New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Cog Railway announced this week that it will delay steam operations on the Northeast’s tallest peak until repairs can be made to its two 0-2-2-0 locomotives. However, General Manager Ryan Presby said the historic cog railway remains dedicated to steam power. 

From 1869 until 2008, steam ruled the west slope of Mount Washington. Constructed in the 1860s, the Mount Washington Cog Railway was the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railroad. However, in the late 2000s, diesel locomotives began to replace most steam locomotives. For a few years, only the first run of the day up the hill featured steam. In recent years, the railroad has offered a handful of trips to the summit behind steam, as well as a Mid Mountain Steam Special that travels about halfway up the hill. 

Two steam locomotives are currently in service: Locomotive 2 Ammonoosuc, built in 1875, and 9 Waumbek, built in 1908. Both locomotives were constructed by the Manchester Locomotive Works, which later became part of the American Locomotive Company. However, pre-season preparations revealed that the two locomotives could not operate at full pressure until additional repairs are made. Those repairs are underway, but Presby said it remains unclear when they might be completed. While the engines are still safe to run at the lower boiler pressure, they will not be able to maintain the railroad’s schedule. Presby stated that once one of the engines is repaired, they will resume excursions to Waumbek siding, hopefully by fall. 

Presby also stated that the railroad has ordered two new boilers for the locomotives, which are expected to arrive late this year and early next. He said the boilers will ensure steam continues to operate on Mount Washington for decades to come.  —Justin Franz