You’ll have to drive to the station, but you can still ascend New England’s tallest mountain on the Cog Railway, pioneered by inventor Sylvester Marsh in 1869. His solution to trains sliding downhill on steep mountain inclines was to attach a cog wheel to the engine and a ratchet to the rails. It certainly works: At the steepest part of the journey, the 37 percent incline known as ‘‘Jacob’s Ladder,’’ passengers in the front of the car are 13 feet higher than those in the rear.

Base Road, six miles off Route 302, Bretton Woods, N.H.; 800-922-8825, 603-278-5404; thecog.com; adults $59, seniors $54, ages 4-12 $39, 3 and under free on adult’s lap.