When I saw this photograph, I assumed it was the Mt. Washington cog railroad, but the caption is Colorado Springs 1955. I had no idea this railroad existed. The Harriman style roofline coach looks interesting.
Yup, climbs Pikes Peak
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Colorado/Pikes%20Peak/pike06.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Colorado/Pikes%20Peak/pike014.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Colorado/Pikes%20Peak/pike013.jpg)
Ken,
I had heard of the Pike’s Peak hillclimb, but was not aware that a railroad ran to the peak.
They used to use steam engines…so it’s been around awhile.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Colorado/Pikes%20Peak/pike019.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Colorado/Pikes%20Peak/pike015.jpg)
and the road up to the top…
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Colorado/Pikes%20Peak/pike08.jpg)
and it has some impressive looking track arrangements…
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Colorado/Pikes%20Peak/pike03.jpg)
Does the newer locos and coaches look familiar?
That’s because they were made in Switzerland.
(LGB’s RhB comes to mind.)
Irode this railroad many moons ago. I was probably around 14 or 15. So that would be about 20 years ago. Was a fun little trip.
The recent equipment is Swiss. The steam locomotive looks like it may be a Vauclain Compound. Anybody know whether Baldwin built it?
Thanks,
David Meashey
From the “History”…
The Age of Steam predominated the late 1800’s, and from Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, three engines were delivered in 1890. Limited service was initiated in that year to the Halfway House Hotel. These locomotives were eventually converted to operate upon the Vauclain Compound principle, and a total of six were in service during the “steam” era. The original three were named “Pike’s Peak,” “Manitou” and “John Hulbert,” but they soon were assigned numbers. Of the original six, only #4 is still in operation and along with a restored coach makes infrequent trips short distances up the track.
Thanks Ken.
Yours,
David Meashey
The history section also shows a pic of an interesting gas powered rack railbus.