![]() There are now three new engines and nine passenger cars to take people up the mountain on new track, which has been converted from its previous ABT system to a new Strub single rail cog system. In February of 2019, the Colorado Springs Gazette’s Wayne Heilman reported that the company, “had received the order for the rack-and-pinion diesel locomotives, the rail cars that will be configured to carry 240-260 passengers, cog-rail and snow removal systems.” Since there are less than 50 cog railways in the entire world, Stadler is the only company capable of filling such an order. The new trains come from Stadler Bussnang, a Switzerland-based manufacturer. While everyone is surely stoked about the new amenities on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway’s new trains, we’d be remiss in not talking a little tech for all the train aficionados out there. Take a look at what’s in store for you during your next Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway Adventure! New Trains and Track for the Pikes Peak Cog Railway Whether you’re a seasoned Cog rider or a new visitor to Colorado and the Pikes Peak region, the new additions are sure to create an unforgettable experience. Yes, the Cog Railway is back on track and ready to continue its legacy as the highest, longest and just-plain-coolest cog railroad in the world. That day has finally arrived! After nearly four years of upgrades and renovations with a price tag of $100 million, the Cog Railway opens May 27 and tickets are already on sale! An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will follow on June 30, the Cog’s 130 th anniversary. Fans of the beloved 9-mile journey to the summit of Pikes Peak were understandably bummed, but they also knew that the temporary closure would mean big things when the Cog Railway reopened. Interested in more mind-blowing train rides? T ake a beautiful glass-domed train ride through the Rocky Mountains or travel through Mexico on an all-you-can-drink tequila train.The Grand Reopening of the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog RailwayĪfter hauling thousands of visitors up Pikes Peak for more than a century, the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Cog Railway decided to take a much needed, well-deserved vacation for a little rest and rejuvenation back in 2018. And believe us, this ride is all about the views. Tickets for the train are $58, but an additional $10 gives you the option to choose your seat for the best views. ![]() Photograph: Courtesy Pikes Peak Cog Railway On an overcast day, visitors will literally be among the clouds, while clear days offer a 360-degree view of the famous red rock formations in the Garden of the Gods, the Sangre de Christo mountain range and even Denver's skyscrapers in the distance.Ī brand-new visitor center is also slated to open at the top this month, and will feature museum-like displays chronicling the railway’s history and the famous Pikes Peak donuts – whose recipe is so secret, employees have to sign a contract promising not to share it! Designed for the high altitude, the sweet treats deflate and turn to mush when taken downhill, so you better eat as many as you can before you have to descend again. ![]() At the summit, riders are given 40 minutes to explore and take photos. Photograph: Courtesy Pikes Peak Cog Railwayįor those looking to climb the mountain, the hour-journey takes riders into scenic Pike National Forest and Englemann Canyon, passing boulders, a waterfall, and local flora and fauna along the way. And the train's iconic red cars are now equipped with cushioned and upholstered seats in lieu of old-timey wooden benches. ![]() The cog track itself (which allows the train to easily summit steep peaks) was replaced with a single-cog rail designed to improve safety and function. E very inch of the operation was revamped, starting at the depot where a second platform was added along with a scenic new walkway and a gift shop. Three years and $100-million dollars later, the result was worth it. The railway initially closed in 2017, citing infrastructure issues, but its 130-year legacy spurred the owners to invest in a total overhaul. And the views along the way are seriously unreal. The highest railway in the United States (and the highest cog railway in the world), the Broadmoor Manitou Springs Pikes Peak Cog Railway takes you 14,115 feet up the steep face of Pikes Peak mountain in Manitou Springs, Colorado. If you're building a bucket list of scenic trains rides across North America, you need to add this high-flying track in Colorado to your list.
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