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Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Colorado
Location
Pikes Peak is a massive mountain located to the west of Colorado Springs. The lower terminus of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is in Manitou Springs, a small town on the western outskirts of Colorado Springs. The lower terminus of the cable-drawn Manitou Incline is just a few yards from the Cog Railway terminus although I have received a report that the Incline has now ceased operation.
Description
Pikes Peak Cog Railway runs for approximately nine miles from Manitou Springs to the summit of Pikes Peak.
Due to the gradient, the trains are driven via a rack and pinion system.
The summit of Pikes Peak is 14,110 feet and with the relatively rapid ascent the lack of oxygen is very apparent. Also, even in summer, it is extremely cold at the summit. When we visited in mid-June there were walls of snow well above our heads alongside the short path from the summit station to the small gift shop.
The whole of the railway journey is extremely scenic and the views from the summit of the surrounding mountain ranges in the distance are truly spectacular.
There is also a toll road to the summit of Pikes Peak.
Pikes Peak was named after its European discoverer, the explorer Zebulon Montgomery Pike.
The railroad passes through the Pike National Forest.
Pikes Peak Cog Railroad is the highest railroad in the USA.
In The Area
Colorado
Mountains
National Forests
Scenic and Tourist Railways
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As with all the other pages on this personal web site, all the information on this page is solely the opinion of the author, who has no connection whatsoever with any of the companies and organisations mentioned other than as an actual or potential customer.
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Most recently modified 15-Oct-02