The railway was built by Sylvester Marsh, who came up with the idea while climbing the mountain in 1852. His plan was treated as insane. Local lore says that the state legislature voted permission based on a consensus that harm resulting from operating it was no issue — since the design was attempting the impossible — but benefits were guaranteed. He was putting up $5,000 of his own money, and that, plus whatever else he could raise, would be spent locally, including building the Fabyan House hotel at nearby Fabyan Station to accommodate the expected tourists. The railway is sometimes called "Railway to the Moon", because one state legislator remarked during the proceedings that Marsh should be given a charter, not merely up Mount Washington, but also to the moon. And now you know.
Also on the mountain top is The Tip Top House
The building was erected on Mount Washington in 1854 to compete with the Summit House, a nearby hotel established in 1852. Built by Samuel F. Spaulding at a cost of $7,000, the Tip-Top House was made of rock blasted from the mountain. On clear days, a telescope was placed on its flat roof to create an observatory, although in the early 1860s the flat roof was replaced with a pitched roof. Beginning in 1877, the building functioned for seven years as a printing office for Among The Clouds newspaper. I thought that was a pretty clever name!
When the newspaper moved to a different location, the Tip-Top House was abandoned and fell into disrepair. A three-story, 91-room hotel was built atop Mount Washington, together with a weather observatory. All of these buildings were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1908, except the Tip-Top House, which was renovated to function again as a hotel. When the Summit House was replaced, however, the Tip-Top House burned; it was rebuilt as an annex to the Summit House, then abandoned in 1968. Now a state historic site, the Tip-Top House was restored in 1987, including its flat roof.
We went inside to see what it was like.
Here's a picture of the Tip Top House after a snow storm.
We finished the rest of our time outside and checking out a gift shop.
Before too long our train was back to pick us up. It was so cold and windy here we were glad!
This was a pricey train trip, just over $140 for the two of us but it was worth every penny. It must have been for this Queen of Cheap to say that!
On our way back home we saw several cars pulled off the side of the road so we pulled off to see what everyone was looking at.
It was good day! A very good day!
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