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Pikes Peak Cog Railway

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway, officially known as the Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway, is an Ab track system cog railway in Colorado. It has been named after the famous mountain Pikes Peak. This Railway was inaugurated by Zalmon Simmons, who established the Simmons Beauty rest Mattress Company in 1889. Today, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is the highest not only in North America but also in the entire Northern Hemisphere. The base station of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is situated in Manitou Springs, near Colorado Springs in Colorado. It takes the visitors to the top of Pikes Peak, at an elevation of over 14,110 ft (4.3 km). This Railway functions solely for the tourist trade. It runs nearly 6-8 trains everyday from mid-May to mid-September. Only 1-5 trains are run each day as per the demand during the ‘off-peak’ months. Besides, it also owns a number of equipments like railcars, snow plows, etc.  In mid-summer, when the demand is very high, trains are often sold out in advance.

Initially, the Cog Railway used several steam locomotives built for the line by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. All these locomotives were rack-only locomotives and had inclined boilers that were used to keep them level on the average 16% grades. Later, in 1938, a gasoline-powered railcar was introduced by the Railway. This railcar was only one-of-its-kind in the world and proved to be a great success. Soon, a number of internal combustion engined trains started to run on the tracks. In the year 1940, 5 streamlined diesel locomotives from General Electric were introduced. These locomotives were equipped with passenger cars.

Two bright red railcars powered by biodiesel were provided to the Pikes Peak Cog Railway by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur. These new locomotives completed replaced the old steam locomotives. However, several steam locomotives are put on static display in Manitou. Also, the Railway still has an original coach and an operational steam locomotive. At present the rolling stock of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway comprises of four 78 passenger Swiss-built railcars; four 214 passengers articulated Swiss-built railcars; one steam locomotive ( built by Baldwin); three GE built locomotives; one snow plow (built upon the frame of a GE locomotive); a Winter-Weiss "streamliner" coach; one 23 passenger diesel railcar; and an original Wasson wooden coach.

• Mailing Address: 515 Ruxton Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
• Telephone: (719) 685-5401
• Website: www.cograilway.com
  

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