Mount Washington Cog Railway Live Cam

History

The Mount Washington Cog Railway, an iconic engineering marvel nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, has a storied history that dates back to the mid-19th century. Recognized as the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway, its creation represented a bold vision of innovation and determination, forever altering the landscape of mountain tourism and transportation.

The concept for the railway was conceived by Sylvester Marsh, a New Hampshire native and inventor. Inspired by the challenge of ascending the treacherous slopes of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288 feet, Marsh envisioned a rail system capable of conquering the steep gradients and unpredictable weather conditions of the mountain. Despite widespread skepticism and the mockery of his contemporaries, Marsh secured a charter from the New Hampshire legislature in 1858 to construct the railway, often referred to mockingly as "Marsh’s Folly."