Anatomy of a survivor. As most steam enthusiasts know by now, the owner of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway began a conversion to diesel power back in 2008. That conversion is largely complete today. Where only 3 years ago, there were 7 operable steam engines, today, there are but 4 that could theoretically be steamed and only 1 that sees much use. You are looking at MWRC #9, "Waumbek", which is essentially the sole survivor of the fleet. Built in 1908 by the Manchester Locomotive Works, this engine powers what the railway now calls the 9AM "Steam Special"...the only guaranteed steam trip each day. Number 9 survives for a couple of reasons. First, she's reputed to be in the best shape of the remaining engines. Second, she's equipped with a feedwater heater, which increases boiler efficiency and reduces coal consumption. In this unusual left-side photograph, the feedwater heater can be seen as the torpedo-shaped appliance just above her front wheels. This unit is, by all accounts a modified, commercially available heat exchanger, which uses exhaust steam from the cylinders to preheat water before it is injected into the boiler. Only one of her remaining sisters, the #2, also has the feedwater heater mod and is likely to be the go-to engine if problems develop with the 9. There are two other engines on the propertly (6 and 10) which are also operable, although they have generally been used only in "hot stand-by" roles and have very seldom been seen on trains since the end of 2008. Three other engines, (3,4, and 8) are essentially retired and unlikely to ever be restored to service. The best available information suggests that one will likely go to the Smithsonian and at least one will become a static display at the gazebo in nearby Twin Mountain, NH.
