Cog Railway , Railway to the Moon

As has often been discussed in regards to older locomotives, the identity of a particular locomotive becomes clouded as time passes. Locomotives built in the early 1800's have been rebuilt many times, and it is entirely probable that very few original parts remain. Such is the case with the Mt. Washington Cog Railway locomotives currently in service. Over the last several years, an aggressive rebuilding program has resulted in most, if not all, of the locomotives receiving either new boilers, frames or cabs, and in some cases all three. Of course brakes, cylinders, bearings, gears, cogs, etc. are replaced routinely as needed. With the exception of the #8 and the #10, no new locomotives were purchased after 1908 (Waumbek), and in fact prior to that all locomotives were purchased in the 1800's. This rebuilding process takes place today as engines are brought into the shop each winter and necessary work completed. July of 1997 saw the #6, Great Gulf ,emerge completely rebuilt with new running gear.

The roster below can be difficult at times to follow. Many changes were made in the over 130 years of operation. As you will see, many engines carried more than one name or number in its lifespan. And often the tender from one engine is used on another, further making pictures difficult to identify.

I have used two excellent books about the Cog Railway as well as my own observations to compile this roster. While this roster is as complete as I could research at the present time, it should not be considered the "final word" about the subject.

I strongly recommend anyone interested in the Cog to search out Railway to the Moon by Glen M. Kidder. It is a significant volume with a large quantity of photographs. It is out of print and in fact a limited edition of 1500 copies published by Courier printing in 1969, the 100th anniversary of the Cog. Another important volume in Donald H. Bray's They Said it Couldn't be Done, published in 1984 by Kendall/Hunt.Mr. Bray has been closely associated with the Railway for many years and tells the story of the Cog with an insider's knowledge. And finally, I commend to your reading I Conquered My Mountain, the autobiography of Ellen Crawford Teague, published in 1982 by Phoenix Publishing. Mrs. Teague assumed ownership and was President of the Cog following the death of her husband, Arthur S. Teague (after whom the #10 is named) in 1967, until the present owners purchased the road in the early 80's.During her tenure, she could be seen bustling about the Base.

CURRENT ROSTER OF LOCOMOTIVES

Pictures of these locomotives may be seen in the Picture Gallery

NAME NUMBER	BUILDER	YEAR ORIGINALLY BUILT	REMARKS
1 Mt. Washington	Manchester Locomotive Works	1883	Was 1st. #7 Falcon; renumbered to "1" following rebuilding after the 1895 fire. Named Mt. Washington after 1931. Currently stored out of service at the shops.
2 Ammonoosuc	Manchester Locomotive Works	1875	Was 2nd. #4 Atlas; renumbered to "2" following rebuilding after the 1895 fire. Named Ammonoosuc after 1931;
3 Agiocochook	Manchester Locomotive Works	1883	Originally #2 of the Green Mountain Cog Railway on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. Was the 3rd "5", not named; became the 3rd "3" in 1934. Renamed Agiocochook in 1995/96
4 Chocorua	Manchester Locomotive Works	1883	Originally #1 of the Green Mountain Cog Railway on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. Became the 3rd. "4"
6 Kancamagus	Manchester Locomotive Works	1874	Originally built as 1st. "6" Tip-Top with vertical boiler. Rebuilt into 2nd. "6" in 1878 with horizontal boiler.
8 Moosilauke	Mt. Washington Cog Railway Shop	1983	Uses a larger, welded boiler built by Monroe Boiler
9 Waumbek	Alco Manchester Locomotive Works	1908	First horizontal boiler engine to have the cab on the same plane as the boiler
10 Kro Flite	Mt. Washington Cog Railway Shop	1972	Uses a larger, welded boiler built by Monroe Boiler. Has the cab tilted on the same plane as the boiler. Converted to burn oil for a short time and converted back to coal.
Track Speeder	Mt. Washington Cog Railway Shop by Ed Clark		Uses a snowmobile engine and hydraulic drive components. Very unique piece of equipment.

HISTORICAL ROSTER
Pictures of these locomotives may be seen in the Picture Gallery

NAME NUMBER	BUILDER	YEAR BUILT	REMARKS
1 Hero Peppersass	Campbell, Whittier & Co. Roxbury, MA	1866	First cog railway engine in the world. Used to build the road. Retired from active service in 1878 Now on display at the Base.
2 Not Named	Walter Aiken Franklin, NH	1868	Did not perform as expected when delivered and was disassembled and used to build the 2nd. #2.
2nd 2 George Stephenson	Walter Aiken Franklin, NH	1869	Built using parts from 1st #2. Had enclosed cab tilted at the same angle as boiler. Scrapped in 1878
3 Not Named	Walter Aiken Franklin, NH	1869	Similar in construction to 2nd #2. Replaced in 1874 with 2nd. #3
4 Atlas	Walter Aiken Franklin, NH	1870	Cab was level with frame. Replaced in 1875 with 2nd #4.
5 Cloud	Walter Aiken Franklin, NH	1870	Similar to #4. Replaced in 1876 with 2nd #5.
6 Tip-Top	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1874	First to use two pairs of cylinders. Replaced in 1878 by 2nd #6.
3rd 2 Eagle	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1878	Damaged in a fire at the Cog Railway Shop in 1895 and scrapped.
2nd 3 Hercules	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1874	First locomotive to have a horizontal boiler. At one point had a straight smoke stack. Scrapped in 1934
2nd. 4 Atlas	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1875	Damaged in the 1895 fire. Rebuilt and re-numbered 2 with no name.
2nd 5 Cloud	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1876	Damaged in the 1895 fire and scrapped.
2nd. 6 Tip-Top	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1878	Built with parts of the 1st. #6
7 Falcon	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1883	Damaged in the 1895 fire. rebuilt and re-numbered to 1. At one point had a straight smoke stack.
3rd 3 Base Station	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1883	Formerly the #2 of the Green Mountain Cog Railway on Mt. Desert Island in Maine.
3rd. 4 Chocorua	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1883	Formerly the #1 of the Green Mountain Cog railway on Mt. Desert Island in Maine.
2nd. 7 Not Named	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1895	Destroyed in a mysterious accident near the summit in 1897
8 Pilgrim	Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1892	Dismantled. Parts used to rebuild 2nd #1 in 1972.
9 Waumbek	Alco Manchester Loco Works Manchester, NH	1908	First and only horizontal boilered engine to have cab on the same plane as the boiler.
10 Kro Flite	Mt. Wash. Cog Railway Shops	1972	Larger, welded boiler. Was converted to burn oil for a short time and converted back.
2nd. 8 Moosilauke	Mt. Wash. Cog Railway Shops	1983	Larger, welded boiler
M-1 Spirit of '76	Mt. Wash. Cog Railway Shops	1974-76	Diesel powered experimental unit. Designed to be used for work trains. Never ran far up the mountain. Scrapped in the early 80's.

A big thank you to Adam Jones and his Mount Washington.Com page for the generous use of the train whistle. It is an actual recording of a Cog engine.

All Time Locomotive Roster