Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

This is the first steam train for us.
Located in the Whit Mountains of Northern New Hampshire.
I really enjoyed this ride and engine!
If you get up here, the first run of the day is the steam engine (just one run a day).
Day 1, 17 images.
Will add more for Day 2 and 3.
Pat

Image 1


Image 2


Image 3


Image 4-Old style car


Image 5-Looking forward, thru the car


Image 6-Looking back


Image 7-Looking back


Image 8-Incline


Image 9-Plenty of room this morning

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Image 10- We are on the steepest part of the incline at about 37 percent grade. The brakeman's feet are inside the car, while his head is outside (not the best shot to show this).
Image 11 is from museum. All we saw was fog. So thick that when we stepped out from the visitor center, we could not see steam engine.

Image 10


Image 11-Image from museum at top


Image 12-Cab


Image 13

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

This is one excellent series, Pat! My hat is off to you. The one that grabs me the most is the one where you are looking out of the car back at the track. Oh my God.

I used to build swimming pools in central and south America. I would see these things switchbacks and all, everyday going up the sides of mountains with the cars always overloaded with people. I loved steam even back then, but would never catch me dead riding on one of those.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Talking to the engineer at the top, I found out that pushing the car up the hill, the car is not attached to the engine. There is no need.
On the return down, they tie on to the car with a chain to pull it over a small crest at the top. Then they stop and remove the chain so the car is not attached going down.
The brakeman expanded on this before the return trip. He would apply the brakes with the goal to just touch the engine going down. they do not want the car's weight on the engine.
Image 14- The Brakeman is earning his money. He applied a drag on the brakes (using the wheel on the right), probably the brakes at the other end of the car.
He used the wheel on the left to apply or release the other set of brakes.
He said he watches the contact with the engine, watches for hand signals from the engineer and watches the front of the engine for rising or lowering indicating an increase in the inline or decrease.
Also, I asked the Brakeman, how long did it take you to train to be a Brakeman? He said 30 trips, to really good.
I'm glad he is well trained!!
Last of the first 17.

Image 14


Image 15 World's First Cog Railway


Image 16


Image 17

angler Loc: StHelens England

Thanks for the ride Jay Pat.Great shots.

bob_71 Loc: Severna Park, MD

I have never been into trains so I'm certainly not qualified to critique the engine on this train...but it looks like it has been in a terrible accident. It appears to have been jammed or squeezed into an impossible posture. In these photos, is it pushing or pulling? The ability to leap back into time and ride on this must have been a great experience!

Thanks for bringing us along!

Bob

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

To add a little more, the engine has no brakes as I was looking for an air compressor. The engine uses the steam cylinders for brakes.
The engine really shook! I guess this was from the cog wheel. I surprised it didn't shake the rivets loose on the boiler. This is one tuff little engine!
Also, going down, the Brakeman wants the passenger car to just lightly bump the engine. Not ride against it. Also, does not want to get any distance away from the engine as that would be a risk of ramming the engine.
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Thanks, Tom!!!

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

The boiler is tilted for maximum power going up the mountain. The boiler is in a more level position.
The engine is pushing. The car is not attached going up or going down.

Thanks for looking and commenting!
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Thanks Angler!!
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I have more images to add to this post. I will shortly.
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Day 2.
When visiting working steam trains, I like to get some shots of the engines working.
So, I went back the next day and here are they are.
When the engine starts the steeper incline, the engineer turns on the steam power!
As you can see in the last images, they feeding this little beast more coal!

Image 18


Image 19


IMage 20


Image 21

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Day 3,
I woke up and we were planning to leave the area and saw that the skies had cleared up.
Just had to go back for more shots!
This is the last of the images!
Pat

Image 22


Image 23


Image 24


Image 25

nani Loc: Little Egg Harbor, NJ - USA

Amazing photos! First photos I have ever seen of a cog railway! Thank you for sharing and for the information!

Paul B. Loc: North Carolina

Great set of photos. Enjoyed all of them. :thumbup: :thumbup: