A Railway to Reach Rare Heights—14,000 Feet—On its Last Legs

The future of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, in operation on the steep slopes of Pikes Peak since 1891, is under study. Meanwhile, there will be no trips up the mountain.

1 minute read

March 15, 2018, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Pikes Peak, Colorado

RRuntsch / Shutterstock

"After more than a century as one of the area’s premier tourist attractions, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway’s future is in doubt," report Wayne Heilman and Rich Laden.

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway "has shuttled generations of visitors on breathtaking, 8.9-mile trips to the summit of Pikes Peak and back, but after several months of maintenance, the railway's owners, The Broadmoor hotel, are planning to study its fate—not necessarily reopen. According to Heilman and Laden, "hotel officials have determined the railroad - including its aging infrastructure and equipment – 'has run its useful life.'"

The Cog Railway operates in "a special center 'rack' rail that allows the train to climb much steeper grades than traditional trains," according to the article. The Cog Railways is one of only two such systems in the country, the other is in New Hampshire, and 40 in the world.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018 in The Gazette

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

3 hours ago - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

People boarding a bus on Maryland's Orange Route.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.

1 minute ago - Mass Transit

A brick building with a circular sign with the Airbnb logo hanging off of it.

Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin

The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

One side of the image shows a Chicago bus stop without a bench, the second image shows the bus stop with a yellow and blue bench.

Guerilla urbanists are building DIY bus stop benches in Chicago

A before-and-after of one of the bus stops with a new bench. The new benches are not officially sanctioned or permitted, but the residents who placed them hope they will be the start of a network of DIY benches across the city.

2 hours ago - Block Club Chicago

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.