Peppersass, originally named Hero, was built in 1866. Peppersass was the first mountain climbing cog railway engine in the world. It was used to build the railway and later haul passengers. In its maiden voyage up Sylvester Marsh's demonstration track on August 29, 1866, it successfully pushed a car loaded with passengers up the short distance and back down again. The demonstration was deemed a success, and the necessary funds were secured to build the Mount Washington Cog Railway. It was completed three years later on July 3, 1869.

The Peppersass as originally built, resembled the standard stationary steam engine of the time. There was no tender or fuel storage, these features being added later. The vertical boiler was mounted on trunnions which allowed it to remain vertical on the steep grades of the railway. It's boiler was of hand riveted design and operated at 50 pounds of steam pressure, yielding 45 horsepower. The original name Hero did not last long before a comment was made that it resembled a peppersauce bottle. From that point on it was called Peppersass.

Peppersass was used on the railway for about twelve years before being retired. Fortunately, it was not scrapped, but stored on the property. In 1893 it went on display in Chicago at the Columbian Exposition where it rested on an elevated track. After the Exposition, it was placed on display in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago for eleven years. It was then displayed at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in Saint Louis in 1904. After this exposition it went to Baltimore, Maryland where it came under the control of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. For the next 23 years it remained stored and out of site. In 1928 it was exhibited in Halethorpe, Maryland at the fair of the Iron Horse. Following the display in Maryland, Peppersass was about to be stored away again by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Enter Reverend Guy Roberts. Reverend Roberts was a native of New Hampshire and pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Whitefield, New Hampshire. Active in White Mountain affairs, Rev. Roberts, in 1916, was instrumental in the saving of the Old Man of the Mountains in Franconia Notch. He had been searching for the whereabouts of Peppersass for some time and with the help of Colonel W.A. Barron, owner of the Crawford House, and the Boston and Maine Railroad, Peppersass was finally delivered to the B&M shops in Concord, NH for a thorough overhaul and restoration. It was planned to put Peppersass on display at the Bretton Woods Station near the Mount Pleasant House for all to see and enjoy.

The Boston and Maine Railroad, who owned the Mount Washington Cog Railway at the time, decided to host a last run up the mountain. In conjunction with the New Hampshire Publicity Bureau a gala celebration was planned to mark the return of Old Peppersass. Elaborate plans were made to run Old Peppersass up Mount Washington one more time before permanent retirement. The stage was set for the most spectacular run Peppersass ever made. It was to end, however in tragedy.

July 20, 1929 came at last and the invited guests included governors from six states as well as New Hampshire's governor. Mount Washington was kind that day, providing sunny, warm temperatures and little wind. After many speeches and events Peppersass came trundling up the track to the podium area amidst blasts from its whistle and the sounds of the engine. Stopping at the podium, the Peppersass was officially presented by Mr. J. J. Cornwell, President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Mr. George Hannauer, President of the Boston and Maine Railroad. Mr. Hannauer christened Peppersass with a bottle of water from the Lakes of the Clouds on Mount Washington.

The Final Climb

Six train loads of passengers headed up the mountain in front of the Peppersass, the last train towing a flatcar for photographers and newsmen. Under the control of engineer "Jack" E. C. Frost , fireman William I. Newsham, both of Concord, NH, and Chief Mechanical Officer of the B&M, Lawrence Richardson, Old Peppersass climbed the route so familiar to her. All went well, and the 63 year old engine performed as before. The trip was originally intended to go only as far as Jacob's Ladder with its 37.41% grade. However, all went so well that it was decided to continue over Jacob's Ladder and on to the Summit. It was decided to turn back when the Peppersass reached Gulf Tank. The hour was growing late and the other trains would be headed back down soon. The slow speed of the Peppersass would delay the down coming trains, so the decision was made to go back. This was around 5:00 PM.

Uncontrolled Descent

The descent was started. Three other people joined the crew for the trip down, Mr. Winston Pote, famed White Mountain photographer, Caleb Frost, son of the engineer and Daniel P. Rossiter, official photographer for the NH Publicity Bureau and the B&M Railroad ( who took the B&W photo above). All was well for about a half mile of the descent. Then there was a loud crack from the front of the engine. A tooth had broken from one of the gears and caused the engine to raise up and out of the cog rack. When the engine came back down it did so on the right side of the rack and the cog was not engaged. This caused the old engine to immediately gain speed. The brakes were of no use because the cog was out of the rack. As gravity took over, the engine gained speed and was now completely out of control with no chance of ever stopping. It raced down Long Trestle towards Jacob's Ladder, its speed unchecked. Engineer Frost yelled for all to jump. Apparently his son Caleb was the first to do so, and landed without injury. Pote was next, followed by Frost and Newsham, their jump and fall causing broken bones. Daniel Rossiter did not jump and hung on all the way across Jacob's Ladder finally plunging to his death at the foot of the Ladder. Old Peppersass continued its wild plunge down the track, ripping pieces out as it went. Having covered almost 2100 feet in her final plunge down the mountain, Peppersass finally left the track and was wrecked. Despite the presence of many photographers and newsmen, the actual wreck of the Peppersass was never recorded on film. Winston Pote did make some movies that have survived, and are in the archives of the Mount Washington Observatory. The boiler did not explode and was recovered. Pieces were scattered all over the area and it was decided to gather them up and rebuild Old Peppersass for display at the Base. So, on July 29, 1929, Old Peppersass was gathered up and returned to Concord to be rebuilt. It can be seen to this day on display at the Base Station watching the trains depart and arrive.

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