Historic Cog Railway gets new biodiesel locomotive

BRETTON WOODS, N.H.—The Mount Washington Cog Railway has gone green.

Gov. John Lynch helped the Railway dedicate a new, biodiesel, locomotive on Saturday, then played engineer and drove the train.

For 139 years, the Railway has chugged to the top of Mount Washington by burning wood and coal. Coal replaced wood around 1910, and each trip required more than one ton of coal and 1,000 gallons of water to move the 18-ton engine.

With the dedication of the new locomotive, the Railway signaled that it will supplement the coal-fired trains with several biodiesel engines, cutting emissions and the use of fossil fuels.

Lynch broke a bottle of water from the Ammonoosuc River on the engine's cab and an American flag was removed to reveal the locomotive's name: Wajo Nanatasis. The name, pronounced "Wadzo Nanna-tassis" is Abenaki for "Mountain Hummingbird" and was selected from entries in a "Name That Train" contest.

Ruth and Larry Kirkman of Brookville, Pa., suggested the name.

About 300 people gathered at the base of Mount Washington to help dedicate the engine, which co-owner Joel Bedor called the "the biggest innovation since 1869."

The Mount Washington Cog Railway is a National Historic Engineering Landmark. Its first locomotive, Old Peppersass, reached the summit of Mount Washington on July 3, 1869, making it the world's first mountain climbing railroad using a toothed cogwheel to engage the track between the rails.

Railway President Wayne Presby said the new 617 horse-power engine is governed by a computer system that will shorten the round trip from three hours to two, while monitoring every detail of the vehicle and track.

After dedicating the locomotive, Lynch waved from the cab and took the controls.

"Everybody clear out," he cried as he pushed the joystick that controlled the train.