The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-04
MOUNT WASHINGTON RAILWAY.
BY REV. GEO. MERRIAM.


There are at least three remarkable
mountain railways in the world. One
is in =. pc at Rhiga, Switzerland,
and tND i'll the United States, at Mauch
Chunk, Penn, and on Mount Washing
ton, in New Hampshire. IF one does
not wish to use his pedal eXtremitles,
as the writer did, there are two ways
of reaching the summit of Mount
Washington; by the carriage from the
Glen house Oh the east side and by the
railroad on the west. Tourists often
90 up one way and down the other. a
very satisfactory way of ''doing" Mount
Washington is TO go up on the west
side by the unique railway affordlng
magnificent views of forest yawning
chaSms and distant mounts. After
spending the night on the summit, go
down the east side by the stage road.
This drive gives one a fine view OF the
mountains in the pine tree states, and
near view of that chaSm Of chasms,
the gulf of Mexico, and, Mounts Clay,
Jefferson, Adams and Madison. Then
returning by the carriage road and the
railway to the west side. Till within
few years Crawford's bridal path was a
common way of reaching the summit.
The ascent was made on horse back.
This path is seldom used now, except
by those who go on foot. When we
speak of any thing as impossible, we
say it is just as likely that water will
run up hill. To one who had never
heard of this railway it would seem
just as probable that the Kaw river
would turn around and flow back to
Dickinson county after it reaches TOpe-
ka, as railway train could be run up
the precipitous sides of mountain.
This Mount Washington railroad is a
stupendOuS living fact, cOnfOunding to
all pre-cOnceived notions of posSlbllll-
ties and impOssibillities. Like all in
novationS, it met, at first, much abuse
and ridicule. When Mr.. Sylvester
Marsh, of Littleton, New Hampshire,
asked of the New Hampshire legisla-
ture charter for the enterprise, some
of the members called it madness, 9th
ers ridiculed and none believed that
there was anything in it. One member
proposed that Mr.. Marsh should have
the permission asked for, and more
with it, namely, the right to build a
road to the moon. Nearly every one,
who at that time had any knowledge of
the sides of Mount Washington, would
have agreed that it was just as reason
able to attempt to build road to the
moon as to the summit of this mOun-
tain, 6293 feet above the sea level. 1t
is probable that if it were not for the
indOubtable testimony of Mr.. Marsh'S
success many prairie travellers would
to-day regard the proposition of such
scheme as the product of brain loft
its base" But seeing is believing, and
to see one of those cOmical little engines
with passenger car ahead, with puffS
and snOrts clawing its way up the sides
of the mountain, SO steep that while
riding you fear the car will fall over the
engine, is one of the wonders of the
world, and one Of those facts SO "con-
trary to nature and reason" that after
you have recovered the balance of your
mind you exclaim with a long drawn
breath "Well what neXt?' The road
is similar to any other with the eXcep-
ton of an additional center rail. This
is the principle mechanical feature of
the road. This central cog-rail is plac-
ed between the two smooth rails of
the ordinary railway This cog-rail
consists of two lengths of wrought an
gle-iron three-eightS of an inch thick
and three inches wide, placed upon
their edge parallel to each other, and
connected by strong iron pins one and
one-fourth inches in diameter, about
three inches long and four inches apart
IN q of no
driving wheels of the engine play into
the spaces between the rails. When
the drive wheels revolve the others
turn on the smooth rails and the train
moves. OF course the whole safety of
the train depends on keeping the CEN
ter cog-raIl in place, for if it settles and
the cogs cease to play into those spaces
the safety of the train is Immediately
imperiled, as no amount of friction on
the outer rails could hold the train.
This, however, is easily done. There
are five different ways of holding the
train, any one of which is amply Suffici-
ent. The conditions of safety are as
perfect and complete as mechanics can
make them. The distance up the
mountain by the road is within a small
fraction of three miles. The grade av-
erages 1900 feet to the mile. At one
place called Jacobs Ladder" the
grade rises to 1880 feet to the mile, or
thirteen and one-half inches to the
yard. This is the Steepest part. There
are four water tanks placed at proper
distances. Each car seats forty per-
sons. The locomotive is always below
the car pushing it up before it in the
ascent, and holding it back in the de-
scent, more than an hour is consumed
in making the trip, as the train stops
several times. The speed is the same
up or down. In 1869 the trains began
to run over this precipitous road. Let
it be said to the credit of the genius of
Mr.. Marsh that the road was as nearly
completed at first as it is at present.
Only a few important changes have
been made. The only accidents that
have occurred have been the breaking
of shaft now and then during the first
few years. These accidents have al
most entirely disappeared. Great care
is given to keeping the road in order.
Several men one after another examine
the track before the train passes over
it. When you are in New Hampshire
take ride on this road.