Cog Stations

Exploring the Manitou & Pike's Peak Railway starts at the base station in Manitou Springs. The first thing one notices upon arrival is the quaint depot nestled between the railway and road in a narrow valley. The base station contains a ticket office, two gift shops, and a small snack bar. You are encouraged to purchase food for the trip at the snack bar as bringing food onboard a train from other locations is not permitted. There are several structures located here, mostly long buildings to store the rail cars when not in use. All are squeezed along the route up the narrow valley. One building located across from the depot, which may have been a residence at one time, appears to now be an office.

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Once on the summit the trains stop for about 20 to 30 minutes while their passengers explore the cafeteria and gift shop or go walk about in the cold air (On 3 Oct 2014 - 21 degrees F or -7 degrees F with the wind chill factor). The Garden of the Gods and the city of Colorado Springs are visible far below to the east while the Victor open pit gold mine may be seen to the west. In fact, it's so large it can be seen from orbiting space vehicles. There is a sign declaring the elevation and current temperature which three women pose beside while the wind whips their long hair sideways ... Quickly now, retreat to the warm summit building.

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Since its inception, the Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway has taken thousands of tourists from the base station at 7,400 feet all the way up America’s Mountain to the Summit House at 14,110 feet.

Davis Tutt / Colorado Encyclopedia