Growing up, we made a lot of family vacations to New Hampshire. In fact as I’ve been writing these last few posts I’ve opened an itch I need to scratch by going back. We used to ski in New Hampshire in the winter, camp in the summer and in this recent trip, leaf peep in the fall. New Hampshire is a great place to visit. Yet on every vacation we took to New Hampshire there was one thing I wanted to do that never happened – ride the Mt. Washington Cog Railway.
Isn’t that a great shot? I love the greens and red of the train under the bright blue sky. It’s the kind of photo that describes the day, perfect. The Cog Railway is a trip up Mount Washington in New Hampshire. It takes you from the bottom all the way to the top. It is my preferred route over hiking it and driving it. Who doesn’t like a train?
At the bottom of the mountain you board the train and it chugs up to the top. The seats aren’t that comfortable, but that’s okay. The ride takes about an hour. The fall is a perfect time to visit, because you can admire the leaves as you journey up the first mountain-climbing train.
One of the best moments is the track switch. there is only one track up and down. Passing trains need to carefully schedule their ascent and descent to meet at the track switch and pass each other. Essentially one train stays to the right, while the other stays to the left as they pass the water tower. The tracks merge again to the single track.
Be prepared for a climate change at the top. You are on a mountain after all. And this mountain has the record of the highest recorded wind speed. There’s an observatory with some small exhibits and displays, and a cafeteria with snacks. If you’re dressed appropriately, make an attempt to climb the rocky peak and take the official photo. It’s cold and windy so bundle up.
The trip back down is just as great as the trip up. The track is steep and one can only hope that the brakes have been inspected recently.
The price is a bit steep for the trip. As of this writing, it’s about $59.00. Is it worth it? For a one-time weekend activity sure. Remember, you’re on an adventure so save your pennies for a memorable trip in the mountains.
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