Green Mountain Cog Railway

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Green Mountain Cog Railway
Locale Maine
Dates of operation 1883 – 1890
Track gauge 4 ft 8 in
Length 1.1 miles
Headquarters Eagle Lake

The Green Mountain Cog Railway was a narrow gauge mountain railway built to carry tourists to the top of Green Mountain on Mt. Desert Island in Maine.

History

At the end of the 19th. century, Maine's tourist industry was developing rapidly. The islands off the coast of Maine were popular attractions and the possibility of a cog railway to the top of Green Mountain (now known as Cadillac Mountain) was first explored in the late 1870s following the success of the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire. Construction of the railway started in 1883 and it was built to the designs in the Marsh patents developed for the Mount Washington line.

The line operated during the summer season and for the first few years was successful. But tourist numbers declined and after the 1890 season the railway ceased operations. The railway's two steam locomotives were sold to the Mount Washington railway in 1895.

Locomotives

Number Name Image Builder Type Date Notes
1 Mount Washington Cog Railway Chocorua.jpg Manchester Locomotive Works 1883 Became No. 4 Chocorua of the Mount Washington Cog Railway
2 Mount Washington Cog Railway Agiocochook.jpg Manchester Locomotive Works 1883 Became the Mount Washington Cog Railway No. 3 Agiocochook.

References

  • Lindsell, Robert M. (2000). The Rail Lines of Northern New England. Branch Line Press. ISBN 0-942147-06-5. 

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