cog railway

noun

: a steep mountain railroad that has a rail with cogs engaged by a cogwheel on the locomotive to ensure traction

Examples of cog railway in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of only two cog railways in the U.S., the Pikes Peak route offers breathtaking views of the Rockies. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2025 For an outdoor adventure, drive around half an hour to St Wolfgang where Austria's steepest steam cog railway takes passengers 4,000 ft up to the summit of Schafberg mountain. Irenie Forshaw, theweek, 3 Sep. 2024 The Broadmoor, which added the cog railway to its portfolio in 1925, peddles a lengthy menu of adventures, from falconry and fly fishing to rock climbing and zip lining. Lori Rackl, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2023 And don’t miss out on experiencing feats of Swiss mountain engineering, including the steepest cog railway in the world on Mount Pilatus and the oldest cog railway in Europe on Mount Rigi. Outside Online, 22 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cog railway was in 1896

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Cite this Entry

“Cog railway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cog%20railway. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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