was longer (325 feet) but lower to the ground (20 feet), making it stronger against future storms.

The Only Major Accident

On July 20, 1929, Old Peppersass was in the railway’s worst accident. Restored for the 60th anniversary celebration, the historic engine was making a special trip.

While coming down from Jacob’s Ladder, a gear tooth broke. The engine jumped off the track and the brakes failed to stop it as it sped down the mountain.

This remains one of the few accidents in the railway’s otherwise strong 150-year safety record.

Visiting Mount Washington Cog Railway

The railway is at 3168 Base Station Road, Mount Washington, NH. You’ll pay around $79-99 for adults and children under 4 ride free on your lap.

The three-hour round trip includes an hour at the summit. You should arrive 45 minutes early and can enjoy the free museum, gift shop, and food court.

Read More on WhenInYourState.com:

• A Sky-High Tramway, Beaches, Falls, and Forest Trails Star in This New Hampshire Notch
• This Fairytale Theme Park Has Been Making New Hampshire Children’s Dreams Come True Since 1954
• This 1914 Arts and Crafts Mansion Sits So High in New Hampshire’s Mountains It Seems to Float in the Sky