Did you know Colorado Springs is home to one of the most unique trains in the country? Climbing to the top of a 14,110 foot mountain, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is the highest operating train in North America by nearly 3,000 feet. Originally opened in 1889, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is one of the best ways to see the beautiful terrain of Colorado.
RELATED: We stuck our virtual reality cameras to the Pikes Peak Cog Railway!
Pikes Peak Cog Railway
The track to the top of the summit is 8.9 miles long.
The use of a cog system allows the train to climb grades of up to 48%, where the normal train can only climb at roughly 4% to 6% for sustained trips.
RELATED: We stuck our virtual reality cameras to the Pikes Peak Cog Railway!
Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Photo Courtesy of Visit Colorado Springs.
The top speed of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is around 9 miles per hour.
During winter months, special plows are used to keep the track clean of snow and usable.
If you end up taking the Cog to the top of Pikes Peak, make sure you grab some doughnuts from the bakery on top!
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