June 26, 2016 Mt. Washington Cog Railway, New Hampshire

We moved along to New Hampshire and camped in the small town of Littleton in the White Mountains.  The tallest peak on the east coast is Mt. Washington at 6,288 ft. and it is quite nearby.  Off we went to ride the Mt. Washington Cog Railway to the top.  We did this a few years ago while visiting with my late brother Bill at his condo in the area.  It's a wonderful vertical ride up and down the mountain!  We were saddened to see that they have retired all but one of the old coal-powered steam engines and are now using eco-diesel engines.  I know the new engines are much better, but nowhere near as exciting as those old guys who chug and puff....  Below are a few random pictures of our trip up and down and what it was like up top.

Going up and admiring the lupines beside the track.

From the top.

You can't see them unless you enlarge a LOT, but there are hikers on that trail -
the Appalachian Trail. 

Here we are - it was in the low 50's with a very brisk wind - hence Bubba holding on to his hat....

How they kept warm in the Tip Top House.

If you drive up on the road, or ride one of the "stages" (van),
this is where you disembark.

This raven was a bit raucous and I could hear him long before I saw him.

Clouds were beginning to roll in.

Tip Top House, where intrepid hikers and explorers used to stay.

One of the railcars arriving up top.

The Waumbek, last of the coal-steam engines in use.
It now runs twice a day.

Looking up from base station.

Closeup of the cogs and the horns.

Hard to believe that this building is exactly level.

Getting cloudy.

Clouds coming in, and the line of tourists waiting to get their photo by the Mt. Washington sign.