For more than a century, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway has climbed the tallest mountain in the Northeast, and helped visitors to summit the home of the world’s worst weather.

(TRAVPR.COM) USA - October 21st, 2011 - For more than a century, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway has climbed the tallest mountain in the Northeast, and helped visitors to summit the home of the world’s worst weather. The Cog provides visitors with more than just breathtaking views of the Mt. Washington Valley and an historic experience along the world’s first mountain climbing cog railway. It offers thrill, fun, and adventure.

A visit to ride the Mt. Washington Cog Railway includes much more than a train ride up the steep slope of Mt. Washington. They get to experience is world's first mountain-climbing rack-and-pinion railway, with the best of 19th century technology – now greener with a selection of historic steam or green diesel engines.

The Cog climbs more than 3,400 feet, beginning at an elevation of 2,700 feet above sea level and ending at the very summit of Mt. Washington at 6,288 feet. It as here in April 1934, a wind gust of 231 miles per hour was recorded

It is the steepest railway in North America - with an average grade of more than 25% and a maximum grade of 37.41%. In fact it is the second steepest in the word.

The Cog is sometimes called "Railway to the Moon" because one state legislator joked that its visionary builder should not only be given a charter up Mount Washington but also to the moon, as his idea was impossible.

So the hour-long stop at the summit is a thrilling ride, which offers a tiled window on an ever-changing landscape.

Round trip tickets are $62 for adults, $57 for seniors (over 65), $39 for children (4-12) and free for children three and under on an adult’s lap, with one child per adult. Round trip tickets usually take approximately three hours.

The cog railway works its way up the mountain using a large-toothed cogwheel underneath the engine, rather than having power in its wheels. The teeth in the cogwheel fit into a track between the rails in order to reach the summit. On the way down the mountain a brakeman controls the car’s speed.

The railway uses biodiesel locomotives, but also has a coal-fired steam locomotive that generally operates early each day. The use of the biodiesel engines reduces emissions and conserves fossil fuels.

The Mt. Washington Cog Railway ran its first locomotive on July 3, 1869. New Hampshire native, Sylvester Marsh thought to build the railway after being lost near the summit of Mt. Washington. He worked to give people an easier way to visit the summit of Mt. Washington.

For more information about the Mt. Washington Cog Railway visit http://www.thecog.com/.

###