Mt. Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire

In 1852 Sylvester Marsh, a New Hampshire native who'd made his fortune in Chicago's meatpacking business, got lost near the summit of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern United States. Convinced that there had to be a better way to reach the top of the mountain, Marsh set about designing a railway. When he proposed the idea to the state legislature, they laughed that perhaps he'd also like permission to build a railroad to the moon.

But by 1869, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway was operational. For 140 years, tourists have been riding the railway to the top of the mountain, pushed along by steam locomotives. It's a trip unlike any other in America.

The secret to the railway is the unique cog and rail design, in which the steam engine drives a toothed wheel - the cog - and the gears of the cog fit one-by-one into corresponding slots in the rail below. Slowly but securely, the train pushes a passenger car up the side of the 6,288 foot mountainside.

In almost any season, a ride up Mt. Washington aboard the cog railway provides scenic views unmatched anywhere in New England. In the summertime, passengers ascend from the warm countryside to the often chilly conditions at the summit. Travelers should also be prepared to dress appropriately. But they should also be prepared for the spectacular scenery of New Hampshire's White Mountain range.

In recent years, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway has opened in the winter as well. Skiers take the trip up the mountain with their equipment and ski back down the snowy slopes.

But the best time of year to ride the Mt. Washington Cog Railway is in the fall, during the peak fall foliage season. Tourists flock to New Hampshire from around the world to see the vibrant colors of fall, and there's no view of this spectacular display that can match what can be seen from the railway. The White Mountains' hardwood forests explode in shades of red, yellow and orange. Riders headed up the cog railway will return home with photos and memories to last a lifetime.

At the top of the one-hour climb, there's a stopover at the peak of the mountain., where visitors are often surprised to find a 52-acre state park that has been described as a "city among the clouds." Among the buildings at the top is the Mt. Washington Observatory. This weather station has been staffed year-round for over 75 years. It was here, in April 1934, that scientists documented the highest wind gust ever recorded - an incredible 231 miles per hour.

The Cog Railway is one of three ways to reach the summit of Mt. Washington. In the summertime, adventurous tourists - especially those who've rented a car during their vacation, perhaps - can drive up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Of course, you could always strap on a backpack and climb to the top as well.

The Mt. Washington Cog Railway operates daily, with hourly from late June through peak foliage season in late October. The railway departs from a base station located off Route 302 in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.