Maintenance
Locomotives, Coaches, Tracks

I have assembled a number of pictures of the various maintenance tasks at the Cog. This work goes on all year long, with a number of employees involved. The facilities are complete and the personnel are able to handle almost all of the jobs "in house". One cannot imagine the amount of time, effort and money that is required to maintain the fleet of 7 steam locomotives, coaches, and the tracks of the Cog Railway. Besides the constant, on-going maintenance, the locomotives and coaches are inspected prior to the opening of the season by inspectors from the state of New Hampshire. The track is inspected prior to opening and then routinely by the NH Department of Transportation. Many trailer truck loads of pressure treated timbers go into the maintenance of the tracks each season. New cog racks are manufactured at the base shop and routinely replaced. All of these measures insures the safety of the operation.

Image sizes and resolutions have been reduced in order to save space and make load time faster.

	This is the carshop where the coaches are built and maintained. There is room in the heated section to work on 2 coaches.
	This is the newly constructed 6 Coach. This coach was built entirely by the crew at the Cog. All of the lumber was milled and fabricated in the shop.
	Interior view of the new 6 coach. The roof rafters were fabricated and laminated at the shop. The interior wood is ash and birch, both woods native to the area.
	This is the engine shop and transfer table. There is room in the heated section of the shop for 5 locos.
	#6 Great Gulf rests outside on cribbing, while the frame and running gear are replaced.
	The frame of the #6 Great Gulf in the shop for heavy repairs including new pistons, valves, axles and gears. The frame has been Magnafluxed and welded where needed.
	An interior view of part of the shop. There are 4 locos under repair. The 8, 10, 2, and 3.
	A closer view of valve and piston work underway on the 2, Ammonoosuc.
	Another view inside. Note the new floors and sides being installed on the cabs.
	A closer view of the valve and piston work being done on the 2.
	A view of the machine shop. All of the machine work is accomplished here. From fabrication of new parts to the milling of rough castings, the machinists of the Cog do it all here.
	Another view of the machine shop. There is a drive axle being turned in the lathe.
	A view of the new Diamond shaped smoke stack on the #2, Ammonoosuc. This is the first of the "modern" locos to have this feature, which provides easier maintenance of the screen.
	The "business end" of a cog locomotive. Removed for rebuilding, the axles and gears are easy to see. From left to right is the spur gear, the cog gear and the ratchet gear. The drive axle and brake drum can be seen on the floor in front of the gear set.
	Here's what makes a cog loco go. A view of a cog gear.
	Another view of the cog gear.
	#3, Agiocochook has been moved out using air pressure and awaits the first fire of the season. The new bearings and gears will have to be exercised before regular service.
	#1, Mt. Washington, stripped and worn out awaits its fate beside the car shop.
	New cog racks and timbers awaiting installation.
	New track timbers awaiting installation. Careful measurements are taken in the fall and the pieces are made up during the winter.
	One of two work cars ready to start track work.
	#6, Great Gulf ready to push a work train up the mountain.
	Work train just arriving back at the base in late afternoon.

Maintenance Locomotives, Coaches, Tracks

Maintenance
Locomotives, Coaches, Tracks