About Mt. Washington Cog Railway

The Mount Washington Cog Railway, also known as The Cog, is a mountain railway in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The first mountain-climbing cog railway, was opened in 1869.

Bretton Woods, New Hampshire’s Cog sends riders up Mount Washington’s western slope, the northeastern US’s tallest peak. The three-hour round-trip railway runs from late April until late November.

The Cog climbs the mountain using a cog mechanism. The Cog’s tracks can climb 37.41%. The train climbs the steep hillside using a tiny cog wheel that fits into a cog track on the rails.

The Cog provides sunset, brunch, and evening trips throughout the season in addition to regular passenger service. New Hampshire visitors to the White Mountains must see the Cog.

Getting There

Our Visit to The Cog

It was a bright and sunny day when we set off on our journey to the Mount Washington Cog Railway. As we drove through the picturesque White Mountains of New Hampshire, we couldn’t wait to experience the unique and historic railway.

When we arrived at the Cog Railway base station, we were greeted by the friendly staff and given a brief overview of the journey ahead. We boarded the train and settled into our seats, excited to embark on our ascent up the mountain.

As the train began to move, we marveled at the beautiful scenery that surrounded us. As we climbed higher and higher, the views only got better, and we couldn’t believe how high we were getting.

Finally, after a thrilling ride, we reached the summit of Mount Washington. We stepped off the train and immediately headed to the peak. After we went to the top of the summit building and too in the scenery. We then stopped in at the gift shop and museum at the top. The gift shop was filled with all sorts of souvenirs and gifts, and we spent a good amount of time browsing the selection.

After shopping, we made our way to the museum, which was filled with interesting exhibits about the history of the Cog Railway and the mountain itself. We learned about the science behind the cog system, and how the railway has been able to operate for over 150 years.

As our time came to an end, the train horn sounded signalling it was our time to board. As we descended the mountain on the Cog Railway, we couldn’t believe how much we had learned and experienced in such a short amount of time. It was a truly unforgettable journey, and we were already planning our next visit to the Mount Washington Cog Railway.