Using a model locomotive and a short stretch of track he presented the contraption to the New Hampshire State Legislature. Marsh began developing his idea in 1855 and by the spring of 1858 decided it was ready for testing. Instead, a cog, or rack, railway system would be needed as similar designs were already in use in other parts of the world.
While railroads were the most practical means of travel, engineering a traditional right-of-way was simply not possible. Marsh realized that transporting patrons to the top would require some type of specialized machine. Walker noted the summit contained 126 different species of sub-arctic plants and 63 arctic plants. In their article from the June, 1941 issue of Trains Magazine entitled " Geared To The Mountains" authors Lincoln Warren and H.S. On a very clear day one can even see New York State and Canada! But temperatures at the top are brutal and arctic-like the summit is well above timberline (sans trees) and storms can produce wind speeds above 230 mph! The mountain afforded views of up to 130 miles in any direction. The tallest slope east of the Mississippi River (6,293 feet). Only a year earlier, in the summer of 1852, a retired meat-packer-turned-inventor fromĬhicago, Sylvester Marsh, had climbed Mount Washington and realized its tourism potential given the spectacular scenery as Opened a line to nearby Littleton about 20 miles away in 1853 (theĬompany would eventually join the Boston & Maine). The first was the appropriately-named White Mountains Railroad, which When railroads arrived visitors to the region greatly increased. The White Mountains of New England have drawn great throngs of people for many years thanks to their incredible beauty and tranquility. The unique Mount Washington Cog Railway has not only been a popular tourist attraction since the late 1860's but also extensively covered in the media.Īt the time of its construction, however, no one believed such technology was conceivable. However, today cheaper, and more environmentally friendly, bio-diesel locomotives complement the historic steamers. Interestingly, the railroad does not scale the entire mountain but begins about a quarter of the way up with grades reaching incredible levels, peaking at 36.6%!įor much of its existence the Mount Washington Cog Railway relied on standard steam locomotives. Sylvester Marsh who believed the railroad would become a popular touristĪttraction after he climbed New Hampshire's Mount Washington in the early 1850s.ĭespite considerable backlash his idea proved quite a success and, just like the Manitou & Pike's Peak Railway in Colorado, thousands of folks continue to descend upon Bretten Woods annually to ride his invention. It runs at regular intervals and it is a very busy route, as it is mainly used by tourists who come to the Tatras by train.The Mount Washington Cog Railway has the distinction of being the veryįirst such system ever put into practical use in the United States when In 2022, the track was reconstructed and new modern trains came to use.Ĭurrently, it is managed by the Railway Company of Slovakia. It started its first kilometers just when the world skiing championship took place at Štrbske Pleso. At that time, however, there was a steam cog railway, which in 1970, was replaced by the electric one. The cog railway from Štrba to Štrbské Pleso has been in operation since 1896. It is a railway where the driving force is transmitted by a toothed wheel engaging a toothed rack mounted in the track axis.
The cog railway connects the village of Štrbske Pleso with Tatranská Štrba.
The list of popular attractions with a historical character certainly includes the legendary cog railway - funicular train. The main attractions are excellent hiking opportunities, skiing, as well as a number of local attractions that are of historical importance. Our Slovak mountains - High Tatras - are visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.
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