The Mount Washington Cog Railway is holding its first-ever Steampunk Festival “Railway to the Moon”from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, August 20, featuring exhibitions, performances, and vendors. This free weekend event takes place at the Base Station of the Mount Washington Cog Railway.
Steampunk melds the Victorian age with modern technology, science fiction, and a Comic Con edge where Steampunk participants of all ages create a world of modern machines set in the age of steam power. The Railway to the Moon Steampunk Festival is based on the story of The Cog’s inventor, Sylvester Marsh, and his desire to build a railroad to Mount Washington’s summit in the late 1800s – an idea that was ahead of its time. Marsh was widely ridiculed for his idea, and a New Hampshire state legislator nicknamed the project “Railway to the Moon.”
Special Steampunk Train Ride
The Steampunk Festival features a special Steampunk steam train ride at 3 PM to the top of Mount Washington. There is limited seating for this train, and visitors should call 278-5404 to buy tickets in advance.
The Citizens of Antiford, a New Hampshire-based Steampunk community, and Sylvester Marsh with his wife Cornelia will take The Cog back to the fantasy Victorian age of Steampunk. All visitors are welcome to join the Steampunk-themed fashion show at 12:45 PM; watch Todd Cahill demonstrate his amazing Steamachine Sculptures; shop for a variety of Steampunk-themed products from Steampunk vendors; learn about cycling in the White Mountains from The Wheelman; meet Benjamin West Kilburn, famous stereoscopic photographer from Littleton; and learn more about steam trains and engines at The Cog.
During the event, visitors may also view the newly renovated Cog Museum and Climbing to the Clouds, an Emmy-award winning documentary that chronicles the building of The Cog. Peppersass (pronounced Pepper-sass), the handcrafted engine that built The Cog, will be on display at The Cog during the event. Peppersass is currently onsite, but will be touring the US over the next four years to mark The Cog’s 150th anniversary in 2019.
About The Cog Railway
The Cog Railway, the world’s first mountain climbing cog railway, provides a sense of adventure and history as it makes the spectacular climb up a three-mile-long trestle to the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington – the tallest mountain in the northeast. No matter the weather – sun, rain, or snow – this once-in-a-lifetime experience is available May through November. Passengers may choose to ride The Cog in a historic coach powered by a vintage coal-fired steam locomotive or the more modern and eco-friendly biodiesel engines.
The Cog is located six miles from Route 302 and historic Bretton Woods on Base Station Road in Marshfield Station, and just three hours from Boston. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended and is available at TheCog.com or 278-5404. For more information, visit TheCog.com.