Our Success Story this week takes us to the historic Mt. Washington Cog Railway in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Built in 1869, the “Old Peppersass” ride takes only about an hour to reach the 6,288-foot peak. Originally wood fired, by 1910 coal was the fuel of choice. Today, over a hundred years later, the Cog Railway uses cleaner, cheaper biodiesel to power 5 locomotives. Processed from local restaurant waste grease, the B20 fuel is supplied by White Mountain BioDiesel, a Granite State Clean Cities Coalition stakeholder. The change is a hit with tourists.  

WAYNE PRESBY: We have a lot of members of the public that are environmentally conscious and they love the fact we switched over. Our ridership has surged since we put diesels online, just surged.”

JOHN DAVIS:  Some 90,000 people ride the railway each year. And, while nostalgia buffs will find one coal-fired steam locomotive still being used, it’s biodiesel that is the driving force behind this unforgettable “alt-fuel” adventure.

For more information, please visit the Clean Cities website. You can also view recent segments by clicking here.