Conquering the “Railway to the Moon”: History and Leadership at Mount Washington
If you are looking for a destination that mixes extreme adventure, rich history, and powerful life lessons, look no further than Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Known as the home of the “worst weather in the world,” this peak is the highest in the Northeast United States at 6,288 feet. While it may not be as tall as the “big boys” out west, it is arguably more dangerous due to its brutal, rapidly shifting weather patterns… so much so that climbers use it to prepare for Mount Everest.
A Feat of Engineering: The Mount Washington Cog Railway
In the mid-1800s, a man named Sylvester Marsh got lost on the mountain during a storm. After a miraculous survival, he became convinced that there should be a mechanical way to help people reach the summit. When he proposed a railway, critics and senators mocked him, famously telling him he’d be “better off trying to build a railway to the moon”.
Marsh didn’t listen. In 1870, he developed the Mount Washington Cog Railway, the first of its kind in the world. By using rack and pinion technology—a system where a cog locks into place to prevent the train from sliding backward—he transformed an “uninhabitable” wilderness into a premier tourist destination.
Getting to the Top: White Knuckles and North Pole Vibes
There are several ways to experience the summit, but none are for the faint of heart:
- The Auto Road: This eight-mile drive is a “white-knuckle” experience with no guardrails, narrow lanes, and massive drop-offs.
- The Summit: Once you arrive, you’ll find the Tip Top House (featuring bunker-style sleeping cabins), a permanent observatory, and a dining hall.
- The Winter Experience: While the mountain is generally closed in winter due to the danger, some travel via specialized vehicles with tank tracks. Experiencing the mountain in 100-below-zero weather with 5-foot-deep snow is often compared to being at the North Pole.
The Leadership Lesson: Block Out the Noise
Beyond the breathtaking views and record-breaking 231 mph winds, Mount Washington offers a vital lesson in leadership. When Sylvester Marsh was publicly ridiculed for his vision, he chose to ignore the skeptics.
The takeaway? When people make fun of your big ideas, don’t listen. Marsh’s persistence didn’t just build a railway; it launched the entire New England tourism industry. Whether you are climbing the mountain for an 80th birthday celebration or driving its narrow roads, remember that the most “impossible” goals are often the ones most worth pursuing.
Uncovering History. Inspiring Leadership. The Travel in Time Show is where travel, history, and leadership intermingle with history teacher, author, and speaker Dan Blanchard
*Check out Dan’s book, “Travel in Time in the Northeast: https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Time-No...
Watch Dan’s YouTube video on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBniSGCEP8Y&t=2s
*Listen to Dan’s podcast on this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JZKqsMBjTSxNbIoyL1Gkn?si=OVqVw4GTRnSqqyPdUXqkuw
*See Dan’s Interview with Sylvester Marsh : (coming soon)
*Learn more about Dan: https://granddaddyssecrets.com/
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