It all started in 1857 when Sylvester Marsh, from Campton, New Hampshire, and a friend climbed to the top of Mount Washington. When they got caught in a harsh storm, they had to stay overnight on the mountainside. In this scary experience, he thought of how he could get people to the top easier, and then he thought of the Cog Railway.

In 1858 when Marsh applied a charter from the NH legislature for the building of the "Mount Washington Cog Railway" they all thought that it was impossible and did not believe that he could do it and told him to fix his charter and continue his "Railway to the Moon."

However, Marsh was in the meat-packing industry and was considered a creative and intelligent inventor. He started the company with around $5,000.00 out of his own pocket. Cheney Express Company, his son John Marsh, Nathaniel White, Boston, Concord and Monteal RR, Connecticut and Passumpic RR, The Concord RR, and the Northeast RR also chipped in for the company in 1865.

From 1866 to 1868 they went from making a demonstration on a 1/2 mile of temporary track with the Locomotive Hero(#1, now called Peppersass) to making it up to Jacob's Ladder but a severe storm delayed their construction. When they were this high up the mountain they needed another engine and Walter Aiken was the person who was hired to build it.

In 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant is a passenger when the Cog Railway is completed to the summit of mount Washington on July 3rd. A year later the trains ran on a timed schedule and the third Locomotive is now built.

From 1875 to 1876 the first engine with a horizontal boiler was built apposed to a vertical boiler that was used on the first three. Also the railway was extended from the base to the Fabyans station was built so people could travel all the way from Boston to the Cog Railway entirely by train.

Sylvester Marsh died at the age of 81 in Concord and the Cog Railway went under the Concord and Monteal Railroad's control in 1884. In 1886 Aiken becomes President of the railway.

From 1894 to 1908 Boston and Maine RR acquired the Cog Railway and several locomotives were destroyed by the fire in B & M's Lyndonville Shop. In 1908 engine #9, Waumbek is delivered and will last for the next 65 years.

From 1910-1938 the locomotives were converted into coal-fired locomotives from wood fired, the Old Peppersass ran for the last time since it got out of control around Jacob's Ladder.It is on display at the base station. The track from Fabyans and the Base Station was discontinued. Colonel Henry N. Teague buys the Cog Railway in 1930. A hurricane destroys a lot of track work and the Marshfield Station was built.

In 1941 and 1942, all three switches were built, the base switch, Waumbek Switch, and Skyline Switch so they don't have to use multiple trains.

From 1951 to 1961, Arthur S. Teague becomes the owner and manager after Henry's death. The first aluminum passenger coach is built in the car shop at the Cog Railway.

From 1967-1976 Arthur's death results in his wife's ownership of the Cog Railway. They celebrate the Cog Railway's 100 year anniversary in 1969. The first book is written about the Cog Railway, "Railway to the Moon" by Glen Kidder. In 1972 engine #10 becomes the first new engine since 1908, which was built in the cog shop.

In 1983 and 1984 an expirement with diesel failed and never was operational, electricity is brought up the Cog Railway, and engne #8, Tip-Top, is built at the cog shop. The Cog Railway is sold to a group of NH businessmen.

In the 1990's a brand new Marshfield Station is built with a musuem, gift shop, and restaurant. A new passenger coach that can hold 70 passengers is built and engine #6 is built at the cog shop.

From 2002-2005 three new, self-powered switches are built at the base, Waumbek, and Upper Waumbek. Engine #9 recieves modifications for running in the winter. A start to a Cog Railway Ski Train. A water pump is built to pump water up the mountain for snow making.