Pikes Peak Railway Photos

The Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway (1889-91) was instigated by Zalmon Simmons, inventor of Beautyrest Mattresses. The 8.9 mi cog rail track was first served by Baldwin steam locomotives made for the special track with grades up to 25 percent. From 1964 on, the railway has been served rail diesel cars made by Swiss Locomotive Works of Wintertur. Pike's Peak became part of the American legend when explorer Zebulon Pike described it in 1806. Pike's expedition was second to that of Lewis & Clark, during the when American's were itching to settle the West, so the mountain caught the imagination. It was reinforced by the so-called Pike's Peak gold rush, wherein, no gold was actually found on the mountain, but further west into the Rockies. A road also runs to the top of the Peak & is the course of an annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with the fastest race time to the top running about ten minutes.