Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway Depot, Manitou Springs CO
Since 1891, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway has been taking passengers to the 14,115 ft. (4,302.3 m) summit of Pikes Peak in comfort and style. The railway starts at a depot in Manitou Springs (515 Ruxton Ave), with an altitude of 6,571 feet. Its tracks climb at an average 16% grade, but reaches a maximum of 25%. This is the highest elevation rack railway, and at 8.9 miles, is the second longest in the world and the only railway of this type west of the Mississippi. A rack railway has a center, cogged rail, called a rack that enables trains to climb steep inclines.
Premier local contractors, the Gillis Brothers, who also built the Congregational Church and Miramont Castle, constructed the depot at the base of the railway in 1890. The depot has been enlarged twice to its current form. The Cog Depot is listed as contributing to Manitou Springs 1983 National Register and 1980 Local Historic Preservation Districts.
Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway Depot, Manitou Springs CO
Since 1891, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway has been taking passengers to the 14,115 ft. (4,302.3 m) summit of Pikes Peak in comfort and style. The railway starts at a depot in Manitou Springs (515 Ruxton Ave), with an altitude of 6,571 feet. Its tracks climb at an average 16% grade, but reaches a maximum of 25%. This is the highest elevation rack railway, and at 8.9 miles, is the second longest in the world and the only railway of this type west of the Mississippi. A rack railway has a center, cogged rail, called a rack that enables trains to climb steep inclines.
Premier local contractors, the Gillis Brothers, who also built the Congregational Church and Miramont Castle, constructed the depot at the base of the railway in 1890. The depot has been enlarged twice to its current form. The Cog Depot is listed as contributing to Manitou Springs 1983 National Register and 1980 Local Historic Preservation Districts.