America-s HIGHEST train - Pikes Peak and Cog Railway
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-jennkyube
I remember taking this during summer 2013 in my jacket AND sandals. Very California tourist of me (I wasn't aware of the itinerary my aunt decided on that day and didn't do prior research. didn't realize it would snow soon as we reach the peak. Got altitude sickness too, shortness of breath and all that. But heyyy at least I tried the donuts and hot chocolate! - I wish they have toilets inside the cars (had to hold my pee, that 70-minute was the longest 70-mins of my life LOL) but it's probably not practical due to the incline. All in all a very memorable experience. Probably won't take it again in the future due to altitude sickness but I'm glad I did it once!
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I remember taking this during summer 2013 in my jacket AND sandals. Very California tourist of me (I wasn't aware of the itinerary my aunt decided on that day and didn't do prior research. didn't realize it would snow soon as we reach the peak. Got altitude sickness too, shortness of breath and all that. But heyyy at least I tried the donuts and hot chocolate! - I wish they have toilets inside the cars (had to hold my pee, that 70-minute was the longest 70-mins of my life LOL) but it's probably not practical due to the incline. All in all a very memorable experience. Probably won't take it again in the future due to altitude sickness but I'm glad I did it once!
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-MaxiAir
We've done this in December on one of the Stadler sets (nb 27) and those are gorgeous trains. No windows fogging up, etc. The driver was great, let us visit the engine once we were back down in the station. Also you can open most windows on the new sets, allowing for great views from most seats. And because obviously it was quite cold, very few others dared to open the window, so undisturbed train views. We also had a clear day with no clouds. Driver told us they still had some minor problems with the news sets (hence why they only operated one roundtrip a day with the Stadler sets at the time we were there) and Stadler was working on fixing the problems.
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We've done this in December on one of the Stadler sets (nb 27) and those are gorgeous trains. No windows fogging up, etc. The driver was great, let us visit the engine once we were back down in the station. Also you can open most windows on the new sets, allowing for great views from most seats. And because obviously it was quite cold, very few others dared to open the window, so undisturbed train views. We also had a clear day with no clouds. Driver told us they still had some minor problems with the news sets (hence why they only operated one roundtrip a day with the Stadler sets at the time we were there) and Stadler was working on fixing the problems.
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train
I visited Pikes Peak, in September 2015. I considered the railway, but took the car road, which is equally iconic in its own way. I liked the video but am still happy I went by car. The road was quiet, with minimal traffic. The views were great and there were places to stop on the way up. The highest road in America Mt Evans is nearby. My defining memory is seeing a -low- flying military jet below us. It was actually at 10000ft and we were at 12000ft!
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I visited Pikes Peak, in September 2015. I considered the railway, but took the car road, which is equally iconic in its own way. I liked the video but am still happy I went by car. The road was quiet, with minimal traffic. The views were great and there were places to stop on the way up. The highest road in America Mt Evans is nearby. My defining memory is seeing a -low- flying military jet below us. It was actually at 10000ft and we were at 12000ft!
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-chronos1974
You should check out the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire also. It-s was the first mountain climbing cog railway in the world, and is currently the second steepest in the world with an average grade of 25%, and some sections are almost 38%. They also still operate 2 steam locomotives in the summer that were built in 1875 and 1908.
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You should check out the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire also. It-s was the first mountain climbing cog railway in the world, and is currently the second steepest in the world with an average grade of 25%, and some sections are almost 38%. They also still operate 2 steam locomotives in the summer that were built in 1875 and 1908.
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-jimgee5854
Unfortunately, the train was still shut down during my last visit along with lots of visitor center construction. To be fair, the drive does allow for many turnout opportunities and has some spectacular views as well. Parking at the visitor center pretty much sucks, however, and we had to park down a ways and take a shuttle.
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Unfortunately, the train was still shut down during my last visit along with lots of visitor center construction. To be fair, the drive does allow for many turnout opportunities and has some spectacular views as well. Parking at the visitor center pretty much sucks, however, and we had to park down a ways and take a shuttle.
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train
I see you've met 24's squeaky downhill horn! Glad you enjoyed the trip, sorry you missed the Stadler Hm4/4's, but that's just an excuse to visit again! One quick note is our maximum possible schedule in the summer is 15 departures a day, normally is about 8-10. -Jimmy, Cog Railway maintenance shop generalist and engineer trainer.
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I see you've met 24's squeaky downhill horn! Glad you enjoyed the trip, sorry you missed the Stadler Hm4/4's, but that's just an excuse to visit again! One quick note is our maximum possible schedule in the summer is 15 departures a day, normally is about 8-10. -Jimmy, Cog Railway maintenance shop generalist and engineer trainer.
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-vipassana72
Wow. What a great place to live. Free of city management. -
I wonder if you can jump off the train among those mountains and pitch up? -
Pity they are diesel run. We may not have cold or snow much longer because of fossil fuel use. -
Where are the people paragliding? The ultimate route back to base.
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Wow. What a great place to live. Free of city management. -
I wonder if you can jump off the train among those mountains and pitch up? -
Pity they are diesel run. We may not have cold or snow much longer because of fossil fuel use. -
Where are the people paragliding? The ultimate route back to base.
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train
I rode it in 1999. The seats were wooden. People were saying that driving up Pikes Peak and back put 3000 miles of wear on your vehicle.
Per high altitude warning, I asked the conductor if anyone actually became ill on the train from the thin air. He said the train had emergency medical equipment on board.
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I rode it in 1999. The seats were wooden. People were saying that driving up Pikes Peak and back put 3000 miles of wear on your vehicle.
Per high altitude warning, I asked the conductor if anyone actually became ill on the train from the thin air. He said the train had emergency medical equipment on board.
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-sonoflincs
Did this amazing trip a few years ago. A great memory of a stay in Colorado. The -guard- gave such an interesting and entertaining talk as we climbed ever higher. I loved it when we arrived at the summit when he told us all not to miss the train back otherwise we-d turn into hikers-. a-
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Did this amazing trip a few years ago. A great memory of a stay in Colorado. The -guard- gave such an interesting and entertaining talk as we climbed ever higher. I loved it when we arrived at the summit when he told us all not to miss the train back otherwise we-d turn into hikers-. a-
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-MrBnsftrain
I'd love to ride this train someday. I went up Pikes Peak almost 10 years ago by car, which gave us more time to look at the scenery in a certain spot. I would've preferred a ride on the Cog Railway though. I haven't been in the era since before the renovation of the line began.
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I'd love to ride this train someday. I went up Pikes Peak almost 10 years ago by car, which gave us more time to look at the scenery in a certain spot. I would've preferred a ride on the Cog Railway though. I haven't been in the era since before the renovation of the line began.
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-timnewman1172
Thibault, sorry I missed this earlier!
I rode the Cog about 15 years ago, so nice to see the improvements. at the summit there was no fancy bumper, just some rickety old track that was literally hanging out over the edge of the mountain!
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Thibault, sorry I missed this earlier!
I rode the Cog about 15 years ago, so nice to see the improvements. at the summit there was no fancy bumper, just some rickety old track that was literally hanging out over the edge of the mountain!
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-EpicThe112
Excellent video and if you are wondering the original trains didn't use the current Strub Rack system they used an Abt Rack system which has two bars. Strub Rack system is single bar and can be operated over a Riggenbach Rack Railway.
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Excellent video and if you are wondering the original trains didn't use the current Strub Rack system they used an Abt Rack system which has two bars. Strub Rack system is single bar and can be operated over a Riggenbach Rack Railway.
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train
I've lived in Colorado springs since 96 and that was the only time I ever took the cog for some reason, I guess life gets in the way. The drive isn't bad but this video makes me want to go again.
I hope you got to try the donuts.
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I've lived in Colorado springs since 96 and that was the only time I ever took the cog for some reason, I guess life gets in the way. The drive isn't bad but this video makes me want to go again.
I hope you got to try the donuts.
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-757Spy
I grew up in Colo. Springs in the 70s. My family climbed (hiked) Pikes Peak several times. We were able to catch one of the cog trains back down the hill after the hike. Wow has the summit house changed over the years!
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I grew up in Colo. Springs in the 70s. My family climbed (hiked) Pikes Peak several times. We were able to catch one of the cog trains back down the hill after the hike. Wow has the summit house changed over the years!
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-rezaalan3991
Great trip, and what a dramatic scenery, from Foggy into Clear, from heavy forest into deserted mountain, the scenery is outstanding. When I see Pikes peak, it's remembered me about Time Attack Racing on there.
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Great trip, and what a dramatic scenery, from Foggy into Clear, from heavy forest into deserted mountain, the scenery is outstanding. When I see Pikes peak, it's remembered me about Time Attack Racing on there.
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-erniewarinner7692
We rode that train ten years ago. Nice to see the upgrades. Looks like the visitors center at the top has been completely rebuilt. I am looking forward to another visit.
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We rode that train ten years ago. Nice to see the upgrades. Looks like the visitors center at the top has been completely rebuilt. I am looking forward to another visit.
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-GP30_Foamer
I got to ride in one of the new stadler sets up the mountain last year. The view was great and we had perfect weather and a great conductor with lots of funny jokes.
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I got to ride in one of the new stadler sets up the mountain last year. The view was great and we had perfect weather and a great conductor with lots of funny jokes.
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train
2: 38
This SLM rolling stock was the basis for Rio de Janeiro Corcovado trainsets built in 1975. The only difference is that Corcovado trains are electric-powered.
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2: 38
This SLM rolling stock was the basis for Rio de Janeiro Corcovado trainsets built in 1975. The only difference is that Corcovado trains are electric-powered.
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-MassbyTrain
What-s interesting is someone made a hotel. Built a highway to kill the train. He bought the railway. It was so profitable he kept it. Thanks downie live
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What-s interesting is someone made a hotel. Built a highway to kill the train. He bought the railway. It was so profitable he kept it. Thanks downie live
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-as3304
My conclusion is: Stadler loves cog rails. In Brazil we have one of this kind of railway, and locomotives are Stadler too (electric and freight consists)
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My conclusion is: Stadler loves cog rails. In Brazil we have one of this kind of railway, and locomotives are Stadler too (electric and freight consists)
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-silverparis21
Cog railways should be the future of hilly and mountainy rail travel. Everything would be more efficient and less expensive to maintain.
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Cog railways should be the future of hilly and mountainy rail travel. Everything would be more efficient and less expensive to maintain.
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-palmsky1119
ok but did Michelle ever take the group picture? We will never know. All jokes aside it was a cool trip, definitely will visit one day.
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ok but did Michelle ever take the group picture? We will never know. All jokes aside it was a cool trip, definitely will visit one day.
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-haufe012
reminds me on the cog railway on the rigi in switzerland which has normal gauge, too. But a Riggenbach-System instead of the Strub-System.
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reminds me on the cog railway on the rigi in switzerland which has normal gauge, too. But a Riggenbach-System instead of the Strub-System.
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-bureado
What are the tones we hear the engineer dialing into the radio a couple times through the video? Some sort of reporting/signaling system?
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What are the tones we hear the engineer dialing into the radio a couple times through the video? Some sort of reporting/signaling system?
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-dsdonovan
Another interesting adventure. Thanks for sharing the history of the railway and the reason for it taking longer to go down than up.
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Another interesting adventure. Thanks for sharing the history of the railway and the reason for it taking longer to go down than up.
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-seatravelers
There-s a cog railway that goes up Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga Tennessee I-d like to ride someday. Thanks for this video!
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There-s a cog railway that goes up Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga Tennessee I-d like to ride someday. Thanks for this video!
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-euflopapark
That top section just looks surreal! Great to see the train being so popular! Just kind of strange that it's diesel powered
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That top section just looks surreal! Great to see the train being so popular! Just kind of strange that it's diesel powered
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-billkramme5443
The seats also used to be varnished wood, and you'd slide right off of them at certain grades if you weren't careful!
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The seats also used to be varnished wood, and you'd slide right off of them at certain grades if you weren't careful!
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-ggreg2258
Nice vid. Was there several years ago and what impressed me was that you cvan actually see the curvature of the earth!
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Nice vid. Was there several years ago and what impressed me was that you cvan actually see the curvature of the earth!
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-sgt. eclair
Just a heads up, the audio in this sounds a bit weird - like too much background noise is being cut, or something.
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Just a heads up, the audio in this sounds a bit weird - like too much background noise is being cut, or something.
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-davidm4689
Awesome video. I wanted to do this when I was in USA in 2018 but sadly was closed. A definite next year.
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Awesome video. I wanted to do this when I was in USA in 2018 but sadly was closed. A definite next year.
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-jimpern
That's a trip I need to take someday, as well as its counterpart at Mount Washington. Thanks for the video!
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That's a trip I need to take someday, as well as its counterpart at Mount Washington. Thanks for the video!
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-TheMaartian
I rode this train back in 1957 when I was 6. It was the middle of summer, but it was COLD at the top.
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I rode this train back in 1957 when I was 6. It was the middle of summer, but it was COLD at the top.
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-nikolaijensen5722
Brightline Orlando extension grand opening date now officially confirmed, 2nd quarter of 2023!
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Brightline Orlando extension grand opening date now officially confirmed, 2nd quarter of 2023!
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-bubbabrick428
If you like American scenic railroads, you should look up Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia!
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If you like American scenic railroads, you should look up Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia!
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